Chris Klein (actor)
Chris Klein | |
|---|---|
 Klein in March 2012 | |
| Born | Frederick Christopher Klein March 14, 1979 Hinsdale, Illinois, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Known for | The American Pie films (1999–2012) |
| Spouse |
Laina Rose Thyfault (m. 2015) |
| Children | 2 |
Frederick Christopher Klein[1] (born March 14, 1979)[2] is an American actor. In film, Klein is best known for his lead role as Chris "Oz" Ostreicher in the American Pie film series (1999–2001; 2012). Other lead roles include Here on Earth (2000), Say It Isn't So (2001), Rollerball (2002), Day Zero (2007), Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009), and Authors Anonymous (2014). His notable supporting roles include Election (1999), We Were Soldiers (2002), The United States of Leland (2003), Just Friends (2005), and American Dreamz (2006).
In television, Klein has had main roles as Marty Tanner on the CBS sitcom Welcome to The Captain (2008) and Orlin Dwyer / Cicada on the CW superhero series The Flash (2018–2019). Since 2020, he has had a main role as Bill Townsend on the Netflix series Sweet Magnolias. Klein had a recurring role as Drew on the FX sitcom Wilfred (2011–2014).
Early life
[edit]Klein was born in Hinsdale, Illinois, and moved to Omaha, Nebraska, at age 13, and later attended Millard West High School.[3] In his senior year, Klein was offered his first professional acting job by director Alexander Payne, who was scouting Omaha, his hometown, as a potential filming location for the film Election.[citation needed] He attended Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, Texas.[citation needed]
Career
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After auditioning for Election, Payne chose Klein and they began filming. The film was released in April 1999, to positive reviews. Soon after, Klein found steady work in the film industry while briefly attending TCU, where he studied theater and was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He was next seen in American Pie, acting as Christopher Russell Ostreicher, which opened on July 9, 1999, and was a box office success. The following year Klein starred in Here on Earth alongside LeeLee Sobieski and Josh Hartnett (2000). Klein reprised his role in American Pie 2 (2001) and American Reunion (2012), but was not in American Wedding reportedly due to scheduling conflicts. In 2002, Klein had a role in the Mel Gibson Vietnam War film We Were Soldiers. Klein starred in the 2002, remake of the film Rollerball, but the film was a massive critical and financial failure.[4] Klein has also appeared in several teen movies, including Just Friends (2005) and American Dreamz (2006).
In 2014, Klein was cast as an American pilot in the Damien Lay film The Uberkanone.[5] He co-starred in the 2014, comedy indie film Authors Anonymous with Kaley Cuoco.[6] In 2018, Klein was cast as Cicada, the main villain of the fifth season of superhero television series The Flash.[7][8]
Personal life
[edit]In January 2000, Klein and actress Katie Holmes began dating. The couple became engaged around Christmas of 2003. The couple called off the engagement and ended their relationship in March 2005.[9]
Klein met Laina Rose Thyfault, a travel agent, in 2011 at a mutual friend's wedding. They got engaged in December 2014, after three years of dating and married eight months later on August 9, 2015, in Montana.[10][11] In March 2016, Klein announced in a tweet that he and his wife were expecting their first child together.[12] Their son was born in 2016.[13] The couple also has a daughter, born in 2018.[14]
Klein was arrested for drunk driving on February 5, 2005, in San Diego County[15] and again in Los Angeles on June 16, 2010.[16] On June 21, 2010, it was announced that Klein had checked into the Cirque Lodge to begin a 30-day alcohol addiction program. Klein's publicist explained that, "after recent events, Chris was forced to take a clear look at a problem he has been trying to deal with himself for years. He understands now that he cannot beat this addiction alone."[17]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Election | Paul Metzler | |
| 1999 | American Pie | Chris "Oz" Ostreicher | |
| 2000 | Here on Earth | Kelvin "Kelley" Morse | |
| 2001 | Say It Isn't So | Gilbert Noble | |
| 2001 | American Pie 2 | Chris "Oz" Ostreicher | |
| 2002 | Rollerball | Jonathan Cross | |
| 2002 | We Were Soldiers | 2nd Lt. Jack Geoghegan | |
| 2003 | The United States of Leland | Allen Harris | |
| 2005 | Tilt-A-Whirl | Customer #2 | Short film |
| 2005 | Just Friends | Dusty Dinkleman | |
| 2005 | The Long Weekend | Cooper Waxman | |
| 2006 | American Dreamz | William Williams | |
| 2006 | Lenexa, 1 Mile | Andy Lausier | |
| 2007 | The Good Life | Tad Tokas | |
| 2007 | Day Zero | George Rifkin | |
| 2007 | New York City Serenade | Ray | |
| 2008 | Hank and Mike | Conrad Hubriss | |
| 2009 | Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li | Charlie Nash | |
