- Chris Klein (actor)
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Chris Klein Born Frederick Christopher Klein
March 14, 1979
Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.Occupation Actor Years active 1999–present Frederick Christopher "Chris" Klein[1] (born March 14, 1979) is an American movie actor. He is perhaps best known for playing Chris "Oz" Ostreicher in the 1999 film American Pie and its sequel American Pie 2.
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Early life
Klein was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, the son of Terese, a kindergarten teacher, and Fred Klein, an engineer.[2] Klein was the second of three children. His older sister Debbie was born in 1978, and his younger brother was born in 1982. As a child, Klein had his first on stage experience by singing “This Little Light of Mine” in a community theater at the Sheraton Convention Center in Chicago. He lived in the town for thirteen years before his family moved to Omaha, Nebraska. At Millard West High School, Klein acted in his high school's performance of West Side Story, played cornerback and linebacker for the football team, and swam for Tracy Stauffer on the Millard West Swim Team. In his senior year, Klein was offered his first professional acting job by director Alexander Payne, who was scouting Omaha, his hometown, as a potential filming location for the film Election. He attended Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, Texas.
Career
After auditioning for Election, Payne chose Klein and they began filming. In April 1999, the film was released to positive reviews. Soon after, Klein found a steady amount of work in the film industry while briefly attending TCU, where he studied theater and was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He was next seen in American Pie, which opened on July 9, 1999, and was a box office success. The role of the American Pie films in initiating and developing the 'teen movie' genre has led to its characters, namely Sean William Scott who played Steve Stifler but also Klein, Jason Biggs, Eddie Kaye Thomas and Thomas Ian Nicholas, retaining a cult following. Klein's role as Chris Ostreicher as a jock-turned-gentleman has been cited as one of the moral cornerstones of the film series, as it sees a cocky, inward-looking teenager become a sensitive, out-going man. Klein has subsequently appeared in several teen movies, with the most recent including Just Friends (2005) and American Dreamz (2006).
Personal life
In January 2000, Klein and actress Katie Holmes began dating. He proposed to her in 2004, but the two broke off the engagement in early 2005.[citation needed]
Klein was arrested for drunk driving on February 5, 2005 in San Diego County.[3] Klein was arrested again in Los Angeles, California on June 16, 2010, for driving while drunk.[4] On June 21, 2010, it was announced that Klein had checked into the Cirque Lodge to begin a 30-day alcohol 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 beat this disease alone."[5]
Filmography
Film 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 2006 American Dreamz William Williams 2006 Lenexa, 1 Mile Andy Lausier 2007 The Good Life Tad 2007 Day Zero George Rifkin 2007 New York City Serenade Ray 2008 Hank and Mike Conrad Hubriss 2009 Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li Charlie Nash 2009 The Six Wives of Henry Lefay 2009 Play Dead Ronnie Reno Direct-to-video 2009 Caught in the Crossfire Briggs 2012 The Wild Bunch John (Mary's Dad) Voice role, In production 2012 American Reunion Chris 'Oz' Ostreicher post-production Television Year Title Role Notes 2002 The Electric Playground 1 episode 2006 American Dad! Gary/Rick Voice role
1 episode, With Friends Like Steve's2007 The Valley of Light Noah CBS Television movie 2008 Welcome to The Captain Marty Tanner 5 episodes 2010 The Good Guys Dep. Chief George Jenkins 1 episode 2011 Wilfred Drew Awards and nominations
Chicago Film Critics Association
- 2000: Nominated, "Most Promising Actor" - American Pie
- 2000: Nominated, "Choice Breakout Performance" - American Pie
- 2000: Nominated, "Choice Liar" - American Pie
Young Hollywood Awards
- 2001: Won, "Male Superstar of Tomorrow"
References
- ^ USATODAY.com - 'American Pie' star Klein to be arraigned
- ^ Chris Klein Biography (1979-)
- ^ "Chris Klein Faces Drunk-Driving Charge" Los Angeles Times. April 13, 2005.
- ^ "'American Pie' Actor Chris Klein Arrested on DUI Charge." Los Angeles Times. June 16, 2010.
- ^ "Chris Klein Checks Into Rehab" People. June 21, 2010.
External links
Categories:- 1979 births
- Actors from Illinois
- American film actors
- American television actors
- Living people
- People from Omaha, Nebraska
- Texas Christian University alumni
- People from Hinsdale, Illinois
- People self-identifying as alcoholics
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