Christopher Norris (born October 7, 1953) is an American former Broadway, film and television actress. She began acting on Broadway and is probably best known for her portrayal of nurse Gloria "Ripples" Brancusi in the television series Trapper John, M.D.. Early in pregnancy her parents picked the name "Christopher" and decided to name the baby that regardless of its sex. She attended Los Angeles Valley College and, in the 1990s, she broke from acting and graduated with a B.A. in psychology and theater from Antioch University.
Early notable roles include the wild girl Miriam in Summer of '42 (1971),Maltin, Leonard. Leonard Maltin's 2006 Movie Guide (NYC: Penguin, 2006), p.1254 a heroic young flight attendant in the disaster film Airport 1975 (1974), and as a hot girl in Roger Corman's Eat My Dust! (1976).Craddock, Jim, editor. VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever (Detroit, Michigan: Thomson Gale Group, 2007), p.277. Early in her career, Norris typically played wholesome, "girl next door" types, and, later in her career, she got more "vixen" type roles, including the role of loony Laura Simmons Asher on the daytime soap Santa Barbara. Her other daytime credits include Another World and Guiding Light.
In 1980, Norris married Walter Danley, a businessman and later mystery novelist. They divorced in 1998.
Due to their physical resemblance, Norris is frequently mistaken for Melanie Griffith. Because of this, Griffith was mistakenly interviewed in the 1990s by the British media about acting in Airport 1975.Christopher Norris.Archived. June 24, 2024.
She designed the exterior and interior of her home, and Christopher Norris nurse uniforms were designed, sold, and proceeds used for nursing scholarships.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1971 Summer of '42 Miriam 1971 Lady Liberty Lydia Uncredited1974 Airport 1975 Bette 1974 Goodnight Jackie Donna 1976 Eat My Dust! Darlene Kurtz
Television 1967Truman Capote's "The Thanksgiving Visitor"Annabelle ConklinTV film based on his short story1968–1970The Edge of NightSarah Louise Capice 3 episodes1971Mr and Mrs Bo Jo JonesJulie GreherABC Movie of the Week1973The Great American Beauty ContestMiss UtahABC Movie of the Week1973The Paul Lynde ShowJulie CunninghamSeason 1, Episode 26: Springtime for Paul1974Sons and DaughtersLisa2 episodes1975The Hatfields and the McCoysNancy McCoyABC Movie of the Week1975The Secrets of IsisDorothy BiederSeason 1, Episode 11: No Drums, No Trumpets 1976 Wonder Woman Gloria Season 1, Episode 13: Wonder Woman in Hollywood1977Happy DaysSheilaSeason 4, Episode 24: The Last of the Big Time Malphs1977Forever FernwoodHortenseEpisode #1.181978Fantasy IslandShirley RobertsSeason 2, Episode 6: War Games/Queen of the Boston Bruisers1978Barnaby JonesJuneSeason 7, Episode 8: Stages of Fear 1979–1986 Trapper John, M.D. Nurse Gloria “Ripples” Brancusi 132 episodes1980GridlockLinda ReinhardtTV film (NBC) 1980 The Love Boat Gail Pagett Series 3, Episode 28: No girls for Doc/Marriage of convenience/The caller/The witness1981Aloha ParadiseDarcy HoltzSeason 1, Episode 5: The Best of Friends/Success/9 Carats 1982 The Love Boat Angelica Franchini Series 6, Episodes 1 & 2: The Italian Cruise: Venetian Love Song/Down for the Count/Arrividerci, Gopher/The Arrangement: Parts 1 & 21983–1988HotelCarol Bowman/Helen Madison4 episodes1984Finder of Lost Loves Elisa/Eden Crawford Season 1, Episode 3: Losing Touch1986–1988Murder, She Wrote Pru Mattson/Denise Quinlan 2 episodes1987 Matlock Judy Benson Season 2, Episode 5: The Husband1987The New Mike HammerCynthia StillmanSeason 3, Episode 17: The Last Laugh1989–1990Santa BarbaraLaura Asher 185 episodes1992Guiding Light Rebecca Nash 3 episodes1998Diagnosis: MurderKarin HatcherSeason 5, Episode 15: Drill for Death1998–1999Another World Margaret Allen 9 episodes
Broadway Year Title Role Notes 1964Roar Like a Dove Jane 1965–1966The PlayroomEllen
Off Broadway Year Title Role Notes 1964The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Lorraine Serabian Peninnah
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