Michael Sharrett

Stuart Michael Sharrett (born July 18, 1965) is an American actor. Best known for his role in the 1978 family movie The Magic of Lassie with James Stewart, Sharrett additionally co-starred in the 1985 action film Savage Dawn and in the 1986 Wes Craven horror film Deadly Friend, for which he received a Young Artist Award nomination as the "Best Young Actor in a Horror Motion Picture".

Biography and career Sharrett was born in Ventura, California. Sharrett began his career at the age of 12 in the Emmy Award-winning Our Town, a 1977 television adaptation of the classic play Our Town. On February 20, 1978, Sharrett guest starred on Little House on the Prairie on the episode entitled "The Stranger" about young Peter Lundstrom, who is expelled from his private school for petty theft, so his wealthy father sends the boy to stay with Uncle Nels Oleson in Walnut Grove for a long-overdue lesson in values. At first he rebels but later on learns the pride of hard work and in time his father later realizes that his time with his son is much more important than making any more money as he is quite wealthy already. After some additional television roles and a part in the 1978 Walt Disney comedy western film Hot Lead and Cold Feet, Sharrett landed the role of Chris, the grandson of Clovis, played by Academy Award winner Jimmy Stewart in the 1978 musical film The Magic of Lassie. In The Magic of Lassie, Lassie is a dog owned by Sharrett's freckled-faced character Chris. Lassie is taken away from Chris, who then is put under pressure when his grandpa has to decide whether to sell the valuable family vineyard in return for the dog. In the teenage friendship story, Tom and his friend Paul bring friend Samantha back to life using a computer chip designed by Paul. with a New York Times reviewer writing, "As Tom, Michael Sharrett is a wonderful foil, fainting away at the first kick of Sam's supposedly dead leg."

In 1988, Sharrett appeared in the short-lived TV series Supercarrier. Two years later, in October 1990, Sharrett served as a main character in an episode of the American television drama The Trials of Rosie O'Neill. In that episode, Sharrett played a seemingly all-American boy accused of desecrating a Jewish cemetery. Rosie, a Los Angeles public defender character played by Sharon Gless in the series, defends Sharrett's character. The episode first aired on Monday, October 22 on CBS.

Selected filmography

Films

Year Film Role Other notes 1978 Hot Lead and Cold Feet Marcus 1978 The Magic of Lassie Chris Mitchell 1984 Snowballing Dan aka Smooth Moves 1985 Savage Dawn Danny Rand 1986 Deadly Friend Tom 'Slime' Toomey Received Young Artist Award nomination as the Best Young Actor in a Horror Motion Picture 1989 Kill Me Again Tim the Motel Clerk 1995 Theodore Rex New Eden Volunteer aka T. Rex

Television

Year Show Role Other notes 1977 Our Town Si Crowell Play filmed for TV 1978 Strange Companions David Little House on the Prairie Peter Lundstrom Episode: The Stranger 1979 The Night Rider Chock Hollister-Young Thomas Hanging by a Thread Tommy Craig TV movie A Shining Season Chuck Lander Joe's World Jimmy Wabash TV series 1981 Diff'rent Strokes Henry Episode: First Day Blues 1984 Newhart Episode: Send Her Ella Charles in Charge Alexander Morgan Episode: Pilot 1985 Magnum, P.I. Kenny Harbison Episode: Paniolo Otherworld Stock Clerk Episode: Rules of Attraction 1986 Our House Episode: Choices St. Elsewhere Donald Westphall Episode: Time Heals: Part 2 1988 TV 101 Craig Blumen Episodes: Everything You've Always Wanted to Know About Teenagers (But Were Afraid to Ask) and The Unbearable Rightness of Penny Supercarrier Donald Willough, Ocean Specialist 1st Class Series character 1989 TV 101 Craig Blumen Episodes: Kangaroo Gate and Clicks 1990 Baywatch Ben Episode: Home Cort, Original Air Date:12 January 1990 2003 50 Greatest TV Animals Chris Mitchell (self) Uncredited archive footage