Biography
Gerard Christopher is best known for playing Superboy/Clark Kent in "The Adventures of Superboy," a Viacom production that aired internationally from 1988-2000.
Big Apple Hero
Gerard fell into the part long before he began his role as Superboy in 1989. In December of 1979 in New York City, while a passenger, Gerard stopped a bus in the middle of the street to help a woman who was struggling with a mugger to keep her handbag. As Gerard ran from the bus, the mugger slashed the woman in the neck and Gerard tackled him and wrestled the knife away. Fortunately, the woman recovered and the mugger went to jail. About six months later, on an August afternoon in New York, Gerard spotted a necklace thief and made chase through busy rush hour sidewalk traffic. He tackled the thief, and waited for police to arrive.
News Articles
This incident, which occurred just days before the Democratic National Convention; was reported in newspapers around the country and Gerard was given an award for heroism by the New York Convention and Visitors Bureau.
"The Superman and Superboy characters have become a part of the American cultural fabric - everyone is aware of them. I want to take the show to a higher level by continuing to raise the quality of the scripts, the production values, and by using distinguished artists in guest star roles." – Gerard Christopher
His career as a TV hero was a bit more difficult. From the moment that Gerard was chosen as the new Superboy that would replace the actor that was fired he had a difficult job ahead of himself.
Fortunately, just weeks after Gerard donned his tights and cape, the show's rating soared to number ten. Soon thereafter, Gerard's writing talent and business savvy caught the attention of Viacom and he was made a contributing writer in his second season and producer in his third. Viacom also gave him a directing contract in his third and final season.
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Speaking of an episode written by Gerard, New York Post television critic, David Bianculli said, "Scripts have begun to stress character and plot above special effects gimmickry. In terms of the sensibilities of the series to date, the results are somewhat super. The series, as a whole, like Star Trek: The Next Generation, is a first run syndicated series worth noting and enjoying."
One episode written by Gerard, entitled 'Wish for Armageddon' was the only episode that Viacom submitted for Emmy Award consideration. The Adventures of Superboy celebrated the completion of its 100th episode in August of 1991.
Prior to his arrival as the new Boy of Steel, the show's Nielsen rating was number 48 and it was teetering on the edge of being cancelled. In August of 1989, on one of his first days on the job, producer Ilya Salkind gave Gerard a pep talk by telling him that if the ratings do not go up immediately, the show would be canceled. He said "If you think that I'm putting pressure on you, I am!"
Modeling
From Book Covers to Mannequins
Before he found his way to the small screen, Gerard began his career as a fashion model with Wilhelmina Models and worked extensively in New York, Milan, and Tokyo.
His handsome All-American good looks also won him some unusual modeling assignments such as when he was hired to pose to be sculpted for the likeness of store mannequins on separate occasions by two of the world's largest mannequin makers. He also appeared on the covers of many romance novels and his figure was the subject of artist's canvases and he even appeared in photography art books.