Chris Grace (actor)

Last updated

Chris Grace
Born
Christopher Tung Shieh

(1973-05-15) May 15, 1973 (age 51)
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian
Years active2010–present
Known forSuperstore and Chris Grace as Scarlett Johansson
Spouse
Eric Michaud
(m. 2017)

Christopher Tung Shieh (born May 15, 1973), known professionally as Chris Grace, is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for playing Jerry in the NBC sitcom Superstore, and Christian Grey in the off-Broadway musical parody "50 Shades! The Musical". [1] [2] [3] [4]

Contents

Early and personal life

Grace was born on May 15, 1973, in Columbus, Mississippi. [5] He grew up in Houston, Texas. [6] He began performing in junior high school and studied acting at the University of North Carolina. [7] [8]

Grace is openly gay, and married his husband, Eric Michaud, in 2017. [9] [10]

Career

Grace is a member of Baby Wants Candy (BWC), a Chicago-based comedy ensemble. [11] The group has performed in the U.S. and abroad, including in New York, Singapore, and Scotland. BWC performed the musical parody 50 Shades! The Musical Parody and Thrones! The Musical Parody, the latter of which he co-wrote. [4] [12]

Grace was the lead actor for 50 Shades! The Musical which was written by Al Samuels, Dan Wessels, Amanda Blake-Davis, Ashley Ward, Emily Dorezas, and Jody Shelton. [13] [14] [15] [16]

Grace is also a regular performer in Magic to Do: Musical Improv, held at UCB Sunset. [17] He has been involved with the streaming service Dropout, with his standup comedy special Chris Grace: As Scarlett Johansson premiering there. [5] He performed on their improvisational game show Make Some Noise in 2024, and will be on the second season of the panel show Smartypants in 2025. [18]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2010On The RoadElyShort film
2014 That Awkward Moment Deli Owner
201548 Hours 'Til MondayChaunceyTV movie
2016Tim Heidecker: Work From HomeKitchen Man 1Short
2016White House FartGeneralShort film
2016Still SingleTimmy Hong
2017The King of Dad JokesJeffShort film
2018 Office Uprising Beefed Up Ammotech Supervisor
2018You Are The CaptainCourierShort film
2018The Bateman Lectures on DepressionGilbertDocumentary
2020Moneybag HeadDennisShort film/post-production
2020 All the Bright Places Hudson

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2011Sweet MiseryChris
2011The SixAsian DadEpisode: "The Six Girls You'll See Back Home"
2011–2012Fake Henrik ZetterbergManny Root5 Episodes
2011–2012PITvParty Goer4 Episodes
2012Jest OriginalsJosh LinEpisode: "Jeremy Lin Picked Last in Pickup Game"
2012Tech UpJapanese Investor
2011–2012CollegeHumor OriginalsKim Jong-Il / Kim Jong-Un/ Business Man 15 Episodes
2015 Adam Ruins Everything Busy ManEpisode: Adam Ruins Voting
2016 Broad City KennyEpisode: "Philadelphia"
2016Serious MusicDunker2 Episodes
2016 This Is Us Paul2 Episodes
2017 Idiotsitter Professor Chang
2017 The Thundermans ManuEpisode: Thunder in Paradise (uncredited)
2017 Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television TomEpisode: "Joel McHale Is: Ryan Hansen"
2018 Sofia the First Voice of Scare-AcudaEpisode: "Return to Merroway Cove"
2018ExpertsTed Shieh
2017–2020 Superstore Jerry14 Episodes
2020 Stumptown Denny3 Episodes
2020 Pen15 Mr. BrownEpisode 2: "Wrestling"
2020We're Not TogetherDean Cappart
2021 Mr. Mayor Jesse1 Episode
2021 Atypical LairdSeason 4
2023Um, ActuallyHimselfEpisode: "American Horror Story, KaBlam!, Squid Game"
2023Play It By EarHimself2 Episodes
2023Dirty LaundryHimselfEpisode: "Who Was Almost Attacked By a Mob of Middle-Aged British People?"
2024 Make Some Noise HimselfEpisode: "Willy Wonka's Lawyer's Opening Statement"
2024Dropout PresentsHimself / Scarlett JohanssonEpisode: "Chris Grace as Scarlett Johansson"
2025SmartypantsHimselfCompleted filming

References

  1. D'Souza, Karen (July 24, 2013). "Review: A cheeky '50 Shades! The Musical'". East Bay Times. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  2. Stephan, Lee (March 12, 2014). "'50 Shades! The Musical: The Original Parody': EW review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  3. Dziemianowicz, Joe (March 12, 2014). "'50 Shades! The Musical': Theater review". New York Daily News. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  4. 1 2 Greene, Morgan (June 21, 2016). "'Thrones! The Musical Parody' will play the Apollo". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  5. 1 2 "Chris Grace: As Scarlett Johansson". August 23, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2025 via Dropout.
  6. "Chris Grace". UCB Comedy. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020.
  7. Moses, Caro (May 17, 2019). "Chris Grace: Voldemort & The Teenage Hogwarts Musical Parody". ThreeWeeks Edinburgh. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  8. "Chris Grace". Kennedy Center.
  9. Hernandez, John (June 2, 2023). "Chris Grace Opens up About Hollywood, Stand-Up, Bears and Pride". Bear World Magazine.
  10. "Get Your Act Together with Chris Grace". August 16, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2025 via Dropout.
  11. Wilson, Lorraine (August 18, 2016). "Fringe Comedy reviews: Paul Merton's Impro Chums, Pleasance; Absolute Improv!, theSpace on Niddry St;Baby Wants Candy, Assembly George Square Studio". The Herald. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  12. "THRONES! THE MUSICAL PARODY extends fourth & final time". the hawk chicago. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  13. Reid, Kerry (October 24, 2013). "'50 Shades' musical has fun dressing up the best-seller". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  14. Martinez, Diana (December 12, 2013). "50 Shades the Musical: Bring on the sequel!". Daily Herald. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  15. Zutter, Natalie (February 20, 2013). "Pop-Culture Parody Musicals Are as Meta as We Get". BlackBook. Archived from the original on October 28, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  16. Barker, Emma (January 14, 2013). "I Went To The Fifty Shades Musical". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved August 24, 2020.
  17. "Magic to do: Musical Improv at UCB Sunset". DoLA.
  18. "Smartypants Season 2 Premiere Date, Hank Green Among Guest Stars". Variety. December 4, 2024. Retrieved December 4, 2024.