All-star cast for charity ski

Press, 22 July 1988, Page 1

All-star cast for charity ski

By

DEBORAH McPHERSON

Ski-ing, fishing and “raising babies” are on the New Zealand holiday agenda of the American actor, Dirk Benedict, who was one of four film stars to arrive in Christchurch yesterday for the International Celebrity Ski Classic beginning today at Mount Hutt. The 10-day charity ski series will be staged at various South Island fields and will benefit the Crippled Children Society. Benedict’s acting colleagues and fellow ski enthusiasts are Jim Sikking (Lieutenant How-

ard Hunter in “Hill Street Blues”), Cheech Marin of Cheech and Chong fame, and Cliff Robertson, a movie veteran who starred in the New Zealand film, “Shaker Run.” Benedict plays Face on “The A Team” television series and is also remembered as Starbuck in the “Battlestar Galactica” science fiction series.

But it was clear yesterday that the bright lights of Hollywood were far from his mind.

“I am just here to ski, fish and raise babies,” he said.

The “raising babies bit”

would be done with his wife, Tonie, and son, George, aged five months, who are accompanying him.

After half an hour in Christchurch Benedict said he was already “toying with the idea of buying some land and maybe settling here.” “It is so like my home town in Montana. “I would like to ride some horses too, but I didn’t bring my lassoo.”

Far from basking in his stardom, however, his main interests now were spending

time with his family and writing books, Benedict said. ’ Both Sikking and Robertson are familiar with New Zealand, having visited four times. “I came back because I love i the place and it is a good cause,” said Robertson. Sikking, who had contributed to New Zealand charities before, having taken part in a previous Telethon, said he was looking forward to taking part in another good cause. While in the South Island, he has also been filming at Te ] Anau, for a new N.B.C. mini

series, “Brotherhood of the ;Rose,” which has been bought by TVNZ. Margot Kidder, who is remembered for her role as Lois Lane in the “Superman” movies, will arrive here today. Susan Ruttan, who plays Roxanne in “L.A. Law,” was also to have taken part in the ski series but had to cancel because of a family illness.

All the actors were keen to get on with ski-ing today, and seemed reassured by the announcement that Mount Hutt had had 50cm of snow this week.