# Christopher Backus

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

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2006 | All In | Pete | |
| 2007 | Redline | Tony Nefuse | |
| 2008 | 3 Days Gone | Lucas Snow | Direct-to-video |
| 2010 | Hard Breakers | Jesse | |
| 2010 | Mineville | Vince | |
| 2011 | Union Square | Andy | |
| 2011 | Yellow Rock | Cobb | |
| 2011 | Elevator | Don Handley | |
| 2012 | Besties | Justin | |
| 2012 | Among Friends | Marcus | |
| 2015 | The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water | Burger Beard Senior | Uncredited |
| 2015 | Chloe and Theo | Juju Joe | |
| 2015 | My Fair Lidy | Lidy / Marlene Dietrich | |
| 2016 | Indiscretion | Victor Bernard | |
| 2016 | Mothers and Daughters | Sebastian | |
| 2016 | Displacement | Brian Chance | |
| 2016 | A Christmas in New York | Jack Livingston | |
| 2018 | A Dog and Pony Show | John | |
| 2018 | Waterlily Jaguar | Jackson | |
| 2019 | Beneath the Leaves | Matt Tresner | |
| 2019 | Drowning | Peter | |
| 2021 | Rogue Hostage | Eagan Raize | |
| TBA | Dirty Angels | Travis | Post-production |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2004 | Will & Grace | Adam | Episode: "Looking for Mr. Good Enough" |
| 2005 | The O.C. | Curtis | Episode: "The Brothers Grim" |
| 2008 | Huge | Tommy | 1 episode |
| 2009 | Life on Mars | Rodney Slaven | Episode: "Revenge of Broken Jaw" |
| 2009 | The Last Templar | Jay CIA Agent | 2 episodes |
| 2011 | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Bobby | Episode: "The Gang Goes to the Jersey Shore" |
| 2012 | The Mentalist | Vincent | Episode: "Pink Champagne on Ice" |
| 2012 | Perception | Aaron Bauer | Episode: "Messenger" |
| 2013 | A Mother's Rage | Kelly | Television film |
| 2014 | Deliverance Creek | Jasper Gatlin | Television film |
| 2014 | Sons of Anarchy | Adam 'Greensleeves' Greenblatt | Episode: "Greensleeves" |
| 2015 | Workaholics | Water Guy | Episode: "Front Yard Wrestling" |
| 2016 | Underground | Jeremiah Johnson | 4 episodes |
| 2016 | Hell on Wheels | George Armstrong Custer | Episode: "Done" |
| 2016 | Roadies | Rick Bayless | 8 episodes |
| 2017 | Bosch | Woody Woodrow | 5 episodes |
| 2019 | Big Little Lies | Joe | 2 episodes |
| 2019 | Jett | Bennie | 9 episodes |
| 2019 | Mindhunter | Tex Watson | Episode #2.5 |
| 2021 | Truth Be Told | Holt Rollins | Episode #2.1 |
| 2021 | Blackout | Danny | 3 episodes |
| 2022 | Black Bird | Young Jim Keene | 2 episodes |