According to IMDb, Crist Swan has 3 film/TV credits, including a single episode of the Cosby Show in 1987.
From a Feature in the NY Times, February 8, 1987
TAKE it from the Mount Vernon actors Crist Swann and Steve Fowler. Once you have fallen under the influence of Tina Sattin, a self-described acting coach, you are bound to become her disciple.
On Thursday, Mr. Swann will be seen on the popular Bill Cosby television show for the first time, in what is expected to become a recurring role. The following Tuesday, Mr. Fowler will make his Broadway debut in the extravagant, much-awaited musical, ”Starlight Express.”
Although both actors can be called alumni of Mount Vernon’s Open Cage Theater Workshop, which was founded and is directed by Ms. Sattin, they are now on its advisory board -and keep up with Ms. Sattin’s training. ”We’re a real family,” Mr. Swann said.
Ms. Sattin remarked: ”Once they get a major role, they come back here to work on scenes. Acting is an ongoing process. You don’t just get up there and do it. The training, the expertise, the discipline go on.”
Mr. Swann came upon the Open Cage Workshop in a circuitous way. When he moved to Mount Vernon about 15 years ago, he was a singer who wanted to be an actor. One goes to Manhattan to learn all about acting – or so he thought. He recalled ”running into a friend in New York – an actor/director – who told me to connect with Tina.” His friend directed Mr. Swann right back to Mount Vernon.
…By contrast, Mr. Swann’s ”Cosby Show” experience was less certain. ”For one 30-minute episode, we had four different scripts; I learned all the lines of one and was handed a new one the next day. Bill Cosby is a perfectionist. He has a hand in directing and rewriting, and he watches all the other characters – and all the while, he’s still doing his stuff,” Mr. Swann said.
Indeed, Mr. Swann tried out for the Cosby Show four times before landing a spot on it. Each time, he passed the first three audition steps and got as far as being interviewed by the show’s star. For his first audition, Mr. Swann recalled, ”I dressed for a 26- to 30-year-old role, but they had an 18-year-old in mind.”
Then, Mr. Swann was up for the part of Sondra’s boyfriend, he recalled, referring to Mr. Cosby’s oldest daughter in the show. ”I wasn’t the right type,” Mr. Swann said. ” ‘But I remember you; I like your quality; we’ll have a role written for you,’ Mr. Cosby kept saying.”
That role turned out to be one of a young father-to-be, ”but the story line didn’t develop,” Mr. Swann said.
The role that did develop for Mr. Swann is that of Dr. Harold Eckert, whom Mr. Cosby, who plays an obstetrician in the series, calls his ”favorite resident.”
”And my character idolizes him, so it’s like a mutual admiration society,” Mr. Swann said.
In Thursday’s episode, Dr. Eckert has to deal with three couples who are expecting babies ”and I have a romantic interest besides,” Mr. Swann added.
Although he has appeared in several Off Off Broadway productions, Mr. Swann has been making his living by doing television commercials, having promoted copying machines, raincoats, underwear and a savings bank over the last six or seven years.
| Credit Type | Production | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Actor | Second Hurricane | 1985-86 Season |