Iconic Disney child star Christian Juttner tragically dies

One of the most iconic Disney actors who starred in Return From Witch Mountain & I Wanna Hold Your Hand has died.

Christian Juttner, the American 70s Disney child actor who starred in Return From Witch Mountain and I Wanna Hold Your Hand, has died aged 60.

He died of natural causes at his home in Yucca Valley, California, his daughter Aidan Juttner toldThe Hollywood Reporter.

Return From Witch Mountain, I Wanna Hold Your Hand and The Swarm appeared in cinemas within five months of one another in 1978.

Christian played Dazzler, one of the truants known as the Earthquake Gang, in the sequel Return From Witch Mountain.

Juttner starred in some of Disney's biggest live action movies of the 70s. Picture: Getty

In I Wanna Hold Your Hand, the feature directorial debut of Robert Zemeckis, Christian was the boy with a Beatles-esque haircut determined to see the band perform on The Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964.

And in the Irwin Allen-directed disaster film The Swarm, Christian played a kid who suffers from recurring hallucinations of being attacked by giant bees.

Christian leaves behind his mother Marlene, ex-wife Ann, daughter Ryan, son Lucas and sister Shelley.

Learning of the sad new, Denis’s Return From Witch Mountain co-star Ike Eisemann issued an emotional tribute.

He said: “I have sadly learned that Christian Juttner, one of my co-stars in Return From Witch Mountain, has passed.

Juttner retired from his acting career in the 80s. Picture: Disney.

“He was an incredible actor, and one of the nicest people I have ever met. RIP ‘Dazzler’.”

Actress Lydia Cornell, who is best known for her role as Sara Rush on the ABC sitcom Too Close for Comfort, also shared a tribute.

She said: “Rest in peace Christian Juttner,” alongside a blue heart, butterfly and a crying emoji.

Despite his success as a child actor, Christian left acting in 1981 aged just 17.

He had made his first appearance on a 1972 episode of ABC’s Bewitched aged eight.

But after quitting acting Christian founded a glass business in the Caribbean - later moving to Santa Clarita, California.

Gutted fans shared their grief over Christian’s passing.

One: “How very sad to hear. Condolences to his family and friends.”

Another wrote: “He was in a number of good shows, including the Bionic Woman. I always liked seeing him act. A quiet innocence about him but could be a mischievous kid too. RIP.”

While a third posted: “Oh noo!! RIP I remember seeing him in the Swarm.”

This story originally appeared on The Sun and is republished here with permission.

Originally published as Iconic Disney child star Christian Juttner tragically dies