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.

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.

Pettiet would star in other popular TV shows such as Baywatch in 1992, the science fiction TV series seaQuest DSV in 1993, and on the TV series Picket Fences in 1994. He would also star on the TV show Touched By An Angel in 1995 and Chicago Hope in 1998. Pettiet starred in independent films like Danger Island (1992), The Sandman (1992), The Goodbye Bird (1993), Relentless IV: Ashes to Ashes (1993) and Horses and Champions (1994).

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 1990 The Dreamer of Oz Teenage L Frank Baum 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 '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 ResultRef. 1991 Young Artist Award Best Young Actor Guest Starring in a Television Series Doogie Howser, M.D. 1992 Young Artist Award Outstanding Young Ensemble Cast in a Motion Picture Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead(Shared with cast) Young Artist Award Best Young Actor Co-starring in a Television Series The Young Riders