Christopher Nixon Seiter

SEITER, Christopher Nixon
Passed away serenely at his home in Pasadena on Wednesday, December 17, 2003, of complications from heart and lung problems. Born August 9, 1935, Christopher was the son of William Alfred Seiter, motion picture and television director and producer, and his wife Marian Nixon Seiter, film actress and star of over 60 silents and talkies until she retired at Chris' birth. He was also the stepson of Ben Lyon, whom his mother married many years after Mr. Seiter's death. Christopher followed in his father's footsteps. After graduating from Webb School in Claremont, CA, he entered USC's Film School where he became friends with many fledgling directors and producers from around the world who would leave USC to establish film industries in their own countries. After a tour of duty in the Army, Chris started his own career in the "mail room" at Universal, soon became a 2nd assistant and then 1st assistant director in films, television series and movies made for television. He cut his teeth on "Gunsmoke," spent four years in Hawaii on "Hawaii Five-0," assistant directed "Wild Wild West'" "Cimarron Strip," and features "Save the Tiger," "James Dean." "The Shaggy DA," "Pete's Dragon," "The Black Hole," "No Deposit No Return," "North Avenue Irregulars," and many more before turning his attention fully to television production, specifically to "Fame," "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," "For Love and Honor" for David Gerber, "Columbo" for which Chris produced 9 episodes for Peter Falk, and "Murder She Wrote." Throughout his reel and real life, Christopher was a gentleman, a source of calm and strength in an industry of jitters. He was honest, caring, without ego. As Dawn Wells, his dear friend of many years said, "He was a truly good man, maybe the last of the good men." He loved golf, Christmas, gardening, but most of all his family. "If you came into Dad's life, you became part of his family," said son William. He leaves a community of dear friends, and a loving family including his children, Courtney Seiter Ramirez and husband Robert, their children Tyler and Marian; son William Ellison Seiter and wife Amy, their son Rowan; and daughter Katharine Victoria Seiter (Tori); and his sister Jessica Seiter Niblo, her sons Nick and Ted Griffin and her husband, James Niblo; and ex-wife Kimberley Coy Phinney. A memorial service will be held at Church of Our Saviour at 535 West Roses Road, San Gabriel, on Sunday, December 21 at 3:00 p.m. Interment will be private at Forest Lawn, Glendale. In lieu of flowers, his children request that contributions can be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Society, or the Heart Association.