Ted Christy

Ted Christy

Born: November 25, 1909
Died: September 11, 1976
in California, USA
Ted Christy is a great example of somebody whose profession could take you all over the world and help you live life to the fullest. Both Ted and his brother Vic Christy were what you would call enhancement talents for the NWA and various other wrestling promotions. Their main jobs were to make the good guys look great without doing too much to take away from the appeal of the good guys popularity or momentum.

He started out wrestling really young in the NWA, and various promotions based in Puerto Rico, Australia, and other countries throughout the world. Like many wrestlers, he couldn't stay in one territory too long or the fans would get tired of seeing him. He was known to be a really good guy and somebody who could take a good joke.

Through his wrestling, he was able to obtain roles in a few movies in the early 1950s and he also managed to appear in an episode of the Twilight Zone portraying a wrestler on television screen. Christy continued to wrestle throughout the early 1960s when eventually he decided to retire. It was through his friendship with Mike Mazurki and other athletes that he was able to get into the Screen Extras Guild. This lead to him being cast as an extra and the occasional stunt double for Joe E. Ross on the television show It's About Time.

When It's About Time was canceled after one season, Christy found himself appearing in an assortment of roles that were typically either a cowboy on shows like Gunsmoke or a hood on criminal shows like Kojak. His rough looking appearance made both he and his brother naturals to appear in Gunsmoke where he was well liked by the various crew members that worked with him.

Though Christy passed away in 1976, he left lasting legacy of an entertainer who wrestled in front of thousands of people for over 30 years and who later transitioned into television and movies where he excelled at playing various roles while making many friends along the way.

Movies for Ted Christy...

The Whiz Kid and the Carnival Caper
Title: The Whiz Kid and the Carnival Caper
Character: Carnival Goer (uncredited)
Released: January 11, 1976
Type: Movie
Daffy Fernald loses her brother's toy rocket when it flies into a storm drain. She knows Alvin will be upset if he finds out, so she climbs into the dark tunnel to search for it. She spots a stranger, Ernie Nelson, and sees that he's carying a gun. She races home and tells Alvin, but the would-be inventor refuses to believe her.
bee
Title: Banacek
Character: Barfly (uncredited)
Released: September 13, 1972
Type: TV
Banacek is an American detective TV series starring George Peppard that aired on the NBC network from 1972 to 1974. The series was part of the rotating NBC Wednesday Mystery Movie anthology. It alternated in its time slot with several other shows but was the only one to last beyond its first season.
bee
Support Your Local Gunfighter
Title: Support Your Local Gunfighter
Character: Townsman (uncredited)
Released: May 26, 1971
Type: Movie
A con artist arrives in a mining town controlled by two competing companies. Both companies think he's a famous gunfighter and try to hire him to drive the other out of town.
bee
The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again
Title: The Over-the-Hill Gang Rides Again
Character: Townsman (uncredited)
Released: November 16, 1970
Type: Movie
Walter Brennan is back as the clever and funny over the hill Texas Ranger Nash Crawford. This time the gang must face corruption in their own home town. The gang put their heads together to clean up their town, take back the rule of law and rehabilitate the town lush (played by Fred Astaire) along with way.
bee
The Good Guys and the Bad Guys
Title: The Good Guys and the Bad Guys
Character: Townsman (uncredited)
Released: October 10, 1969
Type: Movie
An aging lawman and an aging outlaw join forces when their respective positions in society are usurped by a younger, but incompetent Marshal, and a younger, but vicious gang leader.
bee
Title: The Twilight Zone
Character: The Wild Panther (uncredited)
Released: October 2, 1959
Type: TV
A series of unrelated stories containing drama, psychological thriller, fantasy, science fiction, suspense, and/or horror, often concluding with a macabre or unexpected twist.
bee
Some Like It Hot
Title: Some Like It Hot
Character: Gangster (uncredited)
Released: March 19, 1959
Type: Movie
Two musicians witness a mob hit and struggle to find a way out of the city before they are found by the gangsters. Their only opportunity is to join an all-girl band as they leave on a tour. To make their getaway they must first disguise themselves as women, then keep their identities secret and deal with the problems this brings - such as an attractive bandmate and a very determined suitor.
bee
Requiem for a Heavyweight
Title: Requiem for a Heavyweight
Character: Wrestler
Released: October 11, 1956
Type: Movie
An over-the-hill heavyweight boxing champion who suffers from the ravages of years of head trauma is exploited by his manager, despite the efforts of a compassionate young woman who tries to help him recover his self-respect.
bee
No Holds Barred
Title: No Holds Barred
Character: Ted Christy
Released: November 23, 1952
Type: Movie
One of the Bowery Boys gains superhuman strength, and he cashes in by becoming a pro wrestler.