Biography

Christopher George

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A solidly built and boyishly handsome American leading man, Christopher George was the son of Greek immigrants. Weaned on stories of the legendary Greek heroes, George and his brother Nick (later a prominent fashion photographer) both quit high school to join the Marines. Completing his education after his tour of duty, George acted in numerous TV commercials, winning a New York Film Festival Award for his efforts. He appeared in Broadway plays such as "A Streetcar Named Desire" and films such as Howard Hawks's El Dorado (1966). He also became a great friend of John Wayne in the film Chisum (1970). George also became a TV star in the wartime adventure TV series The Rat Patrol (1966). He later starred in the science fiction TV series The Immortal (1969) and then returned to films. He starred in the films Project X (1968), The Train Robbers (1973), Midway (1976), Grizzly (1976), Day of the Animals (1977), The Exterminator (1980), Graduation Day (1981), Pieces (1982), and his last film, Mortuary (1982). He also appeared in another 30 films and several TV guest appearances.

Christopher George died of a heart attack. He was married to his wife, actress Lynda Day George (who was also his frequent co-star), for 13 years.
- IMDb mini biography by: Anonymous

He did not speak English until he was 6 years old because his family only ever spoke Greek at home.
He was often described as the uncle of Vanna White. Vanna has said that, although he was not a biological relation of hers, "my mother grew up with his family. Years later in L.A., he and his wife took me under their wing.".
During the Korean War, he was the skipper of a Marine Corps crash boat and served as a gunner aboard the type of rescue aircraft used to fly wounded out of Korea. He completed a three-year enlistment with the U.S. Marines and stayed for an additional fourth year of service before being discharged and returning home to Miami, Florida.
Even though he was both a heavy drinker and a frequent smoker of cigars both on- and off-camera, his fatal 1983 heart attack actually originated from a mishap on the set of the TV series The Rat Patrol (1966) on January 4, 1967. While filming a chase scene, George's Jeep flipped over, pinning him beneath the vehicle. He sustained a concussion, as well as a muscle tear to his neck and chest which included a cardiac contusion. The injury to his heart never properly healed and scar tissue subsequently developed on it.
He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on October 13, 1948 in Jacksonville, FL at the age of 17. He lied about his age on his recruitment form by giving his year of birth as 1929, which then ended up sticking to him like glue for most of his adult life.

Sam Troy doesn't like authority. He doesn't want anyone trying to control his life. He wants to guide his own destiny -- and in that desert patrol, he's found a way to do it. That desert patrol is Sam Troy's world. Anything that comes near it, that will endanger it, he destroys. He's absolutely dedicated to his own values. He'll shoot an enemy cold-bloodedly if it's necessary to protect these values. [Christopher George on his character, "Sgt. Sam Troy", in the TV series The Rat Patrol (1966)].
"The first time I met John Wayne, I addressed him as Mr. Wayne. "The name is Duke," he said. We were about to do a scene together and he showed me first how to act in the scene. When the take was over, he liked it so much, he ran up to me and gave me a bear hug and lifted me clean off my feet!" [Christopher George on co-starring with John Wayne in the films El Dorado (1966), Chisum (1970), and The Train Robbers (1973)].

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