← Back to explore

Chris Messina

Acting

Born August 11, 1974 · New York City, New York, USA

Also known as Christopher Messina · 克里斯·梅西納 · کریس مسینا

Biography

Christopher Messina (born August 11, 1974) is an American actor, director, writer, and producer. 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. He has appeared in films such as 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). Description above from the Wikipedia article Chris Messina, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Awards & recognition

  • Screen Actors Guild AwardOutstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture · 2013
  • Screen Actors Guild AwardOutstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture · 2013 · nominated

Filmography50+ titles

The Newsroom

2012as Reese Lansing

Six Feet Under

2001as Ted Fairwell

Third Watch

1999as Charlie

Pressure

2026as Irving Krick

Sharp Objects

2018as Richard Willis

Damages

2007as Chris Sanchez

Medium

2005as Casey Edward Frank

Air

2023as David Falk

Argo

2012as Malinov

Law & Order

1990as Kevin Turner

Ruby Sparks

2012as Harry

Based on a True Story

2023as Nathan Bartlett

Rounders

1998as Higgins

Juror #2

2024as Eric Resnick

Gaslit

2022as Angelo Lano

Birds of Prey and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn

2020as Victor Zsasz

Vicky Cristina Barcelona

2008as Doug

Julie & Julia

2009as Eric Powell

Away We Go

2009as Tom

You've Got Mail

1998as Fox Salesperson

I Care a Lot

2020as Dean Ericson

Blame

2017as Jeremy Woods

Call Jane

2022as Will

Light of My Life

2019Thanks

The Giant Mechanical Man

2012as Tim

Made of Honor

2008as Dennis

The Boogeyman

2023as Will Harper

Celeste & Jesse Forever

2012as Paul

Like Crazy

2011as Mike Appletree

Live by Night

2016as Dion Bartolo

Cake

2014as Jason Bennett

The Siege

1998as Corporal

The Sweet Life

2016as Kenny

The Mindy Project

2012as Dr. Danny Castellano

Towelhead

2007as Barry

Dreamin' Wild

2022as Matt Sullivan

Palo Alto

2013as Mitch

Devil

2010as Detective Bowden

The Secrets We Keep

2020as Lewis

The True Adventures of Wolfboy

2019as Denny

Alex of Venice

2014as George

Greenberg

2010as Phillip Greenberg

I.S.S.

2023as Gordon Barrett

Ordinary World

2016as Jake

Humboldt County

2008as Max

Ira & Abby

2006as Ira Black

28 Hotel Rooms

2012as Man

Manglehorn

2014as Jacob

The Aviary

2022as Seth

Digging for Fire

2015as Tango