Chris Parnell

Thomas Christopher Parnell (/pɑːrˈnɛl/; born February 5, 1967) is an American actor, voice artist and comedian. He was a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1998 to 2006 and played the role of Dr. Leo Spaceman on 30 Rock. In animation, he voices Cyril Figgis on the FX series Archer, Jerry Smith on Adult Swim's Rick and Morty and the narrator on the PBS series WordGirl. He also voices "The Progressive Box" in a series of advertisements by the Progressive Corporation.

Chris Parnell
Parnell at the 2019 WonderCon
Born
Thomas Christopher Parnell

(1967-02-05) February 5, 1967
EducationUniversity of North Carolina School of the Arts (BFA)
OccupationActor, voice artist, comedian
Years active1988–present
Known for

Early life

Parnell was born in Memphis, Tennessee, to a Southern Baptist family.[1] His father, Jack Parnell, was a radio personality in Memphis. He attended the Southern Baptist Educational Center, and graduated from Germantown High School. He decided to pursue acting as a career at age 17 and set his sights on being a theater actor. He attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts where he received his BFA in Drama. He moved to Houston, Texas after college to do an apprentice actor program for a season at the Alley Theatre, but did not get asked back to join the company. He became momentarily disenchanted with acting, and returned to his hometown and taught high school for a year. He moved to Los Angeles and auditioned for the Groundlings in 1992.[2]

Career

While performing as a company player with the Groundlings for a number of years, Parnell began doing commercials and getting guest roles on various sitcoms, such as Seinfeld and Murphy Brown.[2] He was hired to join the cast of Saturday Night Live as a featured player, and debuted on the show on September 26, 1998. He was promoted to repertory player the following season. In the summer of 2001, because of budget cuts and the hiring of four new cast members, Lorne Michaels was required to dismiss two cast members; he chose to lay off Parnell and Jerry Minor over Horatio Sanz, Rachel Dratch, and Maya Rudolph, but Parnell was rehired in the middle of the following season.[3]

While on SNL, Parnell appeared in numerous sketches, and commercial parodies, and performed impressions of various celebrities. Among his notable sketches are "Lazy Sunday", a rap video he shot with Andy Samberg, and "More Cowbell". He has performed raps about hosts Jennifer Garner, Britney Spears, Kirsten Dunst, and Ashton Kutcher. On the DVD commentary for the West Coast version of the 30 Rock episode "Live Show", Tina Fey and Beth McCarthy Miller noted that Parnell was nicknamed "The Ice Man" while working at SNL, because of his apparent immunity to breaking character, citing the "More Cowbell" sketch in which he was the only actor not to break.[4]

Parnell at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival

In mid-2006, Michaels announced that four cast members would be laid off due to budget cuts, but he did not say whom.[5] On September 22, 2006, it was announced that three cast members had been laid off: Parnell; Horatio Sanz; and Finesse Mitchell. This effectively made him the only SNL performer to have been released twice by Lorne Michaels, although Parnell did say in a 2008 interview with The Sound Of Young America podcast that he was okay with being let go this time, as he was considering leaving after that season anyway, adding that he probably would have stayed one more season had he been 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) had been cast members longer. He has since made uncredited cameo appearances on the show, including parodying newscasters Tom Brokaw, Jim Lehrer, and Bob Schieffer. Parnell and his former SNL castmate Horatio Sanz starred together in Big Lake, a 2010 sitcom on Comedy Central from executive producers Will Ferrell and Adam McKay.[6]

Parnell voiced Fly in the animated films Hotel Transylvania and Hotel Transylvania 2, and Stan the Fishman in Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation. He is a series regular on the FX animated series Archer, and is also known for his guest appearances as Dr. Leo Spaceman on 30 Rock. He provides the voice of the narrator on the PBS children's series WordGirl. From 2011 to 2014, Parnell co-starred on the ABC comedy series Suburgatory where he played the husband of the character played by his former SNL castmate Ana Gasteyer. His role started out as recurring in the first season but he was bumped up to a series regular in the second season. The series aired for three seasons on ABC.[7]

Parnell provides the voice of the "Progressive Box" in commercials for Progressive Insurance.[8]

Since 2013, Parnell has voiced Jerry on the Adult Swim series Rick and Morty.[9]

