Chris Wood (actor) explained

Chris Wood
Birth Name:Christopher Charles Wood
Birth Date:14 April 1988
Birth Place:Dublin, Ohio, U.S.
Education:Elon University (BFA)
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:2010–present
Children:1

Christopher Charles Wood[1] (born April 14, 1988[2]) is an American actor. He is known for his role as Kai Parker in the sixth season of the CW's television series The Vampire Diaries in 2014, after previously appearing on The CW's The Carrie Diaries in the role of writer Adam Weaver in 2013. He also starred in the 2016 CW television series Containment in the starring role of Atlanta police officer Jake Riley. From 2016 to 2018, he played Mon-El on the CW superhero series Supergirl. In 2021, Wood voiced He-Man in . In 2022, he played Russell Hammond in the Broadway musical Almost Famous.[3]

Early life

Wood was born in Dublin, Ohio. He attended Elon University in Elon, North Carolina, where he graduated in 2010, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Music Theater.[4] He has been friends with actor Grant Gustin since college.[5]

Career

Wood began his professional career in the 2010–2011 national tour of Spring Awakening as Melchoir Gabor. Between 2011 and 2012, he worked in regional theater productions of The Little Mermaid and Damn Yankees.[6] [7]

In 2013, Wood made his first television appearances with the TV movie Browsers and the TNT series Major Crimes.[8] In August of the same year, it was announced Wood had joined the cast for the second season of The CW's The Carrie Diaries as Adam Weaver in a recurring role.[9]

In 2014, Wood joined the sixth season of The Vampire Diaries in a recurring role, playing the villain Malachi "Kai" Parker.[10] He left the series in 2015 to pursue other projects[11] but returned to the role on two separate occasions. He reprised the role for three episodes during The Vampire Diaries eighth and final season in 2017[12] and again in 2020 in a two-episode guest arc in the second season of the spinoff series Legacies.[13] [14]

In February 2015, Wood was cast in the pilot for the drama series Containment, portraying Jake Riley, a police officer trapped inside a quarantine zone. The series was picked up to order by The CW in May.[15] [16] Upon reading the pilot script, he said "I was just really drawn to the concept of this confined storyline. The characters are put in life-or-death situations that are very real—not every show has that element of stakes at that level."[17] The series consisted of 13 episodes, running from April 19 to July 16, 2016, with The CW confirming in May Containment would not return for a second season.[18] In that April it was also announced Wood had been cast in a 2-episode guest arc on the second season of the PBS period drama Mercy Street, reuniting with Carrie Diaries costar AnnaSophia Robb.[19]

On July 20, 2016, it was announced Wood had joined the cast of Supergirl as a series regular in an undisclosed role,[20] his fourth project with The CW. In August, executive producers confirmed he would be playing Mon-El in the show's upcoming second season. After being cast, Wood sat down with executive producer Greg Berlanti, who explained the character using musical theater references and as "a romantic sort of quietly good soul under this more frat boy exterior"[21] Wood left the series at the end of the third season in 2018.[22] [23] He would briefly reprise the role for the 100th episode, "It's a Super Life" in 2020,[24] and in 2021 for the series finale, "Kara".[25]

In 2019, Wood wrote, directed, and produced his first short film The Stew, a comedy about a toxic marriage, starring Supergirl costar Melissa Benoist as the wife and Carlos Valdes as the husband. The Stew premiered on January 26, 2019 at the Vancouver Short Film Festival.[26] [27] In August of the same year, Wood's film was selected to screen at 2019 HollyShorts Film Festival, showing on opening night.[28]

In February 2020, it was announced Wood had been cast as Leo Steadman in the pilot for Thirtysomething(else),[29] a follow up series to the ABC drama Thirtysomething. In June, the network announced the series had not been picked up to air.[30] [31] Also in February 2020, Wood joined the voice cast for Kevin Smith's series as Prince Adam/He-Man. The first series was released in two parts in July and November 2021.

Wood made his Broadway debut on November 3, 2022 in the production of Almost Famous playing Russell Hammond. The show closed on January 8, 2023 after mixed reviews and average audiences and grosses, playing a total of 30 previews and 77 shows.[32] In March 2023, Wood released his second short film, Snowshoe, on YouTube. In addition to writing, directing, and producing the short, Wood starred opposite Grant Gustin. Wood shot the film in one long continuous take in Whistler, British Columbia in March 2021.[33]

In January 2024, Wood reprised the voice role of Prince Adam/He-Man in Masters of the Universe: Revolution, a sequel series to 2021's Masters of the Universe: Revelation.[34]

Personal life

Wood began dating Supergirl costar Melissa Benoist in 2017.[35] They announced their engagement in February 2019 and married on September 1st, 2019 in Ojai, California.[36] [37] [38] They have one child, a son, born in 2020.[39] [40]

