hi this is Steve and you're watching the original life and sad ending Channel Christopher George was
born in Royal Oak Michigan on February 25th 1931. his parents were Greek immigrants and
George didn't speak English until he was six years old because his family only spoke Greek at home
the family moved from Michigan to New Jersey when George began learning to speak English his father
enrolled him in Greek School in addition to his regular school so that he would not forget the
Greek language that was where George first became interested in acting performing in Greek plays
as a teen he and his family moved to Miami Florida where George attended
Miami Senior High School in school he was athletic and participated in several Sports
when George was young he considered becoming a priest in the Greek Orthodox church but instead
George enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1948 at age 17 serving during the
Korean War later George attended the University of Miami from 1953 to 1958 where he earned a
bachelor's degree in Business Administration George held down a variety of jobs before he
began acting including working as a private investigator and as a bartender in a Miami bar
he held black belts and karate and Judo and he worked as a bouncer in tough restaurants
eventually George began acting in New York City where he performed on the stage and in television
commercials he studied acting and got roles in Off-Broadway Productions a popular place of the
day like Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Stalag 17 and who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf he also appeared in roles
on television like Naked City and bewitched he first appeared on the big screen when he landed
a role in the film In Harm's Way in 1965. this gave him his first opportunity to meet and work
with John Wayne who had been his Boyhood Idol and who would become a lifelong friend later
appearing in El Dorado in 1966 Chisholm in 70 and the train robbers in 1973 all-starring Wayne
from 1966 to 1968 over the course of two seasons George played the lead role of Sergeant Sam Troy
on the rapid troll the television series followed the exploits of four Allied soldiers who were part
of a long-range desert Patrol group in the North African campaign during World War II
while filming a scene on January 4th 1967 George was injured when the GP was riding in overturned
George sustained a concussion tearing something in his neck and injuring his back doctors at senior
Sinai Medical Center initially thought he may have broken his back but it was just badly sprained
following the cancellation of the Rat Patrol George played the lead role in several films
of the 1960s including tiger by the tail and Project X in 1968 and the Devils ate in 1969.
also in 69 he portrayed Ben Richards in the movie The Immortal which ran on the ABC movie
of the week the film was picked up as a television series and ran for 15 episodes from 1970 to 1971.
this man has a singular advantage over other men Ben Richards is immune to every known
disease including old age periodic transfusions of his blood can give other men a second a third
lifetime perhaps more find Ben Richards the effects of a transfusion are only temporary
I must therefore control Ben Richard's life permanently he's the most valuable
man in the world but he's no good to be dead his brother may have the same kind of blood
gotta find them before Richards does if you have million dollar blood where would you hide
he continued his television work throughout the 1970s with guest roles on many popular
series including Owen Marshall police story SWAT Charlie's Angels and Fantasy Island he famously
posed nude for Playgirl magazine in 1974. George went on to appear in a string of horror sci-fi B
movies including Dixie Dynamite day of the animals city of the Living Dead graduation day Enter
the Ninja and his last movie Mortuary in 1983. George first met actress Linda day in New York
where they were doing a fashion layout she was modeling the bride's outfit and he was the groom
they later became a show business power couple appearing in many projects together they had
two children a daughter Casey and a son Nicholas George co-starred with his wife Linda day George
in multiple television films including May Day at 40 000 feet and cruising to Terror in the late 70s
they also worked together in episodes of the FBI Mission Impossible McLeod Wonder Woman The Love
Boat in Vegas George's niece is Wheel of Fortune Hostess Vanna White according to White although
George was not a biological relation of hers her mother grew up with his family and years later in
Los Angeles he and his wife took her under their wing sadly on November 28 1983 after dinner at
home with his wife he felt sudden chest pains and was taken by ambulance to the West Side Hospital
in Los Angeles he later went into cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead at 10 35 pm he was only 52
years old his age was listed as 54 at the time of his death due to an incorrect year of birth
which he had listed on his military recruitment form although several sources in the last two
decades have cited his Rat Patrol injuries as a contributing factor to his death George
was a frequent smoker of cigars a heavy drinker and had undergone coronary bypass surgery about
five years prior to his death he was interred at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial
Park and Mortuary in Los Angeles California if you enjoyed this video please give it a thumbs up and
consider subscribing I sure do appreciate it I'll see you next time unless I meet my own sad ending