Christine Belford

Christine Belford
{{{credit}}}
Portrays:	Leda
Date of Birth:	January 14, 1949
Date of Death:	Missing required parameter 1=month!
Age:	76
Nationality:	USA
Related Media
		@ BW Media
[ Official Site]
IMDb profile

Christine Belford (born January 14, 1949) is an American actress who portrayed Leda, a disgruntled medtech, in the Original Series' "The Gun on Ice Planet Zero" two-parter.

Career

Born in Amityville, New York, Belford came from comfortable circumstances; her father was a successful sales executive with RCA-Whirlpool. She was enrolled at the best schools and joined the best swimming and yachting clubs on Long Island. Her early years were spent training and riding jumpers on Long Island. However, her family discouraged idleness and she didn't grow up believing the notion that eventually she would marry and be like Jackie. She grew up thinking in terms of a career, considering psychiatry, law, and writing, but always remained a good student. When she was 17, a friend suggested she should think of acting, which became an actress. Her family lived in the home that would later become the setting of the 1979 horror classic The Amityville Horror.

Belford registered at Hofstra University and met Joseph Leon, the teacher who was then running the school's drama department. Leon, who had been divorced for several years, became a second father to her, and she decided to pursue an acting career. Belford readily acknowledged that strong influences from teachers during the educational process can shape career paths. However, being in the drama department of Hofstra University and knowing she had definite acting talent presented challenges, as nobody around New York or Broadway seemed to realize it.

In order to keep a roof over her head and to eat, Belford took any job she could find: she was a waitress, a bar maid, and also drove an ice truck. Later, she got a photographic modeling job, which was about the time she was hit with the grand love affair that came to California, where she met her good friend Carrie and also Monique James.

In 1972, Belford was a starlet under a seven-year contract with Universal Pictures, the only studio in Hollywood still issuing full blast contracts thanks to television commitments. Her friend and successful Universal contract player, Carrie Snodgress, suggested she visit Monique James, head of Universal's Hollywood talent division, who absolutely loved Belford and impressed her during the interview. Belford described James as "the lady who heads up Universal's talent division on the West Coast," stating "Monique is the one who really took me in hand and encouraged me and told me to keep on trying—that I really had it." Thanks to the time James spent with her, Belford was able to start off with a leading role with Paul Newman in Pocket Money. Since then, she worked in The Carey Treatment, Marcus Welby, Owen Marshall, Ironside—and coming up on TV, Banacek (also with Peppard), and The Groundstar Conspiracy as her first feature film starring role. Everything happened in such a short time that she wondered, with her work life so full, if she had little time for anything else.

On his way out, George Peppard stopped by to say "Hi," and he and Christine shook hands, about which Manners noted "That's about all she has time for romantically these days." At 23, Belford did not have a very impressive list of credits, but she did have horsemanship skills.

Belford was profiled in the article as resembling actress Carole Lombard, particularly after cutting her long hair into a floppy hat style. She expressed a desire to pursue comedy roles similar to Lombard's work, stating her way of counteracting nerves was showing her range as a neurotic type.

Columnist Dorothy Manners described her career trajectory in 1972, noting her optimistic approach to the entertainment industry. Two years prior to the 1972 article, her friend Carrie Snodgress, a star on the Universal lot, was taking acting-novice Christine around the studio introducing her to important people who might help her get started on a film career. Ironically, by 1972 Snodgress (on suspension by Universal for refusing role after role) was currently awaiting the arrival of a baby whose father is singer Neil Young, while Christine was currently on view co-starring with George Peppard and Michael Sarrazin in "The Groundstar Conspiracy", had a long-term contract with the studio, and recently banked a healthy bonus for her appearances in the company's assorted TV shows.

The reversal became even more ironic when considering the details: Belford gave up a chance for a top role in Hair on Broadway to follow a man she was very much in love with to California. She was so much in love that she didn't really care what happened to her career, stating, "At that time, feeling the way I did, I would have done the same thing Carrie did, given it all up for love."

By the time of the interview, seated in the booth next to Manners at the Polo Lounge, Belford stated "Now I know better," noting the relationship had slowed down to a few dinner dates and just a nice friendship, with a few laughs together. George Peppard, rumored to be a more recent love interest of Christine's, was seated in the booth next to them; she shook her head about the rumors and stated they had something going for a little while. On the emotional side, Belford stated she was looking for these days someone "I'm not years old, I've been unbelievably lucky in the breaks I'm getting at a time when the industry is in a slump. I have a little house I love, and three cats, and all the clothes I can wear. I don't even want—or need—any more money."

Belford described herself as animated and excited, with green eyes that light up on a childishly rounded face that manages to be surprisingly sexy, with heavy red hair in short bounces and a decollete summer blouse adding to the sexy appeal. Men looked at her twice, and she knew it, but for the time being, serious involvement with men would have to wait its turn.

Reflecting on her background, Belford stated, "Just because I came out here with no experience professionally doesn't mean I was a greenhorn. I grew up in a lovely home on Long Island, where I was born. My father was a successful man and his family enjoyed life. As a child, I rode and showed jumpers, was close to my family and had a lot of friends. No hang-ups. That is, until my parents divorced. That was a crusher. I took it hard." She noted that by the time she was old enough to realize everyone has to live their own life—even parents—she had the feeling she wanted to get away, to be on her own, to become completely independent.