Wood played baseball throughout his childhood until the end of high school, he at one time considered pursuing the sport professionally. He supports the New York Yankees.[41]

Advocacy

Wood is an advocate for mental health causes. After his father's passing in 2011 from heart complications exacerbated by untreated and undiagnosed mood disorders, Wood turned his attention to the stigma and lack of resources surrounding mental health he felt hindered his father receiving help sooner.[42] In 2016, he began an ambassadorship with Mental Health America, speaking at that year's annual conference. Wood has since partnered with Mental Health America on multiple occasions and served on the Board of Directions from June 2019 to 2021.[43] [44]

In October 2017, Wood founded IDONTMIND to promote open conversations on mental health, provide free education and resources, and raise funds for mental health programs.[45] [46] The first campaign launched by Wood raised $115,000 for National Alliance on Mental Illness through a line of minimalistic tee shirts bearing the organization's name. From 2018 to 2022, he ran IDONTMIND as a program of Mental Health America.[47] Wood spearheaded the "Our Future in Mind" Summit with Mental Health America in November 2021, featuring conversations with fellow advocates Rainn Wilson, Zelda Williams, Tati Gabrielle and others on mental health.[48] [49] In March 2023, Wood registered IDONTMIND as a 501(c)3 nonprofit.

Wood has openly discussed his own struggles with mental health including anxiety, depression, and ADHD.[50] [51]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2019The StewWriter, DirectorShort film
Jay and Silent Bob RebootBlunt-FanCameo
2022Clerks 3Auditioner 9Cameo
2023SnowshoeKevinShort film; Writer, Director

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2013BrowsersJustinTelevision film
Major CrimesBrandon NorthEpisode: "Poster Boy"
2013–2014The Carrie DiariesAdam WeaverRecurring role, 6 episodes
2014GirlsPaulEpisode: "Beach House"
2014–2015, 2017The Vampire DiariesKai ParkerRecurring role (season 6); guest star (season 8)
2016Comedy Bang! Bang!Perry DaffodilEpisode: "Tony Hale Wears a Blue Flannel Shirt and Fuchsia Sneakers"
ContainmentJake RileyMain role
Mercy StreetEpisodes: "Balm in Gilead", "The House Guest"
2016–2018, 2020–2021SupergirlMain role (seasons 2–3); guest (seasons 5–6)
2017The FlashMon-El / Tommy MoranEpisode: "Duet"
2020LegaciesKai ParkerEpisodes: "Kai Parker Screwed Us", "You Can't Save Them All"
2021, 2024Prince Adam / He-Man, SailorMain voice role[52]

Stage

YearTitleRoleVenueRef
2010-11Spring AwakeningMelchior GaborSecond National Tour[53]
2011The Little MermaidPrince EricMusic Theatre Wichita[54]
2012Damn YankeesJoe HardyPaper Mill Playhouse ; 5th Avenue Theatre[55]
2018Terms of EndearmentFlap HortonGeffen Playhouse[56]
2022Almost FamousRussell HammondBernard B. Jacobs Theatre[57]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
2015Teen Choice AwardsChoice TV: VillainThe Vampire Diaries[58]
2017Teen Choice AwardsChoice Action TV ActorSupergirl[59]
Choice Liplock (with Melissa Benoist)Supergirl
Choice TV Ship (with Melissa Benoist)Supergirl

