Christopher Backus is an American actor, director and screenwriter. Backus made his television debut in NBC's Will & Grace, followed by landing roles in The O.C., Life on Mars, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Sons of Anarchy, The Mentalist, Perception, and The Last Templar. He also appeared in films such as Redline starring Eddie Griffin and 3 Days Gone directed by Scott McCullough.
Early life and education Backus grew up in Kansas City, Kansas. His mother, Teryl Backus, is a retired colonel in the United States Marine Corps, and his father, Terry Backus, was a lawyer who died when Christopher was a child. He has one sister, Michele.
Career Backus moved with friend Rob McElhenney from New York City to Los Angeles during pilot season of 2003. Shortly after arriving, Backus landed his first role in Benjamin Splits, while McElhenney developed the sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. After landing supporting roles in NBC's hit show Will & Grace and Fox's The O.C., Backus starred opposite Dominique Swain in Nick Vallelonga's All In. He returned to television in Malik Bader's HUGE in which he portrayed a struggling frontman of an indie rock band. He starred in 3 Days Gone along with Patrick J. Adams, Nothing Personal with Paz de la Huerta, and Elevator with John Getz and Anita Briem.
Backus returned to television to play the leader of the Weather Underground in ABC's period drama Life on Mars, then he reteamed with director Nick Vallelonga on a western with Michael Biehn and James Russo, Yellow Rock.
In 2011, the feature film Union Square, co-written and directed by the Sundance Film Festival's Grand Jury Award Winner, Nancy Savoca, was premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. In it, Backus appears alongside Mira Sorvino, Patti Lupone, Tammy Blanchard, Mike Doyle, and Michael Rispoli.
In summer 2011, Backus appeared as Marlene Dietrich in My Fair Lidy.
In 2012, he starred as Marcus in Among Friends, directed by "scream queen" Danielle Harris.
Backus was set to direct a thriller titled The Sessionist, but dropped out of the project due to creative differences.
Personal life
Backus met Mira Sorvino at a friend's charades party in August 2003. On June 11, 2004, they married in a private civil ceremony at the Santa Barbara, California, courthouse, then later had a hilltop ceremony in Capri, Italy. The couple have four children. He has also starred in films with Sorvino such as Indiscretion and Mothers and Daughters.
Filmography
Film +YearTitleRoleNotes2006All InPete2007RedlineTony Nefuse20083 Days GoneLucas SnowDirect-to-video2010Hard BreakersJesseMinevilleVince2011Union SquareAndyYellow RockCobbElevatorDon Handley2012BestiesJustinAmong FriendsMarcus2015The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of WaterBurger Beard SeniorUncreditedChloe and TheoJuju JoeMy Fair LidyLidy / Marlene Dietrich2016IndiscretionVictor BernardMothers and DaughtersSebastianDisplacementBrian ChanceA Christmas in New YorkJack Livingston2018A Dog and Pony ShowJohnWaterlily JaguarJackson2019Beneath the LeavesMatt TresnerDrowningPeter2021Rogue HostageEagan Raize2024Dirty AngelsTravis
Television YearTitleRoleNotes2004Will & GraceAdamEpisode: "Looking for Mr. Good Enough"2005The O.C.CurtisEpisode: "The Brothers Grim"2008HugeTommy1 episode2009Life on MarsRodney SlavenEpisode: "Revenge of Broken Jaw"The Last TemplarJay CIA Agent2 episodes2011It's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaBobbyEpisode: "The Gang Goes to the Jersey Shore"2012The MentalistVincentEpisode: "Pink Champagne on Ice"PerceptionAaron BauerEpisode: "Messenger"2013A Mother's RageKellyTelevision film2014Deliverance CreekJasper GatlinSons of AnarchyAdam 'Greensleeves' GreenblattEpisode: "Greensleeves"2015WorkaholicsWater GuyEpisode: "Front Yard Wrestling"2016UndergroundJeremiah Johnson4 episodesHell on WheelsGeorge Armstrong CusterEpisode: "Done"RoadiesRick Bayless8 episodes2017BoschWoody Woodrow5 episodes2019Big Little LiesJoe2 episodesJettBennie9 episodesMindhunterTex WatsonEpisode #2.52021Truth Be ToldHolt RollinsEpisode #2.1BlackoutDanny3 episodes2022Black BirdYoung Jim Keene2 episodes2025NCIS: OriginsAbe PruittSeason 2 Episode 1 "The Funky Bunch"
References
External links