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Photo of Chris Parnell

Chris Parnell

Actor, WriterBorn February 5, 1967 (58 years)
​Thomas Christopher "Chris" Parnell (born February 5, 1967) is an American comic actor best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1998–2006 and currently for his recurring role as Dr. Leo Spaceman on NBC's Emmy Award-winning comedy series 30 Rock. Parnell is currently one of the lead voices on the FX animated comedy Archer. In 2010, Parnell starred alongside his former SNL castmate Horatio Sanz in the Comedy Central series Big Lake.

After performing as a company player with The Groundlings for a number of years, Parnell was hired to join the cast of Saturday Night Live as a featured player on September 26, 1998, and was promoted to repertory player the following season. In the summer of 2001, budget cuts and hiring four new cast members required Lorne Michaels to dismiss two cast members; he chose to lay off Parnell and Jerry Minor over Horatio Sanz, Rachel Dratch, and Maya Rudolph.

While on SNL, Parnell appeared in numerous sketches, and commercial parodies, and performed memorable impressions of various celebrities. One of his most popular sketches is Lazy Sunday, a rap video he shot with Andy Samberg about buying cupcakes and going to see The Chronicles of Narnia. He has also performed raps about hosts Jennifer Garner, Britney Spears, Kirsten Dunst and Ashton Kutcher.

In the summer of 2006, Lorne Michaels announced that four cast members would be fired due to budget cuts, but he did not say who. On September 22, 2006 it was announced that three cast members had been fired: Parnell, Horatio Sanz, and Finesse Mitchell. This effectively made him the only SNL performer to have been fired twice by Lorne Michaels, though Parnell did say in a 2008 interview with The Sound of Young America podcast that he was okay with being let go this time, because he was considering leaving after that season anyway, but added that he probably would have stayed one last season if he was asked back. He had been with SNL for eight seasons; at the time only four people (Darrell Hammond, Tim Meadows, Kevin Nealon, and Al Franken) have been cast members longer. He has since made uncredited cameo appearances on the show, most recently in 2008 parodying newscasters Tom Brokaw, Jim Lehrer, and Bob Schieffer.

Parnell and his former SNL castmate Horatio Sanz recently starred together in Big Lake, a 2010 sitcom on Comedy Central from executive producers Will Ferrell and Adam McKay.

He also recently appeared as Dr. Drummer/Santa in the SyFy Holiday Special episode from the television show Eureka, which aired on December 7, 2010 (Season 4 Episode 10).

Movies & Shows on Plex

  • Escape from Planet Earth
  • Labor Pains
  • Comedy Bang! Bang!
  • Slice
  • Garfunkel and Oates
  • The Spoils Before Dying
  • Answer This!
  • Austin Found
  • Hollywood & Wine
  • As We Know It
  • Eavesdrop
  • Yung Punx: A Punk Parable

Known For

  • Rick and Morty
  • 21 Jump Street
  • Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
  • Archer (2009)
  • Hot Rod

