Chris Parnell
{{Short description|American actor (born 1967)}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Chris Parnell
| image = Chris Parnell (54236559864).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Parnell in 2024
| birth_name = Thomas Christopher Parnell
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|2|5}}
| birth_place = Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
| education = University of North Carolina School of the Arts (BFA)
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|comedian}}
| years_active = 1988–present
| known_for = {{ubl|30 Rock|Saturday Night Live|Archer|Rick and Morty}}
| children = 2{{cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CjFA-3Vunth/ |title=Instagram}}{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/21251961/rick-and-morty-fans-jerry-chris-parnell-interview |title=Rick and Morty's Chris Parnell thinks Jerry would do very well in quarantine |date=May 11, 2020}}
}}
Thomas Christopher Parnell ({{IPAc-en|p|ɑːr|ˈ|n|ɛ|l}} {{respell|par|NELL}}; born February 5, 1967) is an American actor and comedian. First breaking through as a performer with the Los Angeles comedy troupe The Groundlings, Parnell found wider success during his tenure as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 1998 to 2006. After leaving SNL, he played the role of Dr. Leo Spaceman on the NBC sitcom 30 Rock (2006–2013). Parnell is also a prominent voice actor known for his deep and distinctive voice. In animation, he voices the narrator on the PBS Kids series WordGirl (2007–2015), Cyril Figgis on the FX series Archer (2009–2023), Jerry Smith on Adult Swim's Rick and Morty (2013–present), and Doug on Fox's Family Guy (2019–2022). His work also extends into commercials, having voiced the Hamburger Helper mascot “Lefty”, appeared in advertisements as “America’s Dad” for Orbit Gum, and is most known for voicing "The Progressive Box" in a series of advertisements by the Progressive Corporation.
Early life
Parnell was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and adopted by a Southern Baptist family.{{cite web|last=Plume|first=Kenneth |title=An Interview with Chris Parnell |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/01/21/an-interview-with-chris-parnell |website=IGN |access-date=February 25, 2020 |date=January 21, 2003}} His father, Jack Parnell, was a radio personality in Memphis. He attended the Southern Baptist Educational Center, and graduated from Germantown High School. He decided to pursue acting as a career at age 17 and set his sights on being a theater actor. He attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts where he received his BFA in Drama. He moved to Houston, Texas after college to do an apprentice actor program for a season at the Alley Theatre, but did not get asked back to join the company. He became temporarily disenchanted with acting, and returned to his hometown and taught acting, film, and video at his alma mater, Germantown High School, for a year. In 1992, he moved to Los Angeles where he worked at FAO Schwarz for five years and took classes at the Groundlings.{{cite web|url=http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episodes/episode_539_-_chris_parnell|title=Episode 539 – Chris Parnell|publisher=WTF with Marc Maron|access-date=October 11, 2017|author=Maron, Marc|date=October 6, 2014}}
Career
While performing as a company player with the Groundlings for a number of years, Parnell began doing commercials and getting guest roles on various sitcoms, such as Seinfeld and Murphy Brown. He was hired to join the cast of Saturday Night Live as a featured player, and debuted on the show on September 26, 1998. He was promoted to repertory player the following season. In the summer of 2001, because of budget cuts and the hiring of four new cast members, Lorne Michaels was required to dismiss two cast members; he chose to lay off Parnell and Jerry Minor over Horatio Sanz, Rachel Dratch, and Maya Rudolph.{{Cite web |author1=Jessica Rawden |date=2015-02-19 |title=How Chris Parnell Got Un-fired From Saturday Night Live |url=https://www.cinemablend.com/television/How-Chris-Parnell-Got-Un-fired-From-Saturday-Night-Live-70168.html |access-date=2024-07-11 |website=CINEMABLEND |language=en}} Parnell was rehired in the middle of the following season.Graham, Mark (January 14, 2010). Archer's Chris Parnell Talks Well-Endowed Cartoon Characters, Being Fired From SNL Twice. vulture.com, 14 January 2010. Retrieved on April 2, 2014 from http://www.vulture.com/2010/01/chris_parnell.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130114070835/http://www.vulture.com/2010/01/chris_parnell.html |date=January 14, 2013}}.
