American actor (born 1974)
Chris Messina
Messina in 2014
Born (1974-08-11 ) August 11, 1974 (age 50) Occupations
Actor
director
writer
producer
Years active 1995–present Spouses Children 2
Chris Messina (born August 11, 1974)[ 1] is an American actor. He is best known for starring as Danny Castellano in the series The Mindy Project (2012–2017), which earned him two nominations for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series .
Messina's film appearances include Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008), Julie & Julia (2009), Devil (2010), Argo (2012), Ruby Sparks (2012), Celeste and Jesse Forever (2012), Cake (2014), Birds of Prey (2020), I Care a Lot (2020), Call Jane (2022), Air (2023), and The Boogeyman (2023). Messina wrote, executive produced, and starred in the comedy film Fairhaven (2012). He also directed and starred in the drama film Alex of Venice (2014).
On television, Messina appeared as Ted Fairwell in the HBO drama series Six Feet Under (2005), Chris Sanchez in the Audience Network legal thriller series Damages (2011–2012), Reese Lansing in the HBO political drama series The Newsroom (2012–2014), Richard Willis in the HBO miniseries Sharp Objects (2018), Nick Haas in the USA Network crime drama series The Sinner (2020), Angelo Lano in the Starz political miniseries Gaslit (2022), and as Nathan Bartlett in the Peacock comedy thriller Based on a True Story (2023).
Early life and education
Messina was raised in Northport, New York , on Long Island , where he studied theater in high school.[ 1] He attended Marymount Manhattan College , but dropped out after one semester.[ 2]
Career
He studied acting privately with teachers around Manhattan, and started his career as an off-Broadway actor. He has appeared in episodes of the television series Law & Order , Third Watch , and Medium . He had a recurring role in the fifth and final season of the HBO drama series Six Feet Under as Ted Fairwell . His film credits include Rounders , The Siege , You've Got Mail , and Towelhead . [citation needed ]
He starred in an HBO pilot Anatomy of Hope , directed by J. J. Abrams . Simon Callow also starred, but the pilot was not picked up to series. In October 2007, Daily Variety named him as one of ten actors to watch.[ 3] He starred in Devil , under the direction of John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle, for producer M. Night Shyamalan and Universal Pictures.[ 4] In April 2010, Monogamy , directed by Dana Adam Shapiro and starring Messina and Rashida Jones , premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival , where the film won the jury prize for Best New York Narrative.[ 5]
Messina joined the cast of Damages for its fourth and fifth seasons.[ 6] He played a recurring character on HBO's The Newsroom .[ 7] Messina was a series regular on the Fox/Hulu sitcom The Mindy Project , playing Dr. Danny Castellano, until his character was eventually phased out in seasons 4 and 5. He made his return in three episodes, including the season and series finale, in season 6.
In 2014, Messina played the role of a cheating spouse in the music video for Sam Smith 's "I'm Not the Only One ". That same year, he directed the independent drama, Alex of Venice , starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Don Johnson and Matthew Del Negro. He co-starred in Ben Affleck 's crime drama Live by Night , which was released in December 2016. In 2018, Messina starred in a leading role alongside Amy Adams in the HBO series Sharp Objects .
In 2020, Chris Messina starred as mob killer Victor Zsasz in Birds of Prey . When asked how he felt about playing a twisted character, Messina replied, "I've played too many nice guys in my career. So it was like just really a lot of fun to let loose."[ 8]
In 2021, Messina portrayed attorney Dean Ericson in the black comedy thriller I Care a Lot .[ 9]
Personal life
He was married to actress Rosemarie DeWitt for 12 years, divorcing in 2006.
Messina and his second wife Jennifer Todd have two sons.[ 10] [ 11] [ 12] [ 13]
Filmography
Film
Television
Stage
Year
Title
Role
Run
Theater and production
Notes
1997
The American Clock
Sidney Margolies/ Charley/Ralph/ Walter
October 19, 1997 – unknown
Signature Theatre Company atThe Peter Norton Space
[ 14] [ 15] [ 16] [ 17]
1999
The Group
Director
August 9–20, 1999
All Seasons Theatre Group atThe Ensemble Studio Theatre
[ 18]
1999
Refuge
Nat
November 18 – December 12, 1999
Playwright's Horizon Studio Theater
[ 19]
2000
The Hologram Theory
Joe Buck
March 27 – April 9, 2000
McGinn/Cazale Theater
[ 20] [ 21] [ 22]
2000
The Light Outside
Frankie
November 5 – December 16, 2000
The Flea Theater
[ 23] [ 24]
2001
Tamicanfly
C.J.
