Christine Belford

Christine Belford
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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.

Early Life

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. Her family lived in the home that would later become the setting of the 1979 horror classic The Amityville Horror.

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.

—Christine Belford

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.

Her family discouraged idleness and she didn't grow up believing she would simply marry and be like Jackie. She grew up thinking in terms of a career, considering psychiatry, law, and writing, and always remained a good student. When she was 17, a friend suggested she should think of acting, which led her to pursue a career as an actress.

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. However, despite doing well in the drama department and knowing she had definite acting talent, nobody around New York or Broadway seemed to recognize it.

In order to keep a roof over my head and to eat, I took any job I could find. I was a waitress, a bar maid, and I also drove an ice truck.

—Christine Belford

She later got a photographic modeling job, and around this time she 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.

I was so much in love with him, I didn't really care what happened to my career. At that time, feeling the way I did, I would have done the same thing Carrie did, given it all up for love.

—Christine Belford

Career

In California, Belford met her good friend Carrie Snodgress, a star on the Universal Pictures lot. Around 1970, Snodgress was taking acting-novice Christine around the studio introducing her to important people who might help her get started on a film career. Snodgress suggested she visit Monique James, head of Universal's Hollywood talent division.

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.

—Christine Belford

Thanks to James' mentorship, Belford started with a leading role with Paul Newman in Pocket Money. She then worked in The Carey Treatment, Marcus Welby, Owen Marshall, and Ironside.

In 1972, Belford was under a seven-year contract with Universal Pictures, the only studio in Hollywood still issuing such contracts thanks to television commitments. She appeared in The Groundstar Conspiracy with George Peppard and Michael Sarrazin as her first feature film starring role, and was cast as Peppard's girlfriend in Banacek, appearing in the series but not as a regular, which gave her opportunities for other roles.

Throughout the 1970s, Belford guest-starred in many popular television series including The Six Million Dollar Man, The Incredible Hulk, and The Barbary Coast, where she did five 90-minute episodes.

In 1978, Belford starred as policewoman Leba in the TV movie To Kill a Cop, which aired on NBC's The Big Event (April 10-11, 1978). The four-hour drama starred Joe Don Baker and Louis Gossett Jr., with Belford's character partnered with Desi Arnaz Jr.'s character.

I like comedy very much, but then I don't like drama too. 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.

—Christine Belford

After Battlestar Galactica, Belford continued guest-starring in television series including Glen A. Larson's Magnum, P.I. and Quincy, M.E., as well as L.A. Law and Night Court. She had recurring roles in Dynasty and Beverly Hills, 90210.

By 1984, Belford had returned to her natural blonde hair color to play Ricky Schroder's mother on Silver Spoons, appearing on the NBC series from time to time. She also had a regular role on the CBS series Empire, playing Jackie, the wife of an executive (Richard Masur) in the Wednesday night comedy about corporate life.

Personal Life

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

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

References

External Links

• Christine Belford article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.