Chris Wiggins was born on 13 January 1931 in Blackpool. Before pursuing a career in acting, he initially worked as a banker in the UK. However, after emigrating to Canada in 1952, he transitioned into the entertainment industry and built a successful career in television, film, and radio.
He is perhaps best remembered for his role as Jack Marshak, the knowledgeable and kind-hearted expert on the occult, in the syndicated horror series Friday the 13th: The Series, which aired from 1987 to 1990. Another notable role was that of Johann Robinson (the father) in Swiss Family Robinson, appearing in all 26 episodes of the television series from 1974 to 1976. Coincidentally, actress Janet Munro, also from Blackpool, played the daughter in Disney’s 1960 film adaptation of the same story.
In 1969, Wiggins won a Canadian Film Award for Best Actor in a Non-Feature for his performance in The Best Damn Fiddler from Calabogie to Kaladar. Alongside his work in television and film, he was a prolific radio actor, making over 1,200 appearances on various programmes, particularly on CBC Radio. One of his most memorable roles was as Dante, the exceptionally intelligent—and equally arrogant—computer operating the Aleph-9, a high-speed interdimensional spacecraft in Johnny Chase: Secret Agent of Space. He was also a frequent voice on CBC Radio productions such as Nightfall and Vanishing Point, among many others.
Wiggins’ film credits included Murder by Decree (1979), where he appeared in a Sherlock Holmes mystery involving the Jack the Ripper murders, uncovering a sinister conspiracy to shield the killer.
Prod DB © Famous Players / (MURDER BY DECREE) In this scene Chris Wiggins appears with Christopher Plummer, James Mason, and Geneviève Bujold.
Chris Wiggins also had an extensive career as a voice actor, lending his talents to numerous animated television series and films. He provided the voice for the villainous Mysterio in Spider-Man, Will Scarlet in Rocket Robin Hood, and the Great Wishing Star in Care Bears Movie II: A New Generation (1986). He was also well known for voicing No Heart, the main antagonist in the Nelvana-produced Care Bears series, as well as the character Dimetro in Dinosaucers.
His voice work extended to many other animated productions, including ALF Tales, Star Wars: Droids, Rock & Rule, Star Wars: Ewoks, Babar, Babar and the Adventures of Badou, Rupert, Richard Scarry, Franklin, and Redwall.
Wiggins was married to Sandra Crysler-Wiggins, who passed away in 2009. The couple had no children. He spent his final years in a nursing home in Elora, Ontario, and died on 19 February 2017 from complications related to Alzheimer’s disease.
FRIDAY THE 13TH: THE SERIES, Chris Wiggins, (Season 2-1989), 1987-90, ©Paramount Television/courtesy Everett Collection
