~ Was in the Junior Olympics for snow skiing.
~ Had 7 surf boards, a different one for each day of the week.
~ Ashes were scattered at sea in Santa Monica, California.
~ After his death from an accidental drug overdose, his mother Helen started the Christopher Pettiet Scholarship Fund to help other young actors train in the arts at Center Stage in Los Angeles, California.
~ Was very good friends with Tobey Maguire and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Born in Plano, Texas, Pettiet began acting at an early age in commercials. He explored the stage by branching into children's theater workshops and later into local theater productions of "Oliver," "How to Say Goodbye," "King John," "As You Like It" and "A Winter's Tale."
Most fans know him for the season he played Jesse James on "The Young Riders" (1991-1992). Christopher Pettiet plays the rebellious young Jesse James, who will grow up to become one of the West's most feared outlaws. A troublemaker from the start, the 14-year old Jesse is taken in by Teaspoon and the riders to help around the waystation. Young and impressionable, Jesse finds the world of the riders to be both comradely and adventuresome. Though we all knew he would grow up to be a notorious outlaw, the writers of The Young Riders tried very hard to show Jesse's "soft side." Apparently, he considered Teaspoon, Rachel and the boys family as indicated in the episode Initiation. But Jesse was perhaps closest to Jimmy, probably because he found in him a kindred soul. In The Road Not Taken, Jesse kills a man for the first time and when Jimmy asks him if it felt bad, he said that it just felt different. Jesse also had a minor crush on Lou. He even sent her a love letter -- written by Teaspoon, of course -- and some flowers. Jesse, together with Hickok, gave Lou away at her wedding.
The part of a young Jesse James was played by a young man called Christopher Pettiet. You may also have seen him in the films Point Break (1991) or Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead (1991). Or you may have caught one of his TV guest appearances on such show as "Star Trek: The Next Generation", "SeaQuest DSV", "Picket Fences", or in "Touched By An Angel". He also had bit parts in "Doogie Howser" and "Empty Nest". Christopher has also been in three TV movies, "Danger Island", "Fatal Exposure" and "The Dreamer of Oz". Over the years, Christopher has been seen in a few things. In 1997, he appeared in Against The Law. One of Chris's last roles, however was Dean in MTV's "Undressed".
Unfortunately, Christopher passed away on April 12, 2000 from a drug overdose. Chris will be greatly missed, and remembered as on of the 90's most promising young actors.
TV Before The Young Riders:
1991, Fatal Exposure as Drew
1990, An Enemy of the People as Morton Stockman
1990, The Dreamer of Oz as Teenage Frank Jr.
TV After The Young Riders:
1999, "Undressed" (Series) as Dean (Season 1: 1999)
1992, Danger Island as Brian
Movies:
1997, Against the Law as Tommy
1996, Boys as Jon Heinz
1996, Carried Away as Robert Henson
1994, Horses and Champions as Joe
1994, Relentless IV: Ashes to Ashes as Cory Dietz
1993, The Goodbye Bird as Francis 'Frank' Phillips
1992, Sandman as Jesse
1991, Point Break as 15
1991, Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead as Zach Crandell
TV Guest Appearances
"Judging Amy" playing "Paul" in episode: "An Impartial Bias" (episode # 1.7) November 2, 1999
"Chicago Hope" playing "Kevin Dicker" in episode: "Viagra-Vated Assault" (episode # 5.6) November 4, 1998
"Touched by an Angel" playing "Luke Brewer" in episode: "Crisis of Faith" (episode # 3.17) February 2, 1997
"Picket Fences" playing "Michael Hynes" in episode: "The Song of Rome" (episode # 3.22) May 12, 1995
"SeaQuest DSV" playing "Zachery Thomas" in episode: "Brothers and Sisters" (episode # 1.7) October 17, 1993
"Baywatch" playing "Beaver" (as Chris Pettiet) in episode: "Tequila Bay" (episode # 3.3) September 28, 1992
"Empty Nest" playing "Little Harry" in episode: "The Way We Are" (episode # 3.24) May 11, 1991
"L.A. Law" in episode: "On the Toad Again" (episode # 5.21) 9 May 1991 "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987) playing "Boy" in episode: "The High Ground" (episode # 3.12) January 27, 1990
