Chris Klein | |
|---|---|
 Klein in March 2012 | |
| Born | Frederick Christopher Klein (1979-03-14)March 14, 1979 (age 46) Hinsdale, Illinois, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Known for | TheAmerican Pie films (1999–2012) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Frederick Christopher Klein[1] (born March 14, 1979)[2] is an American actor. He made his on-screen debut with a supporting role in the dark comedy filmElection (1999) before his breakout starring role as Chris "Oz" Ostreicher in the teen sex comedy filmAmerican Pie (1999). He reprised his role in two sequels:American Pie 2 (2001) andAmerican Reunion (2012).
FollowingAmerican Pie, Klein starred in the comedy filmsSay It Isn't So (2001),Just Friends (2005), andAmerican Dreamz (2006), and had lead roles in the drama filmHere on Earth (2000) and the science fiction sports filmRollerball (2002). He also starred in the war filmWe Were Soldiers (2002), the drama filmThe United States of Leland (2003), and the martial arts action filmStreet Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009).
After a starring role in the filmAuthors Anonymous (2014) and a recurring role as Drew on theFX sitcomWilfred (2011–2014), Klein experienced a career resurgence in the late 2010s with his main role asOrlin Dwyer / Cicada on season 5 of theCW superhero television seriesThe Flash (2018–2019). FollowingThe Flash, he had a main role as Bill Townsend on the first three seasons of theNetflix drama seriesSweet Magnolias (2020–2023) and starred in the slasher filmFear Street: Prom Queen (2025).
Klein was born inHinsdale, Illinois, and moved toOmaha, Nebraska, at age 13, and later attendedMillard West High School.[3] In his senior year, Klein was offered his first professional acting job by directorAlexander Payne, who was scouting Omaha, his hometown, as a potential filming location for the filmElection.[citation needed] He attended Texas Christian University (TCU) inFort Worth,Texas.[citation needed]
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After auditioning forElection, 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 studiedtheater and was a member of theLambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He was next seen inAmerican Pie, acting as Christopher Russell Ostreicher, which opened on July 9, 1999, and was a box office success. The following year Klein starred inHere on Earth alongsideLeeLee Sobieski andJosh Hartnett (2000). Klein reprised his role inAmerican Pie 2 (2001) andAmerican Reunion (2012), but was not inAmerican Wedding reportedly due to scheduling conflicts. In 2002, Klein had a role in theMel Gibson Vietnam War filmWe Were Soldiers. Klein starred in the 2002, remake of the filmRollerball, but the film was a massive critical and financial failure.[4] Klein has also appeared in severalteen movies, includingJust Friends (2005) andAmerican Dreamz (2006).
In 2014, Klein was cast as an American pilot in the Damien Lay filmThe Uberkanone.[5] He co-starred in the 2014,comedyindie filmAuthors Anonymous withKaley Cuoco.[6] In 2018, Klein was cast asCicada, the main villain of thefifth season of superhero television seriesThe Flash.[7][8]
In January 2000, Klein and actressKatie 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, inMontana.[10][11] In March 2016, Klein announced in atweet 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 fordrunk driving on February 5, 2005, inSan Diego County[15] and again inLos Angeles on June 16, 2010.[16] On June 21, 2010, it was announced that Klein had checked into theCirque Lodge to begin a 30-dayalcohol 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 beatthis addiction alone."[17]
| 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 | |
| 2007 | The Valley of Light | Noah | |
| 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 | Dan Falconer | |
| TBA | Bad Counselors | Post-production[18] |
| 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 | Hallmark Hall of Fame |
| 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 |
| 2020–2023 | Sweet Magnolias | Dr. Bill Townsend | Main role; 30 episodes |
| 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 |
Chris Klein...Born in Hinsdale, Ill.; family moved to west Omaha when he was 13.