Featured Videos

    Filmography

    2024
    Micro Budget · as Toby
    2024
    Our Little Secret · as Veterinarian
    2024
    In Fidelity · as Lyle Ayker
    2024
    2024
    Fallout (TV Series) · as Overseer Benjamin
    2023
    2023
    Krapopolis (TV Series) · as Ares (voice)
    2023
    Millennial Hunter · as John (voice)
    2023
    My Adventures with Superman (TV Series) · as Agent Slade Wilson (voice)
    2023
    Hailey's On It! (TV Series) · as Klaus Gimlet
    2022
    2022
    Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers · as Dave Bollinari (voice)
    2022
    Senior Year · as Jim Conway
    2021
    Hot Mess Holiday · as Mike
    2021
    Dogs in Space (TV Series) · as Ed (voice)
    2021
    Home Sweet Home Alone · as Uncle Stu
    2021
    Yung Punx: A Punk Parable · as Therapist (voice)
    2021
    Batman: The Audio Adventures (TV Series) · as Narrator (voice)
    2021
    The Mysterious Benedict Society (TV Series) · as Captain Of The Inverness
    2021
    Marvel's M.O.D.O.K. (TV Series) · as Alvin Healy / Tenpin (voice)
    2021
    Alpha Betas (TV Series) · as Darryl (voice)
    2021
    Archibald's Next Big Thing Is Here (TV Series) · as Dr. Fluffberg
    2021
    Finding 'Ohana · as Brown
    2020
    Mapleworth Murders (TV Series) · as Ben Canelli
    2020
    Close Enough (TV Series) · as Ron (voice)
    2020
    Freeze · as Dr. Holmes
    2020
    2020
    Dummy (TV Series) · as Agent Chett
    2019
    I Am Woman · as Artie Mogull
    2019
    Bless the Harts (TV Series) · as Cast
    2019
    The Laundromat · as Doomed Gringo #2
    2019
    A Name Without a Place · as Jerry Sundall
    2019
    Archibald's Next Big Thing Is Here! (TV Series) · as Dr. Fluffberg
    2019
    Love, Death & Robots (TV Series) · as The Cat (voice)
    2019
    Alien News Desk (TV Series)
    2019
    Miracle Workers (2019) (TV Series) · as God's Dad
    2019
    The Last Laugh · as Charlie Green
    2018
    2018
    Happy Together (TV Series) · as Wayne
    2018
    Slice · as Mayor Tracy
    2018
    Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation · as Stan / Fish Man (voice)
    2018
    Life of the Party · as Mr. Truzack (wayne)
    2018
    grown-ish (TV Series) · as Dean Burt Parker
    2017
    At Home with Amy Sedaris (TV Series) · as Chug Ducey
    2017
    2017
    Will & Grace (TV Series) · as Dr. Dilorenzo
    2017
    Austin Found · as Alan Dickinson
    2017
    Great News (TV Series) · as Gerald
    2017
    2016
    2016
    Rhett & Link's Buddy System (TV Series) · as Vice Chairman
    2016
    Ask the StoryBots (TV Series)
    2016
    Tween Fest (TV Series) · as Preston Stevens Sr.
    2016
    Elena of Avalor (TV Series) · as Migs (voice)
    2016
    Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ (TV Series) · as Walton Rothchild
    2015
    Dawn of the Croods (TV Series) · as Snoot (voice)
    2015
    The Better Half · as Daniel
    2015
    Sisters · as Phil
    2015
    The Ridiculous 6 · as Bank Manager
    2015
    Nature Cat (TV Series) · as Sir Galahad
    2015
    Highston (TV Series) · as Wilbur Liggetts
    2015
    The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show (TV Series) · as Mr. Peabody (voice)
    2015
    Be Cool, Scooby-Doo! (TV Series) · as Cop
    2015
    2015
    Hotel Transylvania 2 · as Fly (voice)
    2015
    The Spoils Before Dying (TV Series) · as Bebop Jones
    2015
    The Adventures of OG Sherlock Kush (TV Series) · as The Prime Minister
    2015
    Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (TV Series) · as Junior
    2014
    We Bare Bears (TV Series) · as Additional Voices (voice)
    2014
    Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero (TV Series) · as Judge Blort Clooney (voice)
    2014
    Saturday Night Live: Thanksgiving Special · as Paul (segment "bird Family")
    2014
    Benched (TV Series) · as Mitch
    2014
    Blaze and the Monster Machines (TV Series) · as Cousin Ken
    2014
    Bad Judge (TV Series) · as Douglas Riller
    2014
    black-ish (TV Series) · as Dean Parker
    2014
    BoJack Horseman (TV Series) · as Klaus / News Reporter (voice)
    2014
    Garfunkel and Oates (TV Series) · as Stan
    2014
    Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (TV Series) · as Hoa Ambassador
    2014
    TripTank (TV Series) · as Bill
    2014
    Break Point · as Jay Laroche
    2013
    2013
    Rick and Morty (TV Series) · as Jerry Smith (voice)
    2013
    Filthy · as Sean Hastings
    2013
    The Goldbergs (2013) (TV Series) · as Harrison Whitby
    2013
    Brooklyn Nine-Nine (TV Series) · as Geoffrey Hoytsman
    2013
    We Need Help (TV Series) · as Chris
    2013
    2013
    Turbo · as Announcer #2 (voice)
    2013
    Drunk History (TV Series) · as King Charles Ii
    2013
