Christopher Backus

Last updated
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.

Contents

Early life and education

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

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]

Most recently 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

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

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2006All InPete
2007 Redline Tony Nefuse
20083 Days GoneLucas SnowDirect-to-video
2010 Hard Breakers Jesse
2010MinevilleVince
2011 Union Square Andy
2011Yellow RockCobb
2011 Elevator Don Handley
2012BestiesJustin
2012Among FriendsMarcus
2015 The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water Burger Beard SeniorUncredited
2015 Chloe and Theo Juju Joe
2015My Fair LidyLidy / Marlene Dietrich
2016 Indiscretion Victor Bernard
2016 Mothers and Daughters Sebastian
2016DisplacementBrian Chance
2016A Christmas in New YorkJack Livingston
2018A Dog and Pony ShowJohn
2018 Waterlily Jaguar Jackson
2019 Beneath the Leaves Matt Tresner
2019 Drowning Peter
2021 Rogue Hostage Eagan Raize
TBA Dirty Angels Travis

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2004 Will & Grace AdamEpisode: "Looking for Mr. Good Enough"
2005 The O.C. CurtisEpisode: "The Brothers Grim"
2008 Huge Tommy1 episode
2009 Life on Mars Rodney SlavenEpisode: "Revenge of Broken Jaw"
2009 The Last Templar Jay CIA Agent2 episodes
2011 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia BobbyEpisode: "The Gang Goes to the Jersey Shore"
2012 The Mentalist VincentEpisode: "Pink Champagne on Ice"
2012 Perception Aaron BauerEpisode: "Messenger"
2013 A Mother's Rage KellyTelevision film
2014 Deliverance Creek Jasper Gatlin
2014 Sons of Anarchy Adam 'Greensleeves' GreenblattEpisode: "Greensleeves"
2015 Workaholics Water GuyEpisode: "Front Yard Wrestling"
2016 Underground Jeremiah Johnson4 episodes
2016 Hell on Wheels George Armstrong Custer Episode: "Done"
2016 Roadies Rick Bayless8 episodes
2017 Bosch Woody Woodrow5 episodes
2019 Big Little Lies Joe2 episodes
2019 Jett Bennie9 episodes
2019 Mindhunter Tex Watson Episode #2.5
2021 Truth Be Told Holt RollinsEpisode #2.1
2021 Blackout Danny3 episodes

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References

  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.