While on SNL, Chris appeared in numerous sketches and commercial parodies, and performed impressions of various celebrities. Among his notable sketches are "Lazy Sunday", a rap video he shot with Andy Samberg, and "More Cowbell". He has performed raps about hosts Jennifer Garner, Britney Spears, Kirsten Dunst, and Ashton Kutcher. On the DVD commentary for the West Coast version of the 30 Rock episode "Live Show", Tina Fey and Beth McCarthy Miller noted that Parnell was nicknamed "The Ice Man" while working at SNL, because of his apparent immunity to breaking character, citing the "More Cowbell" sketch in which he was the only actor not to break.{{cite web |last=Reilly |first=Dan |title='What the Hell Is Skimbleshanks?' The Oral History of SNL's Cats Sketch |url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/12/snls-cats-sketch-oral-history.html |website=Vulture |access-date=February 25, 2020 |date=December 11, 2019}}
File:Chris Parnell by David Shankbone (cropped).jpg ]]
In 2006, Michaels laid off Parnell, as well as Horatio Sanz and Finesse Mitchell, due to budget cuts.{{cite web |last=Keller |first=Joel |title=Four SNLers are history, says Lorne Michaels |url=http://www.aoltv.com/2006/08/22/four-snlers-are-history-says-lorne-michaels/ |website=HuffPostTV |access-date=January 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120515214413/http://www.aoltv.com/2006/08/22/four-snlers-are-history-says-lorne-michaels/ |archive-date=May 15, 2012 |date=August 22, 2006}}{{cite news|last=Carter|first=Bill|title=Bowing to Budget Cuts at NBC, 'Saturday Night Live' Pares Five Performers|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/21/arts/television/21snl.html|access-date=April 19, 2015|work=The New York Times|date=September 21, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419120741/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/21/arts/television/21snl.html|archive-date=April 19, 2015|url-status=live}} This effectively made Parnell the only SNL performer to have been released twice by Michaels, although Parnell said in a 2008 interview with The Sound of Young America that he was okay with being let go this time, as he was considering leaving after that season anyway, adding that he probably would have stayed one more season had he been asked back. He had been with SNL for eight seasons; at the time only four people (Darrell Hammond, Tim Meadows, Kevin Nealon, and Horatio Sanz) had been cast members longer. He has since made uncredited cameo appearances on the show, including parodying newscasters Tom Brokaw, Jim Lehrer, and Bob Schieffer. Parnell and his former SNL castmate Horatio Sanz starred together in Big Lake, a 2010 sitcom on Comedy Central from executive producers Will Ferrell and Adam McKay.{{cite web|title=Comedy Central's(R) 'Big Lake,' Starring Chris Gethard, Horatio Sanz and Chris Parnell, Debuts on Tuesday, August 17 at 10:00 P.M.*|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2010/07/26/comedy-centrals-big-lake-starring-chris-gethard-horatio-sanz-and-chris-parnell-debuts-on-tuesday-august-17-at-1000-pm-36654/20100726comedycentral01/|work=The Futon Critic|access-date=June 30, 2013|date=July 26, 2010}}
Parnell voiced Fly in the animated films Hotel Transylvania and Hotel Transylvania 2, and Stan the Fishman in Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation. He is a series regular on the FX animated series Archer, and is also known for his guest appearances as Dr. Leo Spaceman on 30 Rock. He provides the voice of the narrator on the PBS children's series WordGirl. From 2011 to 2014, Parnell co-starred on the ABC comedy series Suburgatory where he played the husband of the character played by his former SNL castmate Ana Gasteyer. His role started out as recurring in the first season but he was bumped up to a series regular in the second season. The series aired for three seasons on ABC.{{cite web |last=Moynihan |first=Rob |title=A Night Out With Suburgatory's Chris Parnell & Ana Gasteyer|url=https://www.tvguide.com/news/suburgatory-parnell-gasteyer-1062965/ |website=TV Guide |access-date=February 25, 2020 |date=March 20, 2013}}