| 2009 | The Six Wives of Henry Lefay | Stevie | |
| 2009 | Play Dead | Ronnie Reno | Direct-to-video |
| 2010 | Caught in the Crossfire | Briggs | |
| 2012 | American Reunion | Chris "Oz" Ostreicher | |
| 2014 | Authors Anonymous | Henry Obert | |
| 2016 | Game of Aces | Jackson Cove | |
| 2018 | The Competition | Calvin Chesney | |
| 2019 | Benchwarmers 2: Breaking Balls | Ben McGrath | |
| 2025 | Fear Street: Prom Queen | TBA | Post-production |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | The Electric Playground | Episode: "Episode #8.5" | |
| 2006 | American Dad! | Gary/Rick (voice) | Episode: "With Friends Like Steve's" |
| 2007 | The Valley of Light | Noah | Television film |
| 2008 | Welcome to The Captain | Marty Tanner | Main role; 5 episodes |
| 2010 | The Good Guys | Dep. Chief George Jenkins | Episode: "Partners" |
| 2011–2014 | Wilfred | Drew | Recurring role; 15 episodes |
| 2012 | Franklin & Bash | Tommy Dale | Episode: "650 to SLC" |
| 2012 | Raising Hope | Brad | Episode: "What Up, Bro?" |
| 2012 | Tron: Uprising | Dash (voice) | Recurring role; 3 episodes |
| 2015 | Motive | Brad Calgrove | Episode: "Pilot Error" |
| 2015 | Damaged | Sam Luck | Lifetime television movie |
| 2016 | Idiotsitter | Himself/DJ Doghead | Episode: "Fumigation" |
| 2016 | The Grinder | Benji | Episode: "Genesis" |
| 2018–2019 | The Flash | Orlin Dwyer / Cicada | Main role (season 5); 16 episodes |
| 2020–present | Sweet Magnolias | Dr. Bill Townsend | Main role; 30 episodes |
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Chicago Film Critics Association | Most Promising Actor | American Pie | Nominated |
| Young Hollywood Awards | Best Ensemble Cast | Won | ||
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice Liar | Nominated | ||
| Choice Breakout Performance | Nominated | |||
| Online Film & Television Association | Best Breakthrough Performance: Male | Election | Nominated | |
| 2001 | Young Hollywood Awards | Superstar of Tomorrow – Male | Chris Klein | Won |
References
[edit]- ^ "'American Pie' star Klein to be arraigned". Usatoday.Com. April 14, 2005. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
- ^ "'American Pie's' Chris Klein, wife Laina are expecting their first child". Los Angeles Times. March 15, 2016. Archived from the original on November 3, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2020.
- ^ Moton, Tony (June 11, 1999). "A Tale of Two Talents". Omaha World-Herald. p. 1-E. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
Chris Klein...Born in Hinsdale, Ill.; family moved to west Omaha when he was 13.
- ^ "Rollerball (2002)". Box Office Mojo.
- ^ Jeff Sneider (January 7, 2014). "Chris Klein, Victoria Summer to Star in WWI Thriller 'The Uberkanone' (Exclusive)". The Wrap. Retrieved February 18, 2014.
- ^ Jerrica Tisdale (February 15, 2014). "Kaley Cuoco Plays Author in New Romantic Comedy with Chris Klein". Web Pro News. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
- ^ Romano, Nick (July 21, 2018). "The Flash season 5 casts American Pie's Chris Klein as the next big bad". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 21, 2018.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (July 22, 2018). "'The Flash' Casts Chris Klein As Season 5 Villain Cicada – Comic-Con". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Katie Holmes and Chris Klein Split Up". People.com. March 3, 2005. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
- ^ "American Pie Star Chris Klein Weds Laina Rose Thyfault in Montana". People. August 9, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
- ^ Marquina, Sierra (July 27, 2016). "Chris Klein, Wife Laina Rose Thyfault Welcome First Child — See the Adorable Photos!". Us Weekly. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
- ^ Harrison, Lily (March 15, 2016). "Chris Klein Is Expecting His First Child With Wife Laina Rose Thyfault". E! Online. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
- ^ "Chris Klein Welcomes Son". E! Online. July 27, 2016. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
- ^ "Chris Klein and Wife Laina Welcome Second Child, Daughter Isla Rose". People.com. May 29, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
- ^ "Chris Klein Faces Drunk-Driving Charge". PEOPLE.com. April 13, 2005. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
- ^ "'American Pie' Actor Chris Klein Arrested on DUI Charge." Los Angeles Times. June 16, 2010.
- ^ Garcia, Jennifer (June 21, 2010). "Chris Klein Checks Into Rehab". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
External links
[edit]
- Chris Klein at IMDb
- 1979 births
- Living people
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- American people of German descent
- American people of Irish descent
- Male actors from Illinois
- Male actors from Omaha, Nebraska
- People from Hinsdale, Illinois
- Texas Christian University alumni
- People from Brookfield, Illinois