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Christopher M. Dukes has built an eclectic and dynamic career in Hollywood, transitioning from stunt double for Patrick Swayze to actor in major productions such as G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, NCIS, and the upcoming holiday film A Heart Full of Hope. His credits also include work on Alias, The West Wing, Transformers, Fresh Off the Boat, and Pump.
Outside the screen, Dukes is also the founder of Dukes Wealth Management, Inc., a boutique retirement asset firm serving hundreds across Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Can you describe a project where your experience as both an actor and a stunt performer brought a unique perspective to your role, and how did you balance the demands of both disciplines?
A great example of this is in early 2020, I was hired to stunt coordinate an independent film by director Dan Mirvish. The finale of the movie is a fairly complex fight sequence between four characters that takes place entirely in a beach cabin and involves multiple unique ways in which the characters are killed off. Each character had different specialties, so I had to take that into account when crafting the scene. I was able to spend a day coming up with the plan for the sequence and then was given time with the actors to rehearse and make sure that everyone was comfortable with what I had designed for them. The result was an ending to the movie that far surpassed my expectations.
What is your approach to preparing for particularly dangerous stunts, and how do you ensure safety for yourself and your team on set?
It’s all about safety first. While I want to entertain the audience with whatever I’m tasked to do, I make sure that it can be done safely under the supervision of trained professionals. Mentally, I’m at ease while performing a stunt because I know my stunt brothers and sisters will keep me safe.
What inspired you to begin your philanthropic journey, and are there specific causes or personal experiences that have shaped your approach to giving?
My grandparents on both sides of the family passed away from some form of cancer. Their deaths introduced me to cancer and its effects at an early age. While I couldn’t help them, my resolve became to do anything I could to help in the future. I first joined the board of directors for the WeSpark Cancer support center in 2010. This group helps to provide free services and programs to cancer patients, survivors, and their loved ones. In 2017, I joined the board of directors of the Bumblebee Foundation. Their mission is to inspire hope and faith by providing support to the overall wellbeing of pediatric cancer families. In 2024, I was elected president of that board. I still serve proudly on both.
What advice would you give to nonprofits or organizations seeking to build strong, lasting relationships with philanthropists like yourself?
There are hundreds of quality nonprofits and all of them need contributions to survive. I think the best way for nonprofits to find like-minded individuals is to hold lunch and learns or educational dinners. By inviting prospective donors to a function where they are able to learn about your organization and ask follow-up questions, you stand a much better chance at
What motivated you to enter the financial industry as an entrepreneur, and how do your experiences in entertainment and philanthropy influence your business philosophy?
I had always been good at telling my friends what to do with their monies. In late 2002, a good friend of mine encouraged me to get my insurance license to be able to sell life and annuities. In late 2007, I got my securities license to be able to handle all financial products. My two worlds actually intersect quite a bit because I understand how finances work for entertainers. When you’re on a project, you want to save and bank the monies to cover you between gigs. As a performer, I understand the ebbs and flows of the industry, and it helps me navigate what products I recommend to my entertainment clients.
Looking ahead, what legacy do you hope to leave through your work in entertainment, philanthropy, and finance?
My life is not about me anymore. I support my family, my employees’ families, and my clients' families. They all depend on me doing what I do day in and day out. When my son was around 8 years old, he came downstairs one day and asked me "dad why are we here?" I first thought he meant why are we in California until I realized it was a ‘meaning of life’ question. I didn’t think I’d get hit with that one till he was a teenager, but I answered him this way. I think that we are supposed to make a difference in life and that we are to leave the world a better place than it was when we came into it. That would be my legacy and what I hope I’m remembered for.
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