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Jordan Christopher (October 23, 1940 – January 21, 1996) was an American actor and singer. He was the lead singer of The Wild Ones, who recorded the original version of the rock classic "Wild Thing" after Christopher had left the band.

Jordan Christopher
Born
Jordan Christopher Zankoff

(1940-10-23)October 23, 1940
DiedJanuary 21, 1996(1996-01-21) (aged 55)
Spouse
(m. 1965)

Early life

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Born in Youngstown, Ohio, to Macedonian immigrants Eli and Dorothy Zankoff, he moved at an early age to Akron, where his father ran a downtown bar.

Career

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Music

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Christopher became interested in singing with the rise of rock & roll, spending much of his time at the music clubs in Akron's black neighborhoods. He formed a doo-wop group called the Fascinations, who released unsuccessful singles on several small labels in the early 1960s.

Christopher's break came when he joined The Wild Ones, the house band at New York's Peppermint Lounge, as singer and guitarist. After a residency at the Peppermint Lounge of eight months, The Wild Ones were hired to play at Arthur, the Manhattan discothèque operated by Sybil Williams, then recently divorced from actor Richard Burton. Within a month of meeting, Christopher and Williams – eleven years his senior – began dating and married in 1966.

Thanks to the publicity Williams received as the ex-wife of Richard Burton, there was great interest in Arthur, and The Wild Ones were able to secure a recording contract with United Artists Records, releasing an album, The Arthur Sound. However, Christopher left the band shortly after its release to develop an acting career. Producer Gerry Granahan later commissioned Brill Building songwriter Chip Taylor to write a song specifically for the band. "Wild Thing" – sung by the band's new lead vocalist, Chuck Alden, not Christopher – was the result.[1]

Acting

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Christopher acted in several films including The Fat Spy (1966), Return of the Seven (1966), The Tree (1969), Pigeons (1971), Star 80 (1983), Brainstorm (1983) and That's Life! (1986). His most celebrated role is likely as a dissolute rock star in the cult film Angel, Angel, Down We Go (1969), in which he played the male lead opposite Jennifer Jones.

He also appeared on stage, including on Broadway in Sleuth. Christopher continued to act intermittently.

Other pursuits

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He worked behind the scenes with his wife in her operation of the New Theatre on 54th Street in New York City and Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor, New York.

Personal life

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A marriage early in his adulthood ended but produced a daughter, Jodi.

He began dating Manhattan discothèque operator Sybil Williams about a month of meeting. He was eleven years younger than her. They married in 1966 and had a daughter, Amy.

Christopher died of a heart attack on January 21, 1996, at age 55.

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1966 The Fat Spy Frankie
1966 The Mike Douglas Show Self/Co-host 3 episodes
1966 Return of the Seven Manuel De Norte First sequel to The Magnificent Seven
1966-1967 The Merv Griffin Show Self 2 episodes
1969 The Tree Buck Gagnon
1969 Angel, Angel, Down We Go Bogart Peter Stuyvesant
1969 The Name of the Game Bruce Roxton Episode: "Love-In at Ground Zero"
1970 The Sidelong Glances of a Pigeon Kicker Jonathan Original title: "Pigeons"
1974 The ABC Afternoon Playbreak Adam Episode: "Heart in Hiding"
1980-1981 Secrets of Midland Heights Guy Millington 11 episodes
1983 Star 80 Peter Rose
1983 Hart to Hart Alex Fordham Episode: "Harts on the Scent"
1983 Brainstorm Gordy Forbes
1984 Paper Dolls Oliver pilot episode
1985 Seduced Howell TV film
1986 That's Life! Dr. Keith Romanis
1986-1987 Scarecrow and Mrs. King Norton Scott/Ren Lepard 2 episodes

References

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  1. ^ Tricarico, Justin. "The Wild Ones without Jordan". justintricario.pbworks.com. Retrieved 30 October 2015.

Local history: Fascinating life for Buchtel alum -- Ohio.com

The Making Of… The Troggs’ ‘Wild Thing’ -- Uncut

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