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Christopher Backus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Christopher Backus
Born
Christopher Paul Backus

(1981-10-30) October 30, 1981 (age 42)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • director
  • screenwriter
Spouse
(m. 2004)
Children4

Christopher Backus is an American actor, director and screenwriter. Backus made his television debut in NBC's Will & Grace, followed by landing roles in The O.C., Life on Mars, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Sons of Anarchy, The Mentalist, Perception, and The Last Templar. He also appeared in films such as Redline starring Eddie Griffin and 3 Days Gone directed by Scott McCullough.

Early life and education

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Backus grew up in Kansas City, Kansas. His mother, Teryl Backus, is a retired colonel in the United States Marine Corps, and his father, Terry Backus, was a lawyer who died when Christopher was a child. He has one sister, Michele.[citation needed]

Career

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Backus moved with friend Rob McElhenney from New York City to Los Angeles during pilot season of 2003. Shortly after arriving, Backus landed his first role in Benjamin Splits, while McElhenney developed the sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. After landing supporting roles in NBC's hit show Will & Grace and Fox's The O.C., Backus starred opposite Dominique Swain in Nick Vallelonga's All In. He returned to television in Malik Bader's HUGE in which he portrayed a struggling frontman of an indie rock band. He starred in 3 Days Gone along with Patrick J. Adams, Nothing Personal with Paz de la Huerta, and Elevator with John Getz and Anita Briem.

Backus returned to television to play the leader of the Weather Underground in ABC's period drama Life on Mars, then he reteamed with director Nick Vallelonga on a western with Michael Biehn and James Russo, Yellow Rock.[1]

In 2011, the feature film Union Square, co-written and directed by the Sundance Film Festival's Grand Jury Award Winner, Nancy Savoca, was premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. In it, Backus appears alongside Mira Sorvino, Patti Lupone, Tammy Blanchard, Mike Doyle, and Michael Rispoli.

In summer 2011, Backus appeared as Marlene Dietrich in My Fair Lidy.[2]

In 2012, he starred as Marcus in Among Friends, directed by "scream queen" Danielle Harris.[3]

Backus was set to direct a thriller titled The Sessionist, but dropped out of the project due to creative differences.

Personal life

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Backus met Mira Sorvino at a friend's charades party in August 2003. On June 11, 2004, they married in a private civil ceremony at the Santa Barbara, California, courthouse, then later had a hilltop ceremony in Capri, Italy. The couple have four children. He has also starred in films with Sorvino such as Indiscretion and Mothers and Daughters.[4]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2006 All In Pete
2007 Redline Tony Nefuse
2008 3 Days Gone Lucas Snow Direct-to-video
2010 Hard Breakers Jesse
Mineville Vince
2011 Union Square Andy
Yellow Rock Cobb
Elevator Don Handley
2012 Besties Justin
Among Friends Marcus
2015 The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water Burger Beard Senior Uncredited
Chloe and Theo Juju Joe
My Fair Lidy Lidy / Marlene Dietrich
2016 Indiscretion Victor Bernard
Mothers and Daughters Sebastian
Displacement Brian Chance
A Christmas in New York Jack Livingston
2018 A Dog and Pony Show John
Waterlily Jaguar Jackson
2019 Beneath the Leaves Matt Tresner
Drowning Peter
2021 Rogue Hostage Eagan Raize
TBA Dirty Angels Travis Post-production

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2004 Will & Grace Adam Episode: "Looking for Mr. Good Enough"
2005 The O.C. Curtis Episode: "The Brothers Grim"
2008 Huge Tommy 1 episode
2009 Life on Mars Rodney Slaven Episode: "Revenge of Broken Jaw"
The Last Templar Jay CIA Agent 2 episodes
2011 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Bobby Episode: "The Gang Goes to the Jersey Shore"
2012 The Mentalist Vincent Episode: "Pink Champagne on Ice"
Perception Aaron Bauer Episode: "Messenger"
2013 A Mother's Rage Kelly Television film
2014 Deliverance Creek Jasper Gatlin
Sons of Anarchy Adam 'Greensleeves' Greenblatt Episode: "Greensleeves"
2015 Workaholics Water Guy Episode: "Front Yard Wrestling"
2016 Underground Jeremiah Johnson 4 episodes
Hell on Wheels George Armstrong Custer Episode: "Done"
Roadies Rick Bayless 8 episodes
2017 Bosch Woody Woodrow 5 episodes
2019 Big Little Lies Joe 2 episodes
Jett Bennie 9 episodes
Mindhunter Tex Watson Episode #2.5
2021 Truth Be Told Holt Rollins Episode #2.1
Blackout Danny 3 episodes
2022 Black Bird Young Jim Keene 2 episodes

References

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  1. ^ ""Yellow Rock" Opens 8th Annual Red Nations Film Festival". Hollywood Revealed. November 2, 2011.
  2. ^ "'My Fair Lidy' film shoot showcases Orlando's drag scene". Orlando Sentinel. July 12, 2011.
  3. ^ "Danielle Harris Rolls Out New Character Sheets for Directing Debut, Among Friends". The Best Horror Movies. June 26, 2012. Archived from the original on December 24, 2013.
  4. ^ "Mira Sorvino Welcomes Son Holden Paul Terry". People. July 13, 2009. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
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