Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 9, 1993 TAG: 9312100290
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Nancy Reichardt
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Medium
Prior to playing the psychotic Dante, Christopher won a Daytime Emmy playing mob boss Carlo Hesser on ``One Life to Live.'' It is obvious in his portrayals that Christopher relishes creating these charming but disturbing - and disturbed - villains.
``That's a beautiful compliment; it's made my day,'' he said. ``I am so flattered, because if you are not enjoying yourself, it reads - and the viewer can tell.''
Christopher has great respect for the viewers. Usually bad guys are played as ``The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight'' or as tortured souls. Not so with Christopher's portrayals. Both Carlo and Dante are comfortable with themselves.
``An actor tries to find what he likes about any character he plays, but Dante is so demonic in his obsession that, in this case, what I find is just the fun he has in what he is doing,'' said Christopher. ``He is settling scores with the Aldens for the damage and disgrace he feels they caused him. It is a perverted vision in which he sees himself as a master puppeteer toying with and dangling people at will.''
The fun Dante has is matched by the obvious joy that Christopher takes in playing the role. How did he get the part?
``Josie Emmerich [the new executive producer of ``Loving''] is a friend of mine, and she approached me,'' Christopher said. ``It was tempting to work with her again. I know many `Loving' actors from charity benefits. Dennis Parlato [who plays Clay Alden] and I had worked together on `OLTL.'
``They are the nicest group of people and so talented,'' he added. ``I look at them and cannot believe they're doing it in half an hour.''
Christopher contrasts his half-hour soap with his former one.
``It's harder - harder,'' he said with a laugh. ``I challenge anybody who has done both to say otherwise.
``There is no down time,'' he added. ``On `OLTL,' even if I was heavy on the show, I had time between blocking, costume and makeup to prepare. Not so here. From the moment you walk out of that rehearsal hall after 8 a.m., you don't stop. Even my hair and makeup take over an hour. The fun is in doing costume changes, accents and different characters within the half-hour format.''
Of his time on `OLTL,' Christopher said, ``Carlo was incredible - the kind of role an actor rarely gets. The role was constantly nurtured, and then to have two colleagues who are so precious to me as Tonja Walker (who plays Alex Olanov) and Patricia Elliott (who plays Renee Buchanan) - it was all of the right elements in the right place at the right time.
``When [former `OLTL' executive producer] Paul Rauch hired me, he made a tremendous commitment, and I owe him a great deal,'' he continued. ``He is a premier producer - just wonderful. He paired me with Patricia Elliott, and the incredible continuum was created when Linda Gottlieb paired me with Tonja Walker.''
Trivia buffs might like to know that ``OLTL'' was far from Christopher's first soap stint. In the early '70s, he played Noel Douglas, the boyfriend of Dixie Carter's character, Brandy Henderson, on ``Edge of Night.'' He played a district attorney on ``Love of Life'' and did several stints as a restaurant owner or bartender on other shows.
He recently filmed a small role in the upcoming movie ``The Paper,'' with Glenn Close and directed by Ron Howard.
A few weeks ago, we correctly reported that ``Another World'' was hanging on by a thread and facing possible cancellation. We have now learned that NBC has renewed the show through June 1995.
\ Send your questions about soap operas to Nancy Reichardt, ``Tune in Tomorrow,'' in care of the Roanoke Times & World-News, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke 24010-2491. Questions cannot be answered personally, but those of general interest will be answered in future columns.o
\ United Feature Syndicate
by CNB