January 17 – February 4, 2001
McGinn/Cazale Theater
[ 25]
2001
Blur
Joey D'Amico
May 17 – June 24, 2001
Manhattan Theater Club atNew York City Center Stage II
[ 26] [ 27]
2001–02
Good Thing
Bobby
December 16, 2001 – January 6, 2002
The New Group atThe Theater at St. Clements Church
[ 28] [ 29] [ 30]
2002
This Thing of Darkness
Abbey/Reef
May 30 – June 16, 2002
Atlantic Theater Company atLinda Gross Theater
[ 31]
2002
Faster
Skram
September 8 – October 13, 2002
Rattlestick Theater
[ 32] [ 33]
2002–03
Far Away
Todd
November 11, 2002 – January 18, 2003
New York Theatre Workshop
[ 34]
2003
Salome by Oscar Wilde: The Reading
The Young Syrian (Captain of the Guard)
April 30 – June 12, 2003
Ethel Barrymore Theater
Broadway debut for Messina[ 35] [ 36]
2003
St. Scarlet
Director
June 13 – July 12, 2003
Ontological Theater atSt. Mark's Church
[ 37] [ 38]
2004
Motel Blues: Management
Mike
March 25 – April 11, 2004
Apartment 929 atGreenwich Street Theatre
[ 39] [ 40]
2004
The Seagull
Treplev
May 24–29, 2004
White Heron Theater company at Second Stage Theatre
[ 41]
2004
The Cherry Orchard
Trofimov
August 11–22, 2004
Williamstown Theatre Festival at Adams Memorial Theater
[ 42] [ 43] [ 44]
2004
Late Night, Early Morning
October 21–31, 2004
2004 Tribeca Theatre Festival
[ 45]
Awards and nominations
References
^ a b Hochberg, Mina. "Chris Messina stars in 'Ruby Sparks' ". Newsday (Long Island, New York). August 8, 2012: "...the actor, who turns 38 Saturday [August 11, 2012]. After graduating from Northport [New York] High School, he enrolled in Marymount Manhattan College on a theater scholarship. Seized by doubts about acting, he dropped out….
^ Chang, Kee (January 23, 2012). "Sundance '12: Q&A with Chris Messina" . Anthem. Retrieved February 5, 2016 .
^ Champagne, Christine (October 19, 2007). "10 Actors To Watch: Chris Messina : 'Six Feet Under' Actor Emerges With Full Slate" . Variety . Retrieved February 13, 2023 .
^ Messina goes to the DEVIL for Shyamalan and the Dowdles Archived October 18, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
^ Duboff, Josh (April 29, 2010). "When We Leave Scores Top Honors At Tribeca Film Festival" . Vulture . Retrieved July 27, 2014 .
^ "Chris Messina Joins Damages" . TVGuide.com. Retrieved February 2, 2011 .
^ "Chris Messina on Starring in What Seems Like Everything" . Vulture . July 25, 2012. Retrieved July 26, 2012 .
^ "Margot Robbie, Chris Messina Talk 'Birds of Prey' " . YouTube . Archived from the original on December 21, 2021.
^ Menta, Anna (February 22, 2021). "I Care A Lot: Chris Messina Is Having a Blast Playing Bad Guys" . Decider. Retrieved June 15, 2021 .
^ Rosen, Christopher (August 3, 2012). "Chris Messina, 'Celeste And Jesse Forever' Star, On His Crazy Year" . Huffington Post . Retrieved March 12, 2013 .
^ Callegari, Caitlyn (September 9, 2014). "Who Is Jennifer Todd? 'Mindy Project' Star Chris Messina Has a Highly Successful Partner" . bustle.com. Retrieved January 11, 2015 .
^ "Meet the 2014 Tribeca Filmmakers #33: Chris Messina on How He Completed 'Alex of Venice' While Shooting 'The Mindy Project' " . April 15, 2014.
^ "Chris Messina Loves Women" . Forbes .
