# Chris Klein (actor)

Frederick Christopher Klein (born March 14, 1979) is an American actor. In film, Klein is best known for his lead role as Chris "Oz" Ostreicher in the American Pie film series (1999–2001; 2012). Other lead roles include Here on Earth (2000), Say It Isn't So (2001), Rollerball (2002), Day Zero (2007), Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li (2009), and Authors Anonymous (2014). His notable supporting roles include Election (1999), We Were Soldiers (2002), The United States of Leland (2003), Just Friends (2005), and American Dreamz (2006).
In television, Klein has had main roles as Marty Tanner on the CBS sitcom Welcome to The Captain (2008) and Orlin Dwyer / Cicada on the CW superhero series The Flash (2018–2019). From 2020-2024, he had a main role as Bill Townsend on the Netflix series Sweet Magnolias. Klein had a recurring role as Drew on the FX sitcom Wilfred (2011–2014).

## Early life

Klein was born in Hinsdale, Illinois, and moved to Omaha, Nebraska, at age 13, and later attended Millard West High School. In his senior year, Klein was offered his first professional acting job by director Alexander Payne, who was scouting Omaha, his hometown, as a potential filming location for the film Election. He attended Texas Christian University (TCU) in Fort Worth, Texas.

## Career

After auditioning for Election, Payne chose Klein and they began filming. The film was released in April 1999, to positive reviews. Soon after, Klein found steady work in the film industry while briefly attending TCU, where he studied theater and was a member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He was next seen in American Pie, acting as Christopher Russell Ostreicher, which opened on July 9, 1999, and was a box office success. The following year Klein starred in Here on Earth alongside LeeLee Sobieski and Josh Hartnett (2000). Klein reprised his role in American Pie 2 (2001) and American Reunion (2012), but was not in American Wedding reportedly due to scheduling conflicts. In 2002, Klein had a role in the Mel Gibson Vietnam War film We Were Soldiers. Klein starred in the 2002, remake of the film Rollerball, but the film was a massive critical and financial failure. Klein has also appeared in several teen movies, including Just Friends (2005) and American Dreamz (2006).
In 2014, Klein was cast as an American pilot in the Damien Lay film The Uberkanone. He co-starred in the 2014, comedy indie film Authors Anonymous with Kaley Cuoco. In 2018, Klein was cast as Cicada, the main villain of the fifth season of superhero television series The Flash.

## Personal life

In January 2000, Klein and actress Katie Holmes began dating. The couple became engaged around Christmas of 2003. The couple called off the engagement and ended their relationship in March 2005.
Klein met Laina Rose Thyfault, a travel agent, in 2011 at a mutual friend's wedding. They got engaged in December 2014, after three years of dating and married eight months later on August 9, 2015, in Montana. In March 2016, Klein announced in a tweet that he and his wife were expecting their first child together. Their son was born in 2016. The couple also has a daughter, born in 2018.
Klein was arrested for drunk driving on February 5, 2005, in San Diego County and again in Los Angeles on June 16, 2010. On June 21, 2010, it was announced that Klein had checked into the Cirque Lodge to begin a 30-day alcohol addiction program. Klein's publicist explained that, "after recent events, Chris was forced to take a clear look at a problem he has been trying to deal with himself for years. He understands now that he cannot beat this addiction alone."

## Filmography
### Film

Film :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1999 | Election | Paul Metzler | |
| 1999 | American Pie | Chris "Oz" Ostreicher | |
| 2000 | Here on Earth | Kelvin "Kelley" Morse | |
| 2001 | Say It Isn't So | Gilbert Noble | |
| 2001 | American Pie 2 | Chris "Oz" Ostreicher | |
| 2002 | Rollerball | Jonathan Cross | |
| 2002 | We Were Soldiers | 2nd Lt. Jack Geoghegan | |
| 2003 | The United States of Leland | Allen Harris | |
| 2005 | Tilt-A-Whirl | Customer #2 | Short film |
| 2005 | Just Friends | Dusty Dinkleman | |
| 2005 | The Long Weekend | Cooper Waxman | |
| 2006 | American Dreamz | William Williams | |
| 2006 | Lenexa, 1 Mile | Andy Lausier | |
| 2007 | The Good Life | Tad Tokas | |
| 2007 | Day Zero | George Rifkin | |
| 2007 | New York City Serenade | Ray | |
| 2008 | Hank and Mike | Conrad Hubriss | |
| 2009 | Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li | Charlie Nash | |
| 2009 | The Six Wives of Henry Lefay | Stevie | |
| 2009 | Play Dead | Ronnie Reno | Direct-to-video |
| 2010 | Caught in the Crossfire | Briggs | |
| 2012 | American Reunion | Chris "Oz" Ostreicher | |
| 2014 | Authors Anonymous | Henry Obert | |
| 2016 | Game of Aces | Jackson Cove | |
| 2018 | The Competition | Calvin Chesney | |
| 2019 | Benchwarmers 2: Breaking Balls | Ben McGrath | |
| 2025 | Fear Street: Prom Queen | TBA | Post-production |

### Television

Television :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2002 | The Electric Playground | | Episode: "Episode #8.5" |
| 2006 | American Dad! | Gary/Rick (voice) | Episode: "With Friends Like Steve's" |
| 2007 | The Valley of Light | Noah | Hallmark Hall of Fame |
| 2008 | Welcome to The Captain | Marty Tanner | Main role; 5 episodes |
| 2010 | The Good Guys | Dep. Chief George Jenkins | Episode: "Partners" |
| 2011–2014 | Wilfred | Drew | Recurring role; 15 episodes |
| 2012 | Franklin & Bash | Tommy Dale | Episode: "650 to SLC" |
| 2012 | Raising Hope | Brad | Episode: "What Up, Bro?" |
| 2012 | Tron: Uprising | Dash (voice) | Recurring role; 3 episodes |
| 2015 | Motive | Brad Calgrove | Episode: "Pilot Error" |
| 2015 | Damaged | Sam Luck | Lifetime television movie |
| 2016 | Idiotsitter | Himself/DJ Doghead | Episode: "Fumigation" |
| 2016 | The Grinder | Benji | Episode: "Genesis" |
| 2018–2019 | The Flash | Orlin Dwyer / Cicada | Main role (season 5); 16 episodes |
| 2020–2025 | Sweet Magnolias | Dr. Bill Townsend | Main role; 30 episodes |

### Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 2000 | Chicago Film Critics Association | Most Promising Actor | American Pie | Nominated |
| 2000 | Young Hollywood Awards | Best Ensemble Cast | American Pie | Won |
| 2000 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Liar | American Pie | Nominated |
| 2000 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Breakout Performance | American Pie | Nominated |
| 2000 | Online Film & Television Association | Best Breakthrough Performance: Male | Election | Nominated |
| 2001 | Young Hollywood Awards | Superstar of Tomorrow – Male | Chris Klein | Won |