On March 16, 2018, Parnell was cast in the main role of Wayne on the CBS sitcom Happy Together.[10]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1996Jingle All the WayToy Store Sales Clerk
Shooting LilyPhone Company SalesmanVoice
1997Decade of LoveBobby FastdancerShort film
1998OperationCadaver
1999DeadtimeJunior
2000The Ladies ManPhil Swanson
2003Evil Alien ConquerorsDu-ug
Down with LoveTV Emcee
National Lampoon's Barely LegalMr. Ronald Greitzer
2004Looking for KittyGuy Borne
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron BurgundyGarth Holliday
Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie
2006I'm Reed FishRalph
Ira & AbbyDr. Ronald Silverberg
2007The GrandHarold Melvin
Hot RodBarry Pasternak
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox StoryTheo
Sunny & Share Love YouKevin Keith Baker
KablueyFrank
2008HaroldCoach Vanderpool
EavesdropTerrence
2009Paper ManPeter
Labor PainsJerry Steinwald
2010Hollywood & WinePeter West
The DogfatherBrian Franks
Kung Fu MagooCole FusionVoice
2011Answer This!Brian Collins
201221 Jump StreetMr. Gordon
The Five-Year EngagementBill
The DictatorNews Anchor
Hotel TransylvaniaFlyVoice
2013Escape from Planet EarthHammer
TurboAnnouncer #2
Anchorman 2: The Legend ContinuesGarth Holliday
2014Break PointJay LaRoche
2015The Better HalfDaniel
Hotel Transylvania 2FlyVoice
SistersPhil
The Ridiculous 6William (Bank Teller)
2017Austin FoundAlan Dickinson
Battle of the SexesDJ
2018Life of the PartyWayne Truzack
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer VacationStan the FishmanVoice
SliceMayor Tracy
Goosebumps 2: Haunted HalloweenWalter
2019The Last LaughCharlie Green
A Name Without a PlaceJerry Sundall
The LaundromatDoomed Gringo #2
I Am WomanArtie Mogull
TBAHome AloneStuFilming
2021 Finding 'OhanaBrownNetflix

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1996Hope and GloriaHowardEpisode: "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Funicular"
1996, 1998Suddenly SusanPhil, Waiter2 episodes
1997SeinfeldNBC ExecutiveEpisode: "The Butter Shave"
The Jamie Foxx ShowDirectorEpisode: "Do the Write Thing"
Nick Freno: Licensed TeacherAnnouncerEpisode: "The Weighting Game"
1998Union SquareDonEpisode: "It Takes a Thief"
Caroline in the CityGeneEpisode: "Caroline and the Cabbie"
Murphy BrownHandler #22 episodes
Conrad BloomSimpson
1998–2012Saturday Night LiveVarious148 episodes
2001TV FunhouseJames Brolin (voice)Episode: "Safari Day"
The HughleysRickEpisode: "When Darryl Bumped Sally"
FriendsBobEpisode: "The One with Rachel's Date"
2002EdDJ Curtis MorrisEpisode: "The Divorce"
2003As Told by GingerRadio Announcer, Train Conductor (voices)Episode: "Far from Home"
2006–1330 RockDr. Leo Spaceman25 episodes
2007–15WordGirlNarrator and various voices89 episodes
2008Miss GuidedVice Principal Bruce Terry7 episodes
Saturday Night Live Weekend Update ThursdayBob Schieffer and Tom Brokaw2 episodes
2009Kröd Mändoon and the Flaming Sword of FireNarrator (voice)5 episodes
2009, 2010Glenn Martin DDSVarious voices4 episodes
2009–presentArcherCyril Figgis and Buck Henry (voices)102 episodes
2010Better Off TedWalter PalmerEpisode: "The Impertence of Communicationizing"
The Life & Times of TimMark Douglas, Principal, and William (voices)3 episodes
Big LakeChris Henkel10 episodes
2010, 2011Funny or Die PresentsVarious6 episodes
EurekaDr. Noah Drummer2 episodes
2010–presentTayo the Little BusCitu (voice)English dub
2011Robot ChickenScooter, Major Nelson (voices)Episode: "Big Trouble in Little Clerks 2"
Mad LoveOfficer Dennis Barrett2 episodes
WorkaholicsBruce BensonEpisode: "In the Line of Getting Fired"
Jon Benjamin Has a VanArea 51 ScientistEpisode: "Stardoor"
Love BitesChad BanksEpisode: "Stand and Deliver"
Curb Your EnthusiasmHankEpisode: "The Hero"
Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. NiceMr. Thistleton (voice)Television special
T.U.F.F. PuppyThe Caped Cod (voice)Episode: "The Dog Who Cried Fish"
2011–12I Just Want My Pants BackJB6 episodes
2011–14SuburgatoryFred Shay38 episodes
2012Gravity FallsAdditional voices2 episodes
Electric CityGiovanni Montalbon (voice)20 episodes
2012–16Comedy Bang! Bang!Various4 episodes
2013–19Drunk History6 episodes
2013–presentRick and MortyJerry Smith (voice)27 episodes
2014Filthy Preppy Teen$Sean HastingsTelevision special
The Tom and Jerry ShowNarratorEpisode: "Sleep Disorder/Tom's In-Tents Adventure"
GleeMarioEpisode: "Opening Night"
Garfunkel and OatesStanEpisode: "Rule 34"
BoJack HorsemanKlaus and News Reporter (voices)Episode: "Our A-Story is a 'D' Story"
Bad JudgeDouglas RillerEpisode: "Pilot"
BenchedMitchEpisode: "Campaign Contributions"
2014–16TripTankVarious voices7 episodes
2015Brooklyn Nine-NineGeoffrey Hoytsman2 episodes
Penn Zero: Part-Time HeroJudge (voice)Episode: "Defending the Earth"
Childrens HospitalRon PippinEpisode: "Five Years Later"
The Adventures of OG Sherlock KushThe Prime Minister (voice)Episode: "The Mystery of the Royal Flasher"
The Spoils Before DyingBebop Jones2 episodes
Another PeriodDr. Sigmund FreudEpisode: "Senate"
Jeff Dunham: Unhinged in HollywoodNetwork ExecutiveTelevision special
Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!Dustin Wallswreath, Jim McCoy, and Cop (voices)Episode: "Grand Scam"
HighstonWilbur LiggettsEpisode: "Pilot"
2015–20Nature CatVarious voices38 episodes
2015–16Dawn of the CroodsSnoot, Dub, and Evil Egg (voices)12 episodes
2015–17The Mr. Peabody & Sherman ShowMr. Peabody (voice)Lead role; 46 episodes
2016Sofia the FirstZacharias (voice)Episode: "Her Royal Spyness"
Inside Amy SchumerMichaelEpisode: "The World's Most Interesting Woman in the World"
Bob's BurgersWarren Fitzgerald (voice)Episode: "Pro Tiki/Con Tiki"
Ask the StoryBotsReindeer (voice)Episode: "Where Does Rain Come From?"
Tween FestPreston Stevens Sr.Episode: "SpurgeExplosion"
Rhett and Link's Buddy SystemVice ChairmanEpisode: "The Magic Is Real"
2016–presentElena of AvalorMigs (voice)21 episodes
American Dad!James A. Garfield's clone, Various voices10 episodes
2017Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day SpecialDr. Vince HarbertTelevision special
Elena and the Secret of AvalorMigs (voice)Television film
Samurai JackMud Alien and Scientist (voices)Episode: "XCIII"
Black-ishDean ParkerEpisode: "Liberal Arts"
Great NewsGeraldEpisode: "Squad Feud"
2017, 2020Unbreakable Kimmy SchmidtJunior2 episodes
2018Blaze and the Monster MachinesCousins Ken and Sven (voices)Episode: "The Pickle Family Campout"
Adam Ruins EverythingNarrator6 episodes
Grown-ishDean Parker10 episodes
2018–19Happy TogetherWayneMain role
2019Love, Death & RobotsThe Cat (voice)Episode: "Three Robots"
Miracle WorkersGod's DadEpisode: "1 Day"
Bajillion Dollar Propertie$Walton RothchildEpisode: "Held Breath"
Bless the HartsIan David Col (voice)Episode: "Miracle on Culpepper Slims Boulevard"
2019–20The GoldbergsHarrison Whitby2 episodes
Will & GraceDr. DiLorenzo2 episodes
Family GuyVarious voices7 episodes
2020DummyChet JacobsEpisode: "Plus Size Plus One"
Close EnoughRonEpisode: "First Date/Snailin' It"
Mapleworth Murders[11]Ben Canelli2 episodes
The SimpsonsMary Tannenbaum's Fiancé (voice)Episode: "A Springfield Summer Christmas for Christmas"

