# Christopher Pettiet

Christopher Lee Pettiet (February 12, 1976 – April 12, 2000) was an American television and film actor best known for his role as Jesse James in the Western TV series The Young Riders and as Zach Crandell in the cult comedy film Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (1991).

## Career

Pettiet began his career as a child actor making appearances in television series such as Star Trek: The Next Generation, L.A. Law, Empty Nest, and Doogie Howser, M.D.. He played the middle brother in the 1991 comedy film Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead. Also in 1991, Pettiet appeared in the hit film Point Break alongside actors Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves, and in the same year joined the final season of The Young Riders as a teenage version of Jesse James.
Most of his subsequent career was in episodic television and independent films, including Boys and Carried Away, both released in 1996. He had a brief recurring role on the first season of MTV's Undressed. Pettiet's last appearance was in a 1999 episode of Judging Amy.

## Death

Pettiet died of an accidental drug overdose on April 12, 2000, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 24. His autopsy report listed that the probable combined effect of cocaine, dextropropoxyphene, and diazepam had caused his death. His autopsy also attributed his death to "probable cardiomyopathy" but it was only a contributing condition and not an immediate cause. Pettiet was cremated; his ashes were scattered at sea off of Topanga Canyon Road in Santa Monica, California. After his death, his acting coach, Kevin McDermott, founded a scholarship fund in his name to help young actors to attend Center Stage LA where he had trained.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1991 | Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead | Zach Crandell | |
| 1991 | Point Break | 15-Year-Old Kid at Surfboard Shop | |
| 1992 | Sandman | Jesse | Short |
| 1993 | The Goodbye Bird | Francis 'Frank' Phillips | |
| 1994 | Horses and Champions | Joe | |
| 1994 | Relentless IV: Ashes to Ashes | Cory Dietz | |
| 1996 | Boys | Jon Heinz | |
| 1996 | Carried Away | Robert Henson | |
| 1997 | Against the Law | Tommy | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1990 | An Enemy of the People | Morton Stockman | Television film |
| 1990 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Boy | Episode: "The High Ground" |
| 1990 | Doogie Howser, M.D | Gregory Pelzman | Episode: "Revenge of the Teenage Dead" |
| 1990 | The Dreamer of Oz | Frank Jr. (Teenage) | Television film |
| 1991 | Fatal Exposure | Drew | Television film |
| 1991 | L.A. Law | Corey Walker | Episode: "On the Toad Again" |
| 1991 | Empty Nest | Harry 'Little Harry' | Episode: "The Way We Are" |
| 1991 | My Life and Times | Michael Miller | Episode: "The Collapse of '98" |
| 1991–1992 | The Young Riders | Jesse James | 21 episodes |
| 1992 | Danger Island | Brian | Television film |
| 1992 | Baywatch Hawaii | 'Beaver' | Episode: "Tequila Bay" |
| 1993 | seaQuest DSV | Zachery Thomas | Episode: "Brothers and Sisters" |
| 1995 | Picket Fences | Michael Hynes | Episode: "The Song of Rome" |
| 1997 | Touched by an Angel | Luke Brewer | Episode: "Crisis of Faith" |
| 1998 | Chicago Hope | Kevin Dicker | Episode: "Viagra-Vated Assault" |
| 1999 | Undressed | Dean | 6 episodes |
| 1999 | Judging Amy | Paul Dexter | Episode: "Impartial Bias" |

## Accolades

| Year | Award | Category | Title of work | Result |
| 1991 | Young Artist Award | Best Young Actor Guest Starring in a Television Series | Doogie Howser, M.D. | Won |
| 1992 | Young Artist Award | Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture | Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (Shared with cast) | Nominated |
| 1992 | Young Artist Award | Best Young Actor Co-starring in a Television Series | The Young Riders | Nominated |