In the episode titled The Psychic, Petersen made his television debut with a small role as "Ringo", one of two boys who are caught stealing tires from Starsky's Ford Gran Torino.
In the film, Petersen had a featured role as "Hal", one of the boys who fire-bomb a hive of killer bees that are attacking the residents in their small Texas town.
[5] In the episode titled No Escape, Petersen guest-starred as Steve, a young teen who encounters "The Hulk" (Lou Ferrigno) in an all-night laundromat and runs out frightened without his clothes.
[9][10][11] The series was produced in Hollywood for the 1979–80 season before production was moved to Ontario, Canada and an entirely new Baxter family was introduced, played by an all new cast.
[3] In the episode titled The House at 12 Rose Street, Chris starred alongside fellow child actor Moosie Drier, as one of the boys in an all-white suburban neighborhood when the first African-American family moves in.
[15] After finishing his year on The Baxters, just as his brother Pat was rising to prominence as Michael Fairgate on the CBS primetime drama Knots Landing, Chris Petersen's acting career was coming to its end.
[3][5][6] In October 1981, he had a small role on the NBC mystery-crime drama Quincy, M.E..[3][5][6] In the episode titled Memories of Allison, Petersen appeared as one of the students attending a high school "career day"; his character simply credited as "Boy".