Chris Latta
Christoper Charles Collins
(Stage name: Chris Latta)
Born: August 30, 1949 in East Orange, New Jersey, USA
Died: February 10, 1994, of a heart attack or June 11 (12?), 1994 in Ventura, CA, of a drug overdose, death possibly contributed to by terminal throat cancer.
Survived by: Judith (spouse), Ben (son)
Voice Credits
10-14-1978 to 4-7-1979: Star Blazers/Space Cruiser Yamato TV series Season 2 - Sgt. Knox, Star Blazers/SCYamato
1984-87: Transformers - Starscream, Reflector, Wheeljack, Sparkplug, Skullcruncher, Krunk, Defensor
1986: Transformers: The Movie - Starscream
1984-86: G.I.Joe - Cobra Commander, Gung Ho, Steeler, Ripper, Breaker
1985: DinoRiders - Rasp
1986: Inhumanoids - D.Compose, Tendril, Grana-Q
1986: Inhumanoids: The Movie - D.Compose, Tendril, Grana-Q
1987: G.I.Joe: The Movie - Cobra Commander, Gung Ho, Ripper, Televiper #1
1987: Visionaries - Darkstorm, Cravex
Television Appearances 1987: Star Trek: TNG - 'Pakled Captain Grebnedlog'
- Episode - 1989 - "Samaritan Snare" (ep # 2.7) (air 5/13/89)
1987: Star Trek: The Next Generation - 'Captain Kargan' (Klingon Commander)
- Episode - 1989 - "A Matter of Honor" (ep # 2.8) (air 2/8/89)
1989: Anything But Love - (?) - Episode - "Ch-ch-changes" (air 9/27/89)
1989: Mama's Family - 'Larry McCary' - Episode - 1989 -"The Big Wheel"
1993: NYPD Blue - 'Paul Forbes' - Episode - 1993 -"Abandando Abandoned" (ep #1.13)
1993: Seinfeld - 'Hoodlum'
1993: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - 'Durg'
- Episode - 1993 -"The Passenger" (ep # 1.9) (air 2/20/93)
1994: Star Trek: DS9 - 'Albino's Aide'
- Episode - 1994 -"Blood Oath" (ep # 2.19) (air 3/26/94)
Filmography
1989: Roadhouse - 'Sharing Husband'
1991: Blue Desert - 'Phone Man'
1991: True Identity - 'Frank LaMotta'
1992: A Stranger Among Us - 'Chris Baldessari'
1992: Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot - 'Gang Member'
At BotCon 1998, Susan Blu (Arcee) said that Chris was one of the most energetic people she had ever worked with. Doug Parker, voice of Terrorsaur and Starscream from the Beast Wars series, said that he had admired Chris Latta for a long time. He had worked with Chris on several episodes of the G.I.Joe cartoon that was produced in Canada, mostly as a casting director. Doug was always trying to imitate Chris's roles of Starscream and Cobra Commander, and that's how and why he landed the job to voice Starscream in the Beast Wars episode, "Possession."
Not much is known about the life of Chris Latta. Aside from his voice acting, TV cameos, and film career, Chris toured as a stand up comedian in the late 1980's to the early 1990's. He would often appear at 'Evening at the Improv' from 1989-1993, as well as 'Caroline's Comedy Hour from 1990-1993.
Some reports at the time of Chris's death was that he had terminal throat cancer. Others say it was a heart attack, brought on by a weight problem. Chris was also described as being very depressed toward the end, and using cocaine as a means of escaping. Chris died sometime in 1994, with a still incomplete record of how and when he died. The voice acting and Transformers fans' worlds mourned that day...
