Chris Wiggins Explained

Chris Wiggins
Birth Name:Christopher John Wiggins
Birth Date:13 January 1931
Birth Place:Blackpool, England
Death Place:Elora, Ontario, Canada
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:1954–2015
Spouse:Sandra Crysler-Wiggins
(19??; died 2009)

Christopher John Wiggins (January 13, 1931 – February 19, 2017) was a Canadian actor.[1]

Career

Wiggins was born January 13, 1931, in Blackpool, England.[2] He started out as a banker in his home country before he began his acting career in Canada, where he moved in 1952.

Wiggins is probably best recognized for his role as Jack Marshak, the benevolent, resourceful expert on the occult in the syndicated television horror show , and which ran from 1987 to 1990. Another well known role was Johann Robinson (Father) on Swiss Family Robinson.

He won a Canadian Film Award in 1969 for Best Actor in a Non-Feature for his role in The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar.[3]

In addition to his television and film work, Wiggins was also a very popular radio actor, making over 1,200 appearances in various series over the years, particularly on CBC Radio. One of his most popular roles was that of Dante, the insufferably brilliant (and insufferably arrogant) computer that ran the Aleph-9: the high-speed interdimensional spacecraft belonging to . Wiggins also made numerous guest appearances on such CBC Radio programs as Nightfall, Vanishing Point and dozens of others.

Wiggins also lent his voice to many animated TV series and movies. He was the voice of the villain Mysterio in Spider-Man, Will Scarlet on Rocket Robin Hood, the Great Wishing Star in 1986's , and the villain No Heart on the Nelvana version of Care Bears. He also voiced the character Dimetro in Dinosaucers. His other roles in animated series and films include ALF Tales, , Rock & Rule, , Babar, Babar and the Adventures of Badou, Rupert, Richard Scarry, Franklin, and Redwall.

Death

Wiggins was married to Sandra Crysler-Wiggins, who died in 2009, and had no children. He died at a nursing home in Elora, Ontario, on February 19, 2017, from complications from Alzheimer's disease.[4] [5]

Selected filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1969The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to KaladarEmery
1970King of the GrizzliesColonel
1973The Neptune FactorCaptain Williams
1977Welcome to Blood CityGellor
1977Why Shoot the Teacher?Lyle Bishop
1978High-Ballin'King Caroll
1978Two SolitudesCaptain Yardley
1979Murder by DecreeDoctor Hardy
1979JigsawMacKenzie
1979Fish HawkMarcus Boggs
1980VirusDr. Borodinov
1983Rock & RuleToad (voice)[6]
1984The Bay BoyCharlie McInnes
1986Great Wishing Star (voice)
1989Cornelius (voice)
1991Married to ItDave
1995Butterbox BabiesSenator Danver
1995VoicesAngus Fergusson
1997Pippi LongstockingFridolf (voice)
1999Cornelius (voice)
2001Franklin's Magic ChristmasMr. Collie (voice)Direct-to-video
2002The Snowman Who Saved SummerSanta Claus (voice)Direct-to-video