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Chris Wood . . February 7, 2017.
  2. Web site: Chris Wood . Hollywood.com . February 7, 2017 . August 10, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170810090858/http://http.www.hollywood.com/celebrities/chris-wood-58952386/ . dead .
  3. Web site: 2024-01-23 . 'Masters of the Universe: Revolution' (2024) date, plot, cast and is the Netflix series worth watching . 2024-04-05 . meaww.com . en.
  4. Web site: Elon University Performing Arts Alumni. Elon University Performing Arts.
  5. Natalie. Abrams. Grant Gustin on Being Back in his element. Entertainment Weekly. March 20, 2017. April 2, 2017. ...But the weirdest person is actually Chris Wood, because we went to Elon University together, we were musical theater majors together, and we were very good friends in school..
  6. Web site: Chris Wood Theatre Credits. Broadway World. January 20, 2018.
  7. Web site: Photo Flash: First Look at DAMN YANKEES at 5th Avenue Theatre. Nicole Rosky. Broadway World. April 26, 2012. March 27, 2022.
  8. Web site: McNeela . Catherine . 16 August 2013 . Chris Wood '10 stars in TNT's "Major Crimes". Today at Elon. 27 February 2024.
  9. Web site: Harp . Justin . August 16, 2013 . 'Carries Diaries' casts Chris Wood as new Carrie love interest . DigitalSpy.
  10. News: Lee. Ben. Vampire Diaries season 6 casts The Carrie Diaries actor Chris Wood. Digital Spy. July 21, 2014. August 22, 2014.
  11. Web site: Radish . Christina . 15 May 2015 . THE VAMPIRE DIARIES: Chris Wood on Why It's so Good to Be Bad. Collider. 28 February 2024.
  12. News: Sadie. Gennis. The Vampire Diaries: See Photos from Kai's Return. TV Guide. February 7, 2017. February 7, 2017.
  13. Web site: Legacies: Chris Wood to Appear as Vampire Diaries' Kai Parker in Season 2 . TVLine . Andy . Swift . November 7, 2019 . November 7, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191107203547/https://tvline.com/2019/11/07/legacies-kai-parker-chris-wood-season-2-episode-12/ . November 7, 2019 . live.
  14. Samantha. Highfill . Chris Wood on how Kai Parker has changed on 'Legacies': 'If anything, he's more annoying' . Entertainment Weekly . February 6, 2020 . 2023-03-18.
  15. Web site: Elizabeth. Wagmeister. The CW Casts 'Vampire Diaries' Star Chris Wood in Julie Plec's 'Cordon' Pilot. Variety. February 24, 2015. May 31, 2016.
  16. Web site: Andreeva . Nellie . 7 May 2015 . CW Picks Up 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend' As Hourlong Series, 'DC's Legends Of Tomorrow' & 'Cordon' . May 31, 2016 . Deadline.
  17. Web site: Benjamin. Lindsay. Why Chris Wood Bulked Up 30 Pounds for 'Containment' . Backstage. April 12, 2016. April 2, 2017.
  18. Web site: Gelman . Vlada . 12 May 2016 . Containment Cancelled at The CW . 28 February 2024 . TVLine.
  19. News: Denise. Petski. 'Vampire Diaries' Chris Wood Joins 'Mercy Street'; 'Ray Donovan' Casts Paula Jai Parker. Deadline Hollywood. April 27, 2016. May 31, 2016.
  20. Web site: Chris Wood Joins Supergirl Season 2 as 'Surprise' Series Regular. Ausiello. Michael. TVLine. July 20, 2016. February 28, 2024. July 21, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160721112854/http://tvline.com/2016/07/20/chris-wood-supergirl-season-2-cast-dc-character/. dead.
  21. News: Gross . Ed . 20 November 2016 . From Vampire Diaries to Mon-El and Supergirl: in depth with Chris Wood . 28 February 2024 . Empire Online.
  22. Web site: Swift . Andy . Supergirl's Chris Wood Not Returning for Season 4 — EPs Explain Mon-El's 'Bittersweet' Departure . . June 25, 2018 . June 19, 2018.
  23. Web site: Chris Woods Leaving 'Supergirl', Producers Explain Reason Behind Character's 'Bittersweet' Exit. https://web.archive.org/web/20180619055602/https://etcanada.com/news/339172/chris-woods-leaving-supergirl-producers-explain-reason-behind-characters-bittersweet-exit/. dead. June 19, 2018. ET Canada.
  24. Agard . Chancellor . 'Supergirl' recap: Kara reckons with Lena and the past in the 100th episode . Entertainment Weekly . November 10, 2021 . February 23, 2020.
  25. Web site: Drum . Nicole . Supergirl Recap With Spoilers: Here's Everything You Missed In The Series Finale, "Kara" . ComicBook . November 10, 2021 . November 9, 2021.
  26. Web site: Films Screening at VSFF 2019. Vancouver Short Film Festival.
  27. News: Gee . Dana . 16 January 2019 . Vancouver Short Film Festival long on content with 39 films in lineup . 28 February 2024 . Vancouver Sun.
  28. Web site: 2019-08-08 . Official 2019 HollyShorts Film Festival Program by NCHSFF - Issuu . 2024-02-28 . issuu.com . en.
  29. Web site: Otterson . Joe . 2020-02-07 . 'Thirtysomething' Sequel Pilot at ABC Casts Chris Wood . 2024-02-28 . Variety . en-US.
  30. Web site: Andreeva . Nellie . 7 February 2020 . 'Thirtysomething(else)': Chris Wood To Star In ABC Pilot, Sequel To 'Thirtysomething' . 8 February 2020 . Deadline Hollywood.