    Another Period (TV Series) · as Dr. Sigmund Freudas
    2013
    Inside Amy Schumer (TV Series) · as Hr Manager Bob
    2012
    Electric City · as Voice Actor (voice)
    2012
    Sofia the First (TV Series) · as Zacharias
    2012
    2012
    Hotel Transylvania · as Mr. Fly (voice)
    2012
    Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja (TV Series) · as Charlie Clucker
    2012
    Electric City (TV Series) · as God Nation Judge
    2012
    Gravity Falls (TV Series) · as Host (voice)
    2012
    Comedy Bang! Bang! (TV Series) · as Stephendorff
    2012
    The Dictator · as News Anchor
    2012
    2012
    21 Jump Street · as Mr. Gordon
    2012
    2012
    2012
    2011
    Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice · as Mr. Thistleton (voice)
    2011
    Answer This! · as Brian Collins
    2011
    Suburgatory (TV Series) · as Fred Shay
    2011
    Jon Benjamin Has a Van (TV Series) · as Area 51 Scientist
    2011
    Love Bites (2011) (TV Series) · as Chad Banks (segment "a Sexual Haunting")
    2011
    Hollywood & Wine · as Peter West
    2011
    Mad Love (TV Series) · as Officer Barrett
    2011
    The Tom and Jerry Show (2014) (TV Series) · as Narrator (voice)
    2011
    Bob's Burgers (TV Series) · as Warren Fitzgerald (voice)
    2011
    Workaholics (TV Series) · as Bruce Benson
    2010
    The Problem Solverz (TV Series) · as The Mayor
    2010
    Conan (2010) (TV Series) · as Book Signing
    2010
    The Women of SNL · as Various (archive Footage)
    2010
    T.U.F.F. Puppy (TV Series) · as Caped Cod (voice)
    2010
    Fish Hooks (TV Series) · as Announcer / Allibut (voice)
    2010
    Big Lake (TV Series) · as Chris Henkel
    2010
    Kung-Fu Magoo · as Cole Fusion / Ninja (voice)
    2010
    The Dogfather · as Brian Franks
    2009
    Archer (2009) (TV Series) · as Cyril Figgis (voice)
    2009
    Glenn Martin DDS (TV Series)
    2009
    Labor Pains · as Jerry Steinwald
    2009
    Paper Man · as Peter
    2009
    Glee (TV Series) · as Mario
    2009
    Saturday Night Live: The Best of Amy Poehler · as Edward Turlington (archive Footage)
    2009
    2009
    Better Off Ted (TV Series) · as Walter
    2009
    2008
    Childrens Hospital (TV Series) · as Ron Pippin
    2008
    I.O.U.S.A. · as Budget Book Author
    2008
    2008
    Weekend Update (TV Series)
    2008
    The Life & Times of Tim (TV Series) · as William (voice)
    2008
    Eavesdrop · as Terrence
    2008
    Harold · as Coach Vanderpool
    2008
    Miss Guided (TV Series) · as Bruce Terry
    2007
    Funny or Die Presents (TV Series) · as Soccer Dad (segment "lady Refs")
    2007
    2007
    WordGirl (TV Series)
    2007
    Hot Rod · as Barry Pasternack
    2007
    Kabluey · as Frank
    2007
    The Grand · as Harold Melvin
    2007
    Sunny & Share Love You · as Kevin Keith Baker
    2006
    I'm Reed Fish · as Ralph
    2006
    30 Rock (TV Series) · as Dr. Leo Spaceman
    2006
    Curious George (TV Series) · as Rowan Hawthorne
    2006
    Eureka (TV Series) · as Dr. Noah Drummer
    2006
    Ira & Abby · as Dr. Ronald Silverberg
    2006
    2005
    SNL Digital Shorts (TV Series) · as Chris
    2005
    2005
    American Dad! (TV Series) · as James Garfield (voice)
    2004
    Wake Up, Ron Burgundy · as Garth Holliday
    2004
    2004
    2004
    2004
    2004
    2004
    2004
    Looking for Kitty · as Guy Borne
    2003
    2003
    2003
    Down with Love · as Tv Emcee
    2003
    Barely Legal · as Mr. Ronald Greitzer
    2003
    2001
    Samurai Jack (TV Series) · as Additional Voices
    2001
    2001
    2001
    Robot Chicken (TV Series) · as Major Nelson
    2000
    T.V. Funhouse (TV Series) · as James Brolin (voice)
    2000
    As Told By Ginger (TV Series) · as Radio Announcer
    2000
    Curb Your Enthusiasm (TV Series) · as Hank
    2000
    The Ladies Man · as Phil Swanson
    2000
    Ed (TV Series) · as Dj Curtis Morris
    1999
    Family Guy (TV Series) · as Doug (voice)
    1998
    The Hughleys (TV Series) · as Rick
    1998
    Will & Grace (TV Series) · as Dr. Dilorenzo
    1998
    Conrad Bloom (TV Series) · as Simpson
    1997
    Union Square (TV Series) · as Don
    1996
    Jingle All the Way · as Toy Store Sales Clerk
    1996
    Suddenly Susan (TV Series) · as Waiter
    1996
    Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher (TV Series) · as Announcer
    1996
    1996
    Shooting Lily · as Phone Company Salesman
    1995
    Caroline in the City (TV Series) · as Gene
    1995
    Hope and Gloria (TV Series) · as Howard
    1994
    Friends (TV Series) · as Bob
    1989
    The Simpsons (TV Series) · as Surgeon Fiancé (voice)
    1989
    Seinfeld (TV Series) · as Nbc Executive
    1988
    Murphy Brown (TV Series)

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