Occupation Actress Years active 1952–1976 | Name Christine White Role Actress | |
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Born May 4, 1926 ( 1926-05-04 ) Washington, D.C., USA Died April 14, 2013, Washington, D.C., United States Movies and TV shows Similar People Raymond Burr, Barbara Hale, Ted Post, William Castle, Arnold Laven | ||
Christine Lamson White (May 4, 1926 – April 14, 2013) was an American actress, most noted for her role in the television show Twilight Zone episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet".
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Early life
White was born in Washington, D.C. to parents Lucia W. and James Andrew White. While studying English at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill she began acting in plays. After earning her degree in English, she earned a master's degree in speech and drama from Catholic University.
She also studied at the Actors Studio and eventually moved to New York to further her theatrical career.
Stage
White was active in summer stock theatre, including work at the Cape Cod Playhouse. She was named Most Outstanding Actress at CCP for her portrayal of Millie in Picnic. In 1956, she replaced Shelley Winters in the Broadway production of A Hatful of Rain after Winters broke her ankle.
Television
By the 1950s, White had left her home in New York City and relocated to Los Angeles, where she began to appear in television shows. Her first role was in 1952 in the series The Web, and she also starred in the horror film Macabre (1958), directed by William Castle.
Over the course of her 20-year career she played in over 50 television shows, including Bonanza, Have Gun – Will Travel, Perry Mason in the Case of the Blushing Pearls, The Rifleman, The Loretta Young Show, The Untouchables and Father Knows Best. Her final role was in the 1976 TV movie "James Dean".
Her most popular role was alongside William Shatner in the Twilight Zone episode "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet", where she portrayed the wife of "Bob Wilson" (Shatner), "Julia Wilson". Show host Rod Serling told viewers early in the episode that Bob's destination on the flight was the 'darkest corner of the Twilight Zone'.
White was a regular in the CBS situation comedy Ichabod and Me (1961-1962),
Film
White co-starred in Man Crazy (1954). She also had a small role in the Dirty Harry film Magnum Force (1973), playing Carol McCoy, wife of a motorcycle cop on the brink of a nervous breakdown.
Personal life
White had "a brief love affair" with actor James Dean.
Death
White died on April 14, 2013, at a nursing home in Washington D.C. Her survivors included a number of nieces and nephews. When informed of her death, William Shatner sent out a tweet saying that he was thinking of her family.