Parnell provides the voice of the "Progressive Box" in commercials for Progressive Insurance.{{Cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/progressive-box-spokesperson-instead-flo-2012-12|title=Progressive Almost Made This Box Its Spokesperson Instead Of Flo|work=Business Insider|access-date=January 22, 2018|last=Stampler|first=Laura|date=December 5, 2012}} Since 2013, Parnell has voiced Jerry Smith (and his alternate reality variants) on the Adult Swim series Rick and Morty.{{cite web|last=Scott|first=Katie|title=Sarah Chalke, Chris Parnell talk 'Rick and Morty' ahead of Season 4 |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6135335/rick-and-morty-interview-season-4/|website=Global News |access-date=February 25, 2020 |date=November 8, 2019}} On March 16, 2018, Parnell was cast in the main role of Wayne on the CBS sitcom Happy Together.{{Cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2018/03/chris-parnell-cbs-tim-mcauliffe-austen-earl-comedy-pilot-phill-lewis-direct-1202339671/|title=Chris Parnell To Co-Star In McAuliffe/Earl CBS Comedy Pilot; Phill Lewis To Direct|work=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=July 14, 2018|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=March 16, 2018}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class = "wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| rowspan="2"|1996
| Toy Store Sales Clerk | |
| Shooting Lily
| Phone Company Salesman | Voice |
| 1997
| Decade of Love | Bobby Fastdancer | rowspan="3" | Short film |
| 1998
| Operation | Cadaver |
| 1999
| Deadtime | Junior |
| 2000
| Phil Swanson | |
| rowspan="3"|2003
| Du-ug | |
| Down with Love
| TV Emcee | |
| National Lampoon's Barely Legal
| Mr. Ronald Greitzer | |
| rowspan="3"|2004
| Guy Borne | |
| Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
| rowspan="2"|Garth Holliday | |
| Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie
| |
| rowspan="2"|2006
| Ralph | |
| Ira & Abby
| Dr. Ronald Silverberg | |
| rowspan="5"|2007
| Harold Melvin | |
| Hot Rod
| Barry Pasternak | |
| Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
| Theo | |
| Sunny & Share Love You
| Kevin Keith Baker | |
| Kabluey
| Frank | |
| rowspan="2"|2008
| Harold | Coach Vanderpool | |
| Eavesdrop
| Terrence | |
| rowspan="2"|2009
| Peter | |
| Labor Pains
| Jerry Steinwald | |
| rowspan="3"|2010
| Peter West | |
| The Dogfather
| Brian Franks | |
| Kung Fu Magoo
| Cole Fusion, Ninja |
| 2011
| Brian Collins | |
| rowspan="4"|2012
| Mr. Gordon | |
| The Five-Year Engagement
| Bill | |
| The Dictator
| News Anchor | |
| Hotel Transylvania
| Fly |
| rowspan="3"|2013
| Hammer |
| Turbo
| Announcer #2 |
| Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
| Garth Holliday | |
| 2014
| Jay LaRoche | |
| rowspan="4"|2015
| The Better Half | Daniel | |
| Hotel Transylvania 2
| Fly |
| Sisters
| Phil | |
| The Ridiculous 6
| William (Bank Teller) | |
| rowspan="2"|2017
| Alan Dickinson | |
| Battle of the Sexes
| DJ | |
| rowspan="4"|2018
| Wayne Truzack | |
| Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation
| Stan, Fish Men |
| Slice
| Mayor Tracy | |
| Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween
| Walter | |
| rowspan="4"|2019
| Charlie Green | |
| A Name Without a Place
| Jerry Sundall | |
| The Laundromat
| Doomed Gringo #2 | |
| I Am Woman
| Artie Mogull | |
| rowspan="2"|2021
| Brown | |
| Home Sweet Home Alone
| Uncle Stu Mercer | |
| rowspan="3"|2022
| Jim Conway | |
| Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers
| Dave Bollinari | |
| Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again |
| 2023
| Ted Sommers | |
| rowspan="2"|2024
| Lyle Ayker | |
| Our Little Secret
