Date of Birth : Apr 14th 1956
American actor with parts in movies such as My Cousin Vinny and Days of Thunder as well as countless television programs. Ellis always wanted to be an actor because of television. He grew up in the 50’s in the deep south in a “world of privation and violence,” but saw on television people who seemed to have lives of ease and privilege.
After working in regional theatre for a year or so, Chris fell off the radar screen and did not work for about ten years. During that time he lived in “bone-grinding poverty” in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen. In one nine month period of 1987, Chris accepted 102 dinner invitations. “I don’t know why they kept arriving, nor why I counted them, though I do know why I accepted them.”
When Chris began working in film at age 40, he began for the first time to make a living as an actor. Since then Chris has made a living playing character roles, “mostly southerners, men who snarl and vote for Republicans, and who work for NASA in Mission Control.” He has had a recurring role as Virgil Watkins, an ex-Navy Seal friend of Sam Axe in the USA television series Burn Notice. He was in Incendiary, a 2008 film starring Ewan McGregor.
CAREER
Faults ( 2015 )
The Dark Knight Rises ( 2012 )
G-Force ( 2009 )
Transformers ( 2007 )
Die Hard 4.0 ( 2007 )
Fun With Dick and Jane ( 2006 )
The Island ( 2005 )
Wonderland ( 2004 )
Catch Me If You Can ( 2003 )
Planet Of The Apes ( 2001 )
Armageddon ( 1998 )
Godzilla ( 1998 )
Wag the Dog ( 1998 )
Con Air ( 1997 )
Apollo 13 ( 1995 )
My Cousin Vinny ( 1992 )
Days of Thunder ( 1990 )