Belford was cast as George Peppard's girlfriend in Banacek, appearing close to the series but fortunately not selected for every episode, which she felt gave her opportunities for other roles. She also appeared in a feature with George in "The Groundstar Conspiracy."

Belford guest-starred in many popular American television series since the 1970s, including Ironside, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Incredible Hulk, L.A. Law, and Night Court.

In 1978, Belford starred as policewoman Leba in the TV movie To Kill a Cop, which aired on NBC's Monday and Tuesday night The Big Event time slot (April 10-11, 9-11 p.m.). The four-hour drama told the story of a maverick New York police detective's efforts to stop a demented cop-killing revolutionary, with Joe Don Baker of Walking Tall fame and Emmy winner Louis Gossett Jr. of Roots as the stars of the show. The film was based on a story by Robert Daley about a policewoman from a large Eastern city who is trying to help the department search out terrorists. Belford's character Leba was partnered with Desi Arnaz Jr.'s character, and they ride around together in the police car.

Belford did research for the role by doing "some research on policewomen," noting they even got involved in shootout activity in the city, and there was an instance of one policewoman taking a knife away from a man involved in a family dispute. She noted that they've been putting women in police cars in New York City since 1973.

Discussing her preference for roles, Belford stated she liked comedy very much but then didn't like drama too, explaining, "On a week to week basis I think comedy would probably be better. I used to like the Mary Tyler Moore Show and I still like All in the Family. I didn't like this one at first because I didn't like all the shouting." She watched Today Show every morning and also Days of our Lives, Doctors, and Another World, sometimes watched Love Story and Maude, and old movies whenever they're played.

The interview took place at the exclusive Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles. During the interview, Belford was described as a tall, brown-haired beauty who pulled her chair close to the ashtray, sat down and lit a cigarette, inhaling deeply and then blowing the smoke high in the air. She stated, "I don't love smoking the way I used to. But sometimes I just have to have one. I've been smoking since I was about 12 years old. I'm quitting next Friday, because that's my birthday, my 29th birthday," her eyes danced teasingly, noting she was not saying how many 29th birthdays she was going to have.

When asked about the movie causing problems with her husband at home, Belford responded, "I'm married, you know, in the movie, and this causes a few problems. There's one scene with my husband at home. The viewers will get the picture of his point of view about his wife who has worked with the police department for six years in administration and then goes out on the streets."

Regarding the difference between the movie and the book it was based on, Belford explained that the movie was more appealing: "The characters have been cleaned up a bit in the film. They're more appealing in the movie than they are in the book." About her role becoming deeply involved with beat cops, she stated, "In the plot I become very deeply involved with beat. I guess we'd almost have to in this kind of work," adding that it's a moralistic story—"It's more of a kind of coded entertainment rather than uplifting or character-building."

Discussing her past experience in entertainment, she noted that she did five 90-minute shows in The Barbary Coast series, had been in a whole host of pilots, and every pilot seemed to be a hit but would slow right now, noting there's not much in the way of pilots to do because the people for the pilots have already been picked.

Comparing television to film, she stated, "It took us two months to film the picture and four and a half hours on the television screen. I've read the book and I think the picture, in a lot of ways, is very different. The characters have been cleaned up a bit in the film."

Belford explained that the real characters in the story are real people, stating it was a very good script and thought there was a lot revealed in just a few words, particularly how self-conscious she is about the role of a policewoman and how involved with anyone seriously in real life. She noted she was "crazy about the question" regarding whether she was self-conscious, stating "That was evident. She thought for a moment and then decided to answer it," responding with "YEAH. I'VE BEEN with someone for the past couple of years."

When asked about her next birthday, she responded, "No, I don't think so. This age seems to be the beginning of change. I've grown up. It sounded pretty old back when I was 12, I guess. But then, when I was 14, I mean, I could have gone into any bar and gotten a drink anytime I wanted to. I've been looking a lot older for a long time."

She had recurring roles in Dynasty and Beverly Hills, 90210.

After Battlestar Galactica, Belford guest-starred in Glen A. Larson's most successful TV series, Magnum, P.I., having previously appeared in minor roles for Larson's earlier shows such as Quincy, M.E.

In 1984, Belford shared a recipe in a celebrity cookbook feature, demonstrating her engagement with popular culture beyond acting.

By 1984, Belford had returned to her natural blonde hair color after years of dyeing it darker. About a year and a half prior, she had returned to being blonde after being a brunette since childhood, stating "I'd been a blonde until I was about 9. That was the day I dyed my hair brown. But when I woke up it was green. My hair has returned it its natural blonde color until now." She went back to being blonde to play the role of Ricky Schroder's mother on Silver Spoons, continuing to appear on the NBC series from time to time. She also had a regular role on the new CBS series Empire, stating it was her favorite role among all the roles she had done, possibly because it was a blonde roll. In Empire, Belford played Jackie, the wife of one of the executives (Richard Masur), and there were some similarities between the actor and her character. The Wednesday night comedy was about life in a big corporation's executive suite.

Personal Life

Belford is married to actor Nicholas Pryor. Pryor passed away on October 7, 2024, at the age of 89.

When interviewed in 1972, Belford was visiting her mother in New York and her acting teacher Joseph Leon, whom she credited as giving her professional experience at Monique James' studio during the interview.

Belford's mother Mary Belford Malone passed away on May 2, 2010. Her stepfather (or acting mentor who became like a father) Joseph Leon passed away on February 3, 2012.

References

External Links

• Christine Belford article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.