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1954–1961General Motors TheatreJonah Grundeen, Sweeney, George, Sgy. Wyeth, Booking Agent
1957Hawkeye and the Last of the MohicansMort Bailey, Major Conn, Major Duffy, Mr. Travers, Sheriff Peterson, Jess Adams6 episodes
1958–1959The UnforeseenKing, Monfort7 episodes
1959–1960R.C.M.P.George Needham, Kurt Hummel, Bush Pilot Watt, Martinson4 episodes
1961The United States Steel HourCharles Blake2 episodes
1961–1964PlaydateHeinrich, Grandpa, Vanderkemp, Dr. Bahn5 episodes
1965The Forest RangersProfessor Mandell, Porter2 episodes
1965Moment of TruthDexter1 episode
1966The Marvel Super HeroesBalder, Grey Gargoyle, Thor, additional voices
1966Julius CaesarCassiusTelevision film
1967–1968Rocket Robin HoodWill Scarlet, Infinata, Baron Blank (voice)6 episodes
1967–1970Spider-ManMysterio, Infinata, Harley Clivendon (voice)8 episodes
1968WojeckGilbert3 episodes
1969Adventures in Rainbow CountryFred VincentEpisode: "The Eye of the Needle"
1971–1972Paul Bernard, PsychiatristPaul BernardMain role
1973Tom SawyerLawyerTelevision film
1974The National DreamDonald Smith4 episodes
1974–1976Swiss Family RobinsonJohann Robinson, Buckley26 episodes
1977A Cosmic ChristmasMayor (voice)Television special
1978The Devil and Daniel MouseBeelzebub (voice)Television special
1979RielMiddletonTelevision film
1979Intergalactic ThanksgivingPa Spademinder (voice)Television special
1979An American Christmas CarolNathaniel BrewsterTelevision film
1979–1981The Littlest HoboEd Thompson2 episodes
1980The Courage of Kavik the Wolf DogVic WalkerTelevision film
1980Easter FeverSanta Claus (voice)Television film
1981John SheardownTelevision film
1981TitansGalieoEpisode: "Galieo"
1982Shock TraumaDr. McCallTelevision film
1982Mazes and MonstersKingTelevision film
1982–1986Hangin' InWard, Abe3 episodes
1983Mr. Sun (voice)Television film
1983Cook & Peary: The Race to the PoleRobertsTelevision film
1983A Case of LibelColonel DouglasTelevision film
1984Strawberry Shortcake and the Baby Without a NameMr. Sun, Narrator (voice)Television film
1985Faerie Tale TheatreAldermanEpisode: "The Pied Piper of Hamelin"
1985Strawberry Shortcake Meets the BerrykinsMr. Sun (voice)Television film
1985Jimmy ValentineVictor AdamsTelevision short
1985–1986The Edison TwinsLafayette, Old Trainer2 episodes
1985–1986Night HeatPicard, Maxim Gates2 episodes
1986BarnumOlmsteadTelevision film
1986Spearfield's DaughterSylvester Spearfield3 episodes
1986AdderlyBelkinEpisode: "Mailman"
1986–1988The Care Bears FamilyNo Heart (voice)46 episodes
1987MalcolmsonTelevision film
1987MariahTimothy Quinlan7 episodes
1987DinosaucersDimetro (voice)18 episodes
1987–1990Jack Marshak72 episodes
1989–1991BabarCornelius (voice)65 episodes
1989–1994Keroppi and FriendsNarrator (voice)
1990Divided LoyaltiesWilliam JohnsonTelevision film
1990Maniac MansionSanta ClausEpisode: "Good Cheer on Ya"
1990–1991CounterstrikeKistler, Police Inspector, Sgt. Luther3 episodes
1990–1992Street LegalRonald Spencer, Judge Ritter2 episodes
1991Mark Twain and MeCaptainTelevision film
1992Road to AvonleaMr. McCorkadaleEpisode: "Aunt Janet Rebels"
1992A Cry in the NightClydeTelevision film
1992–1993By Way of the StarsCaptain Harris6 episodes
1993Mike WestEpisode: "Blind Eye"
1994RoboCopRoger YungEpisode: "Prime Suspect"
1994Tales from the CryptkeeperSlim (voice)Episode: "The Haunted Mine"
1994Scales of JusticeLawyerEpisode: "L'Affaire Belshaw"
1995Black FoxRalph HoltzMiniseries
1995Sailor MoonNarrator, Mr. Baxter (voice)3 episodes
1995–1996The Neverending StoryMr. Correander, Thonkas11 episodes
1995–1998The New Adventures of Sherlock HolmesRobert Cansington (voice)
1996Sins of SilenceFather FlanniganTelevision film
1997Fast TrackCarl ScannelEpisode: "Triangle"
1997Windsor ProtocolCharles FergusonTelevision film
1997–1998Freaky StoriesNarrator (voice)3 episodes
1998Tim O'MalleyEpisode: "The Secret of Strandhill"
1998Pippi LongstockingFridolf (voice)2 episodes
1998BirdzOfficer Pigeon (voice)Episode: "One Giant Leap"
1998Evidence of BloodHorace Talbott
1998Thunder PointCharles FergusonTelevision film
1998–1999Mythic WarriorsElderly Stablehand, King Proteus, Great Oracle (voice)2 episodes
1999–2002RedwallAbbot Mortimer (voice)39 episodes
2000–2004FranklinMr. Groundhog (voice)4 episodes
2001–2003PecolaPecolias (voice)12 episodes
2003The Piano Man's DaughterJames KilworthTelevision film
2005ReGenesisVascily Popov3 episodes
2005Our FathersPriestTelevision film
2006Four MinutesBurnettTelevision film
2010–2011Babar and the Adventures of BadouCornelius (voice)17 episodes

Video games

Notes and References

  1. http://www.starpulse.com/Actors/Wiggins,_Chris/ StarPulse Page on Wiggins
  2. News: Fred . Langan . Remembering prolific actor Christopher Wiggins . . March 5, 2017 . January 13, 2024 . subscription.
  3. Book: Topalovich, Maria . A Pictorial History of the Canadian Film Awards . . 1984 . 0-7737-2036-7 . Toronto . 85 . The Canadian Film Awards 1949–1984 1969 . July 24, 2024 . https://archive.org/details/pictorialhistory0000topa/page/84/mode/2up?q=Wiggins . limited . Internet Archive text collection.
  4. News: Vlessing. Etan. Chris Wiggins, Veteran Character Actor, Dies at 87. The Hollywood Reporter. February 24, 2017. February 25, 2017.
  5. News: Christopher John Wiggins Obituary. Toronto Star. February 24, 2017. February 24, 2017.
  6. Web site: Chris Wiggins (visual voices guide) . August 19, 2024 . Behind The Voice Actors. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.