^ "Lortel Archives: Internet Off-Broadway Database listing for "The American Clock" " . Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2013 .
^ "The American Clock" . The Commonwealth Foundation. Retrieved February 11, 2013 .[permanent dead link ]
^ Sommer, Elyse. "A CurtainUp Review: The American Clock" . CurtainUp.com. Retrieved February 11, 2013 .
^ Daniels, Robert L. (October 25, 1997). "Legit Reviews: The American Clock" . Variety .
^ McGrath, Sean. "All Seasons Group at NYC's E.S.T., Aug. 9-20" . The Group . Playbill. Retrieved February 11, 2013 .
^ Goldberg, Jessica (2000). Refuge . Dramatists Play Service Inc. p. 3. ISBN 9780822217770 .
^ Weber, Bruce (March 28, 2000). "Theater Review: Those Credible Aliens, Not Quite Adult and Well Beyond Reason" . New York Times . Retrieved February 11, 2013 .
^ "PHOTO CALL: Colors Come Out At Hologram Theory Opening March 27" . Hologram Theory . Playbill. Retrieved February 11, 2013 .
^ Finkle, David. "Review: The Hologram Theory" . Theatermania.com.
^ Bacalzo, Dan. "Review: The Light Outside" . Theatermania.com.
^ "The Light Outside: Ticket information" . Theatermania.com. Archived from the original on March 21, 2016. Retrieved February 11, 2013 .
^ VanGelder, Lawrence (January 20, 2001). "THEATER REVIEW; Got the Horse Right Here, Its Name Is Tamicanfly" . The New York Times . Retrieved February 14, 2013 .
^ "Lortel Archives: Internet off-Broadway Database listing for "Blur" " . Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved February 11, 2013 .
^ Weber, Bruce (May 18, 2001). "Theater Review: Through the Eyes of the Beholder" . New York Times . Retrieved February 11, 2013 .
^ "Lortel Archives: Internet Off-Broadway Database listing for "Good Thing" " . Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2013 .
^ Weber, Bruce (December 18, 2001). "Theater Review: A Competition in Squalor From Adjoining Kitchens" . New York Times . Retrieved February 11, 2013 .
^ Finkle, David. "Review: Good Thing" . Theatermania.com.
^ "Lortel Archives: Internet Off-Broadway Database listing for "This Thing of Darkness" " . Archived from the original on August 25, 2004. Retrieved February 11, 2013 .
^ "Lortel Archives: Internet Off-Broadway Database listing for "Faster" " . Archived from the original on January 19, 2005. Retrieved February 11, 2013 .
^ Isherwood, Charles (September 12, 2002). "Legit Reviews: Faster" . Variety . Retrieved February 11, 2013 .
^ "Lortel Archives: Internet Off Broadway Database listing for "Far Away" " . Archived from the original on September 1, 2004. Retrieved February 11, 2013 .
^ "IBDB listing for "Salome" " .
^ "Who's Who in the Cast: Salome" . Playbill. Archived from the original on July 30, 2013. Retrieved February 11, 2013 .
^ "OffOffOff Theater Review of "St. Scarlet" " . OffOffOff.com. Archived from the original on January 5, 2004.
^ Weber, Bruce (June 30, 2003). "Theater Review: Siblings at Odds, A Stranger Uninvited" . New York Times . Retrieved February 11, 2013 .
^ "Motel Blues: Show information" . Theatermania.com. Archived from the original on July 10, 2017. Retrieved February 11, 2013 .
^ "CurtainUp Review of "Motel Blues" " . CurtainUp.com.
^ Isaac, Dan. "Review: The Seagull" . Backstage.com.
^ Brantley, Ben (August 17, 2004). "THEATER REVIEW; Conflicting Impulses Of Chekhov's Last Play" . New York Times .
^ Rizzo, Frank (August 17, 2004). "Legit Reviews: The Cherry Orchard" . Variety . Retrieved February 11, 2013 .
^ "Williamstown Theatre Festival webpage" . wtfestival.org. Archived from the original on June 3, 2013.
^ Willis, John; Hodges, Ben (March 2007). Theatre World, Vol 61, 2004-2005 . Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 231. ISBN 9781557837035 .
^ "Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards list (2012)" . Retrieved February 12, 2013 .
External links
International National Artists Other