  31. Web site: Andreeva . Nellie . 2020-06-29 . 'Thirtysomething(else)', 'The Brides' & 'Valley Trash' Pilots Not Going Forward At ABC . 2023-01-05 . Deadline . en-US.
  32. Web site: Huston . Caitlin . 2022-12-20 . 'Almost Famous' to Close on Broadway in January . 2024-02-28 . The Hollywood Reporter . en-US.
  33. Web site: Chris Wood talks reuniting with Grant Gustin to play his brother in 'Snowshoe' . 2024-02-28 . EW.com . en.
  34. Web site: Masters of The Universe: Revolution Unveils Skeletor's New Form, Release Date . 2024-02-28 . Anime . en.
  35. Web site: 2017-03-29 . Supergirl's Melissa Benoist and Chris Wood Pack on the PDA in Cancún . 2024-03-01 . E! Online.
  36. Web site: Melissa Benoist is engaged to her 'Supergirl' costar Chris Wood: 'It will always be yes' . 2024-03-01 . EW.com . en.
  37. Web site: Melissa Benoist Is Engaged to Her Supergirl Costar Chris Wood: 'It Will Always Be Yes' . 2024-03-01 . Peoplemag . en.
  38. Web site: Supergirl Costars Melissa Benoist and Chris Wood Are Married: Reports . 2024-03-01 . Peoplemag . en.
  39. Web site: Wood . Chris . Our son was born his name is Huxley he's amazing and no it's probably none of your business xo brb see you in 18 years . registration . https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CFkh_8MhBhf . December 26, 2021 . 2020-09-25 . Instagram . en.
  40. Web site: Benoist . Melissa . Huxley Robert Wood got here a few weeks ago ♥️ and this little boy is everything . registration . https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/CFkh__nH-Va . December 26, 2021 . 2020-09-25 . Instagram . en.
  41. Web site: New Jersey - Christopher Charles Wood: "Damn Yankees" - 3/22/12 . 2024-03-01 . www.talkinbroadway.com.
  42. Web site: Carstensen . Melinda . 20 May 2016 . Why Chris Wood Wants to Break Down the Stigma of Mental Illness . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160611104407/http://www.futureofpersonalhealth.com/advocacy/why-chris-wood-wants-to-break-down-the-stigma-of-mental-illness . 11 June 2016 . 1 March 2024 . Future of Personal Health.
  43. Web site: MHA Appoints New Board Members . 3 November 2023 . Mental Health America . 13 June 2019.
  44. Web site: 1 March 2023 . Mental Health America 2021 Annual Report . 1 March 2024 . Mental Health America.
  45. Web site: Holbrook . Damian . 2017-10-01 . 'Supergirl' Good Guy Chris Wood on His New Mental Illness Awareness Week Initiative and Where Mon-El Has Been . 2024-03-01 . TV Insider . en-US.
  46. Web site: About . 2024-03-01 . IDONTMIND . en-US.
  47. Web site: Schmidt . Edward . 1 March 2023 . Framing Effective Messages Related to Mental Health on Social Media . 1 March 2023 . National Academies.
  48. Web site: Yuma . Jennifer . 2021-11-10 . Actor Chris Wood Spearheads Summit in Partnership With Mental Health America . 2024-03-01 . Variety . en-US.
  49. Web site: 2021-10-26 . Chris Wood, Rainn Wilson, Tati Gabrielle, and Antonia Gentry to Headline Youth Mental Health Summit Presented By Mental Health America and IDONTMIND, in Partnership with YouTube . 2024-03-01 . Mental Health America . en.
  50. Web site: 2023-03-09 . I'm Chris Wood, founder of IDONTMIND, and here's a piece of my mind . 2024-03-01 . IDONTMIND . en-US.
  51. Web site: Gans . Andrew . 4 January 2024 . Why Starring on Broadway Means 'Everything' to Almost Famous' Chris Wood . 1 March 2024 . Playbill.
  52. Web site: 'Masters Of The Universe: Revelation': Mark Hamill, Lena Headey, Chris Wood, Sarah Michelle Gellar Among Voice Cast For Netflix Anime Series . Deadline . Denise. Petski . February 14, 2020 . February 14, 2020.
  53. Web site: Gans . Andrew . Christopher Wood and Elizabeth Judd to Head New Tour of Spring Awakening. 2024-02-27 . en-US.
  54. Web site: Inside the Playbill: Chris Wood . 2024-02-27 . en-US.
  55. Web site: Hetrick . Adam . 21 April 2012 . Damn Yankees, With Christopher Charles Wood, Chryssie Whitehead, Throws First Pitch at 5th Avenue Theatre April 21. 2024-02-27 . en-US.
  56. Web site: Gans . Andrew . 22 August 2018 . Melissa Benoist, Chris Wood, Calista Flockhart Will Star in Los Angeles Reading of Terms of Endearment 21. 2024-02-27 . en-US.
  57. Web site: Culwell Block . Logan . 7 July 2022 . Almost Famous Musical Sets Broadway Home, Postpones Start . 27 February 2024 . en-US.
  58. . Teen Choice Awards 2015 Winners: Full List. Variety. August 16, 2015. May 31, 2016.
  59. Web site: VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE NOMINEES!. https://web.archive.org/web/20170622142407/http://www.teenchoice.com/teen-choice/article/vote-for-your-favorite-nominees. dead. June 22, 2017. August 13, 2017. Teen Choice. June 25, 2018.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Chris Wood (actor)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.