Chris Ellis

Biography

Chris Ellis is an American actor who grew up in Frayser, Tennessee, outside Memphis, and got his start in community theater there before moving to New York. He made his screen debut in the 1979 television movie The Suicide's Wife, but steady work was slow to come. His career took off in 1990 with Days of Thunder, followed by My Cousin Vinny (1992), Apollo 13 (1995), where he played the astronaut Deke Slayton, Bean (1997), Armageddon (1998), October Sky (1999), Planet of the Apes (2001) and Catch Me If You Can (2002). He worked repeatedly with Tom Hanks, also appearing in That Thing You Do! (1996) and the miniseries From the Earth to the Moon. On television he has been seen in NYPD Blue, The X-Files, The West Wing and Veronica Mars, and he became known for playing Southern lawmakers, military officers and police.

70years old

Turns 71 on April 14in 155 days

Born April 14, 1956Memphis
Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19

Movie Career

Films: 25
Career span: 29 years1990 to 2019

Genres

Drama64%, 16 films
Comedy28%, 7 films
Thriller28%, 7 films
Action16%, 4 films
Adventure16%, 4 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

First role
Ellis got his first television or film part in 1979, as a truck driver in The Suicide's Wife, a television movie that starred Angie Dickinson. That role led to little further work.
Big break
In 1990, Ellis landed a part in Days of Thunder, which gave his career a boost. He went on to appear in My Cousin Vinny, Addams Family Values and Apollo 13 as astronaut Deke Slayton.
Early training
Before moving to New York, Ellis spent seven years finishing college and worked in about two dozen classical and contemporary plays with community theater in Memphis.

Chris Ellis movies on Netflix

Silo2019IMDb rating 5.9as Mr. Adler
The Oath2018IMDb rating 5.7as Hank
What Still Remains2018IMDb rating 4.7as Harvey
Amelia 2.02017IMDb rating 5.4as Senator Thaddeus Williams
The Show2017IMDb rating 5.6as Keller
Faults2014IMDb rating 6.7as Dad
Jessabelle2014IMDb rating 5.4as Sheriff Pruitt
Grace Unplugged2013IMDb rating 6.1as Pastor Tim Bryant
G-Force2009IMDb rating 5.1as FBI Director
Believe in Me2006IMDb rating 7.0as Jim Stovall
In Enemy Hands2004IMDb rating 6.0as Samuel Littleton
Tiger Cruise2004IMDb rating 5.8as Captain Anderson
Catch Me If You Can2002IMDb rating 8.1as Special Agent Witkins
Love Liza2002IMDb rating 6.9as Patriot Model Aeronautics Clerk
Domestic Disturbance2001IMDb rating 5.6as Detective Warren
Planet of the Apes2001IMDb rating 5.7as Commander Karl Vasich
The Watcher2000IMDb rating 5.3as Hollis
October Sky1999IMDb rating 7.8as Principal Turner
Armageddon1998IMDb rating 6.7as Flight Director Clark
Home Fries1998IMDb rating 5.2as Henry Lever
Bean1997IMDb rating 6.5as Det. Butler
That Thing You Do!1996IMDb rating 7.0as Phil Horace
Apollo 131995IMDb rating 7.7as Deke Slayton
My Cousin Vinny1992IMDb rating 7.6as J.T.
Days of Thunder1990IMDb rating 6.2as Harlem Hoogerhyde

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Catch Me If You Can2002 Biography, Crime, Dramaas Special Agent Witkins
IMDb rating 8.11.3M votes
Bean1997 Comedy, Familyas Det. Butler
IMDb rating 6.5117K votes
Armageddon1998as Flight Director Clark
IMDb rating 6.7484K votes
October Sky1999as Principal Turner
IMDb rating 7.8113K votes
The Watcher2000as Hollis
IMDb rating 5.330K votes
Jessabelle2014as Sheriff Pruitt
IMDb rating 5.427K votes
Faults2014as Dad
IMDb rating 6.712K votes
Apollo 131995as Deke Slayton
IMDb rating 7.7343K votes

Most often with

Tom Hanks appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Tom Hanks

Steve Buscemi

Xander Berkeley

Kevin Pollak

Marisa Tomei

Michael Clarke Duncan

Films together

Tom Hanks3 films together, 1995 to 2002
Tom Hanks's page
- Catch Me If You Can2002IMDb rating 8.1Ellis as Special Agent WitkinsHanks as Carl Hanratty
- That Thing You Do!1996IMDb rating 7.0Ellis as Phil HoraceHanks as Mr. White
- Apollo 131995IMDb rating 7.7Ellis as Deke SlaytonHanks as Jim Lovell
Steve Buscemi2 films together, 1998 to 2001
Steve Buscemi's page
- Domestic Disturbance2001IMDb rating 5.6Ellis as Detective WarrenBuscemi as Ray Coleman
- Armageddon1998IMDb rating 6.7Ellis as Flight Director ClarkBuscemi as Rockhound
Xander Berkeley2 films together, 1995 to 2004
Xander Berkeley's page
- In Enemy Hands2004IMDb rating 6.0Ellis as Samuel LittletonBerkeley as Admiral Kentz
- Apollo 131995IMDb rating 7.7Ellis as Deke SlaytonBerkeley as Henry Hurt
Kevin Pollak2 films together, 1996 to 2013
Kevin Pollak's page
- Grace Unplugged2013IMDb rating 6.1Ellis as Pastor Tim BryantPollak as Frank 'Mossy' Mostin
- That Thing You Do!1996IMDb rating 7.0Ellis as Phil HoracePollak as Boss Vic Koss
Marisa Tomei2 films together, 1992 to 2000
Marisa Tomei's page
- The Watcher2000IMDb rating 5.3Ellis as HollisTomei as Polly
- My Cousin Vinny1992IMDb rating 7.6Ellis as J.T.Tomei as Mona Lisa Vito
Michael Clarke Duncan2 films together, 1998 to 2001
Michael Clarke Duncan's page
- Planet of the Apes2001IMDb rating 5.7Ellis as Commander Karl VasichDuncan as Attar
- Armageddon1998IMDb rating 6.7Ellis as Flight Director ClarkDuncan as Bear
Also two films together4 more actors
- Liv TylerArmageddon (1998) and That Thing You Do! (1996)
- Holmes OsborneDomestic Disturbance (2001) and That Thing You Do! (1996)
- David AndrewsJessabelle (2014) and Apollo 13 (1995)
- Kelli GarnerG-Force (2009) and Love Liza (2002)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.