| Veterinarian | |
| TBA
| The Dink | | Filming |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1996
| Howard | Episode: "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Funicular" |
| 1996, 1998
| Phil, Waiter | 2 episodes |
| rowspan="3"|1997
| Seinfeld | NBC Executive | Episode: "The Butter Shave" |
| The Jamie Foxx Show
| Director | Episode: "Do the Write Thing" |
| Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher
| Announcer | Episode: "The Weighting Game" |
| rowspan="4"|1998
| Don | Episode: "It Takes a Thief" |
| Caroline in the City
| Gene | Episode: "Caroline and the Cabbie" |
| Murphy Brown
| Handler #2 | rowspan="2"|2 episodes |
| Conrad Bloom
| Simpson |
| 1998–2012
| Various | 148 episodes |
| rowspan="3"|2001
| Voice, episode: "Safari Day" |
| The Hughleys
| Rick | Episode: "When Darryl Bumped Sally" |
| Friends
| Bob | Episode: "The One with Rachel's Date" |
| 2002
| Ed | DJ Curtis Morris | Episode: "The Divorce" |
| 2003
| Radio Announcer, Train Conductor |
| 2006–2013
| 30 Rock | 25 episodes |
| 2007–2015
| WordGirl | Narrator, additional voices |
| rowspan="2" | 2008
| Vice Principal Bruce Terry | 7 episodes |
| Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday
| Bob Schieffer, Tom Brokaw | 2 episodes |
| 2009
| Kröd Mändoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire | Narrator | Voice, 5 episodes |
| 2009, 2010
| Various voices | 4 episodes |
| 2009–2023
| Archer | Cyril Figgis, Buck Henry, Siegbert Fuchs | Voice, 127 episodes |
| rowspan="3"|2010
| Walter Palmer | Episode: "The Impertence of Communicationizing" |
| The Life & Times of Tim
| Mark Douglas, Principal, William | Voice, 3 episodes |
| Big Lake
| Chris Henkel | 10 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 2010, 2011
| Various | 6 episodes |
| Eureka
| Dr. Noah Drummer | 2 episodes |
| 2010–2021
| Citu | Voice, English dub |
| rowspan="9" |2011
|Allibut, Announcer, Gecko Schoolmaster |
| Robot Chicken
| Voice, episode: "Big Trouble in Little Clerks 2" |
| Mad Love
| Officer Dennis Barrett | 2 episodes |
| Workaholics
| Bruce Benson | Episode: "In the Line of Getting Fired" |
| Jon Benjamin Has a Van
| Area 51 Scientist | Episode: "Stardoor" |
| Love Bites
| Chad Banks | Episode: "Stand and Deliver" |
| Curb Your Enthusiasm
| Hank | Episode: "The Hero" |
| Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice
| Mr. Thistleton |
| T.U.F.F. Puppy
| Caped Cod |
| 2011–2012
| JB | 6 episodes |
| 2011–2014
| Fred Shay | 38 episodes |
| rowspan="2" | 2012
| Additional voices | 2 episodes |
| Electric City
| Giovanni Montalbon | Voice, 20 episodes |
| 2012–2016
| rowspan="2" | Various | 4 episodes |
| 2013–2019
| 6 episodes |
| 2013–present
| Voice, main role |
| rowspan="8" | 2014
| Sean Hastings | Television special |
| The Tom and Jerry Show
| Narrator | Voice, episode: "Sleep Disorder/Tom's In-Tents Adventure" |
| Glee
| Mario | Episode: "Opening Night" |
| Garfunkel and Oates
| Stan | Episode: "Rule 34" |
| BoJack Horseman
| Klaus, News Reporter | Voice, episode: "Our A-Story is a 'D' Story" |
| Bad Judge
| Douglas Riller | Episode: "Pilot" |
| Benched
| Mitch | Episode: "Campaign Contributions" |
| AJ's Infinite Summer
| Dad | Cartoon Network short |
| 2014–2016
| TripTank | Various voices |
| rowspan="10" | 2015
| Geoffrey Hoytsman | 2 episodes |
| Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero
| Judge |
| Childrens Hospital
| Ron Pippin | Episode: "Five Years Later" |
| Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja
| Charlie Clucker | Voice, episode: "McCluckerbusters" |
| The Adventures of OG Sherlock Kush
| Prime Minister | Voice, episode: "The Mystery of the Royal Flasher" |
| The Spoils Before Dying
| Bebop Jones | 2 episodes |
| Another Period
| Episode: "Senate" |
| Jeff Dunham: Unhinged in Hollywood
| Network Executive | Television special |
| Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!
