Chris Drake

James Christian Droste, known professionally as Chris Drake, was born on December 11, 1923, near Richmond, Virginia, where his family had established roots dating back to 1638. At the age of ten, he relocated with his family to Manhattan Beach, California, following his father's development of an incurable skin condition, eventually graduating from El Segundo High School. His life took a dramatic turn during World War II when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, serving from 1942 to 1944 as a member of the legendary Carlson's Raiders. Drake saw intense combat at Guadalcanal, where he suffered multiple wounds that required over eleven months of recovery across eight Naval Hospitals. For his bravery and sacrifice, he was awarded the Purple Heart and received two presidential unit citations for gallantry, establishing himself as a genuine war hero before his entertainment career began. Following his military service, Drake transitioned to acting after securing a bit part in an RKO film, which led to a long-term contract with the studio. He achieved leading man status in the 1952 film Forever My Love (also known as Itsu itsu made mo), where he starred alongside Mitsuko Kimura, and later appeared in the iconic 1954 science fiction classic Them!. However, he remains best remembered for his co-starring role in the 1950s television series Sheena, Queen of the Jungle, where he appeared opposite Irish McCalla. His television credits further included appearances on beloved shows such as Lassie, Stories of the Century (portraying Burt Alvord), Tales of Wells Fargo (as Charlie Ford), Dragnet, and The Lone Ranger. After retiring from acting in 1961, Drake built a successful second career in real estate, owning or holding interests in eleven offices throughout the Palos Verdes area of California until 1990. He retired completely in 1992, returning to his native Virginia, where he lived until his death on July 9, 2006, at the age of 82.