Video games

YearTitleVoice role
2017Rick and Morty: Virtual Rick-alityJerry Smith
2019Grand Theft Auto Online (The Diamond Casino and Resort expansion)Tom Connors
2020ManeaterNarrator / Host

Music videos

References

  1. Plume, Kenneth (January 21, 2003). "An Interview with Chris Parnell". IGN. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  2. Maron, Marc (2014-10-06). "Episode 539 - Chris Parnell". WTF with Marc Maron. Retrieved 2017-10-11.
  3. Graham, Mark (2010-01-14). Archer's Chris Parnell Talks Well-Endowed Cartoon Characters, Being Fired From SNL Twice. vulture.com, 14 January 2010. Retrieved on 2014-04-02 from http://www.vulture.com/2010/01/chris_parnell.html Archived 2013-01-14 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. Reilly, Dan (December 11, 2019). "'What the Hell Is Skimbleshanks?' The Oral History of SNL's Cats Sketch". Vulture. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  5. Keller, Joel (2006-08-22). "Four SNLers are history, says Lorne Michaels". tvsquad.com, 22 August 2006. Retrieved on 2014-04-02 from http://www.tvsquad.com/2006/08/22/four-snlers-are-history-says-lorne-michaels.
  6. "Comedy Central's(R) 'Big Lake,' Starring Chris Gethard, Horatio Sanz and Chris Parnell, Debuts on Tuesday, August 17 at 10:00 P.M.*". The Futon Critic. July 26, 2010. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  7. Moynihan, Rob (March 20, 2013). "A Night Out With Suburgatory's Chris Parnell & Ana Gasteyer". TV Guide. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  8. Stampler, Laura (2012-12-05). "Progressive Almost Made This Box Its Spokesperson Instead Of Flo". Business Insider. Retrieved 2018-01-22.
  9. Scott, Katie (November 8, 2019). "Sarah Chalke, Chris Parnell talk 'Rick and Morty' ahead of Season 4". Global News. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
  10. Andreeva, Nellie (March 16, 2018). "Chris Parnell To Co-Star In McAuliffe/Earl CBS Comedy Pilot; Phill Lewis To Direct". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 14, 2018.
  11. Porter, Rick (December 3, 2019). "Lorne Michaels' Quibi Murder Mystery Lines Up All-Star Cast". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
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