| Dustin Wallswreath, Jim McCoy, Cop |
| Highston
| Wilbur Liggetts | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2015–2016
| Snoot, Dub, Evil Egg |
| 2015–2017 |
| 2015–2024
| Various voices | 41 episodes |
| rowspan="5" | 2016
| Zacharias | Voice, episode: "Her Royal Spyness" |
| Bob's Burgers
| Warren Fitzgerald | Voice, episode: "Pro Tiki/Con Tiki" |
| Ask the StoryBots
| Reindeer | Voice, episode: "Where Does Rain Come From?" |
| Tween Fest
| Preston Stevens Sr. | Episode: "SpurgeExplosion" |
| Rhett and Link's Buddy System
| Vice Chairman | Episode: "The Magic Is Real" |
| 2016–2020
| Migs |
| 2016–2022
| Michael / HR Manager Bob | 3 episodes |
| 2016–present
| James A. Garfield's clone, additional voices | 23 episodes |
| rowspan="5" | 2017
| Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special | Dr. Vince Harbert | Television special |
| Elena and the Secret of Avalor
| Migs | Voice, television film |
| Samurai Jack
| Mud Alien, Beetle Drone Scientist | Voice, episode: "XCIII" |
| Black-ish
| Dean Parker | Episode: "Liberal Arts" |
| Great News
| Gerald | Episode: "Squad Feud" |
| 2017, 2020
| Junior | 2 episodes |
| 2018-2024
| Blaze and the Monster Machines | Cousins Ken and Sven | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2018
| Narrator | 6 episodes |
| 2018
| Dean Parker | 10 episodes (main role; season 1) |
| 2018–2019
| Wayne | Main role |
| rowspan="2" | 2019
| God's Dad | Episode: "1 Day" |
| Bajillion Dollar Propertie$
| Walton Rothchild | Episode: "Held Breath" |
| rowspan="3" | 2019–2020
| Harrison Whitby | 2 episodes |
| Will & Grace
| Dr. DiLorenzo | 2 episodes |
| Bless the Harts
| Ian David Col | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2019–2022
| Doug, additional voices | Voice, 25 episodes |
| 2019–2025
|The Cat, Sanchez |
| rowspan="5" | 2020
| Dummy | Chet Jacobs | Episode: "Plus Size Plus One" |
| Close Enough
| Ron | Episode: "First Date/Snailin' It" |
| At Home with Amy Sedaris
| Chug Ducey | Episode: "New Year's" |
| Mapleworth Murders{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/lorne-michaels-quibi-murder-mystery-lines-up-all-star-cast-1259091|title=Lorne Michaels' Quibi Murder Mystery Lines Up All-Star Cast|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Rick|last=Porter|date=December 3, 2019|access-date=July 7, 2020}}
| Ben Canelli | 2 episodes |
| The Simpsons
| Mary Tannenbaum's Fiancé | Voice, episode: "A Springfield Summer Christmas for Christmas" |
| rowspan="2" | 2021
| Archibald's Next Big Thing Is Here! | Dr. Fluffberg | Voice, 5 episodes |
| M.O.D.O.K.
| Voice, episode: "If Saturday Be... for the Boys!" |
| 2021–2022
| Ed |
| 2021–2023
| Alpha Betas | Darryl | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2022
| The Mysterious Benedict Society | Captain of the Inverness | 2 episodes |
| 2022–2023
| Last Week Tonight with John Oliver | HOA Ambassador / Voice Over | 2 episodes |
| rowspan="2"|2023–2024
| Voice, 7 episodes{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Samantha |date=2023-06-26 |title=My Adventures With Superman Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/my-adventures-with-superman-review-adult-swim-jack-quaid |access-date=2024-07-22 |website=IGN |language=en}} |
| Hailey's On It!
| Various voices |
| rowspan="2"|2024
| Ares | Voice, 2 episodes |
| Fallout
| Overseer Benjamin | 2 episodes |
=Video games=
| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year ! Title ! Voice role |
| 2014
| Rick and Morty: Jerry's Game | rowspan="3" | Jerry Smith |
| 2016–present |
| 2017 |
| 2020
| Maneater | Trip Westhaven (Narrator / Host) |
=Music videos=
| class="wikitable"
|+ ! Year ! Song Title ! Album ! Notes |
| 2005
| "Lazy Sunday" | rowspan="2" | Performed on Saturday Night Live |
| 2012
| "Lazy Sunday 2" |N/A |
= Audio =
| class="wikitable"
|+ ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Author ! Production Company |
| 2021
| Batman: The Audio Adventures | Dennis McNicholas |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons}}
- {{IMDb name|663177}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Parnell, Chris}}
Category:20th-century American comedians
Category:21st-century American comedians
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:American impressionists (entertainers)
Category:American male comedians
Category:American male film actors
Category:American sketch comedians
Category:American male stage actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male voice actors
Category:Comedians from Memphis, Tennessee
Category:Male actors from Memphis, Tennessee
Category:People from Germantown, Tennessee
Category:University of North Carolina School of the Arts alumni