Chris Parnell
Thomas Christopher "Chris" Parnell (born February 5, 1967) is an American comic actor best known as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1998–2006 and currently for his recurring role as Dr. Leo Spaceman on NBC's Emmy Award-winning comedy series 30 Rock. Parnell is currently one of the lead voices on the FX animated comedy Archer. In 2010, Parnell starred alongside his former SNL castmate Horatio Sanz in the Comedy Central series Big Lake. After performing as a company player with The Groundlings for a number of years, Parnell was hired to join the cast of Saturday Night Live as a featured player on September 26, 1998, and was promoted to repertory player the following season. In the summer of 2001, budget cuts and hiring four new cast members required Lorne Michaels to dismiss two cast members; he chose to lay off Parnell and Jerry Minor over Horatio Sanz, Rachel Dratch, and Maya Rudolph. While on SNL, Parnell appeared in numerous sketches, and commercial parodies, and performed memorable impressions of various celebrities. One of his most popular sketches is Lazy Sunday, a rap video he shot with Andy Samberg about buying cupcakes and going to see The Chronicles of Narnia. He has also performed raps about hosts Jennifer Garner, Britney Spears, Kirsten Dunst and Ashton Kutcher. In the summer of 2006, Lorne Michaels announced that four cast members would be fired due to budget cuts, but he did not say who. On September 22, 2006 it was announced that three cast members had been fired: Parnell, Horatio Sanz, and Finesse Mitchell. This effectively made him the only SNL performer to have been fired twice by Lorne Michaels, though Parnell did say in a 2008 interview with The Sound of Young America podcast that he was okay with being let go this time, because he was considering leaving after that season anyway, but added that he probably would have stayed one last season if he was asked back. He had been with SNL for eight seasons; at the time only four people (Darrell Hammond, Tim Meadows, Kevin Nealon, and Al Franken) have been cast members longer. He has since made uncredited cameo appearances on the show, most recently in 2008 parodying newscasters Tom Brokaw, Jim Lehrer, and Bob Schieffer. Parnell and his former SNL castmate Horatio Sanz recently starred together in Big Lake, a 2010 sitcom on Comedy Central from executive producers Will Ferrell and Adam McKay. He also recently appeared as Dr. Drummer/Santa in the SyFy Holiday Special episode from the television show Eureka, which aired on December 7, 2010 (Season 4 Episode 10).
Known For
Credits
- 2024 · Our Little Secret as
- 2024 · In Fidelity as Lyle Ayker
- 2024 · Micro Budget as Toby
- 2024 · Nature Cat's Nature Movie Special Extraordinaire as Houston / Sir Galahad (voice)
- 2024 · Fallout as Overseer Benjamin
- 2023 · As We Know It as
- 2023 · Krapopolis as Ares (voice)
- 2023 · Millennial Hunter as John (voice)
- 2023 · My Adventures with Superman as Agent Slade Wilson (voice)
- 2022 · Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again as Washington (voice)
- 2022 · Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers as Dave Bollinari (voice)
- 2022 · Senior Year as Jim Conway
- 2021 · Hot Mess Holiday as Mike
- 2021 · Dogs in Space as Ed (voice)
- 2021 · Yung Punx: A Punk Parable as therapist (voice)
- 2021 · Home Sweet Home Alone as Uncle Stu
- 2021 · Marvel's M.O.D.O.K. as Alvin Healy / Tenpin (voice)
- 2021 · Alpha Betas as Darryl (voice)
- 2021 · Finding ʻOhana as Brown
- 2021 · Name That Tune as Self - Contestant
- 2020 · I Am Woman as Artie Mogull
- 2020 · Close Enough as Ron (voice)
- 2020 · Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend as Junior
- 2020 · Dummy as Agent Chett
- 2019 · Nature Cat: A Nature Carol as Narrator (voice)
- 2019 · The Laundromat as Doomed Gringo #2
- 2019 · Love, Death & Robots as The Cat (voice)
- 2019 · Alien News Desk as
- 2019 · Miracle Workers as God's Dad
- 2019 · The Last Laugh as Charlie Green
- 2018 · Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween as Walter
- 2018 · Happy Together as Wayne
- 2018 · Slice as Mayor Tracy
- 2018 · Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation as Stan / Fish Man (voice)
- 2018 · Life of the Party as Wayne Truzack
- 2018 · grown-ish as Dean Burt Parker
- 2018 · Nature Cat: The Return of Bad Dog Bart as Houston (voice)
- 2017 · Will & Grace as Dr. DiLorenzo
- 2017 · Battle of the Sexes as DJ
- 2017 · Elena of Avalor: Realm of the Jaquins as Migs (voice)
- 2017 · Austin Found as Alan Dickinson
- 2017 · Nature Cat: Ocean Commotion as Houston / Sputnik / Dolphin (voice)
- 2017 · Great News as Gerald
- 2017 · Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special as Dr. Vince Harbert
- 2016 · Elena and the Secret of Avalor as Migs (voice)
- 2016 · Rhett & Link's Buddy System as Vice Chairman
- 2016 · Ask the Storybots as
- 2016 · Elena of Avalor as Migs (voice)
- 2016 · The $100,000 Pyramid as Self
- 2016 · Match Game as Self - Panelist
- 2016 · Bajillion Dollar Propertie$ as Walton Rothchild
- 2016 · Electric City as Voice Actor (voice)
- 2015 · Dawn of the Croods as Snoot / Dub (voice)
- 2015 · Dawn of the Croods as Snoot / Evil Egg (voice)
- 2015 · Dawn of the Croods as Snoot (voice)
- 2015 · Sisters as Phil
- 2015 · The Better Half as Daniel
- 2015 · The Ridiculous 6 as Bank Manager
- 2015 · Highston as Wilbur Liggetts
- 2015 · The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show as Mr. Peabody (voice)
- 2015 · Adam Ruins Everything as
- 2015 · Hotel Transylvania 2 as Fly (voice)
- 2015 · Jeff Dunham: Unhinged in Hollywood as Self
- 2015 · We Bare Bears as Additional Voices (voice)
- 2015 · The Spoils Before Dying as Bebop Jones
- 2015 · Another Period as Dr. Sigmund Freudas
- 2015 · Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt as Junior
- 2014 · Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero as Judge Blort Clooney (voice)
- 2014 · Benched as Mitch
- 2014 · Bad Judge as Douglas Riller
- 2014 · black-ish as Dean Parker
- 2014 · BoJack Horseman as Klaus / News Reporter (voice)
- 2014 · Garfunkel and Oates as Stan
- 2014 · The Maya Rudolph Show as Self
- 2014 · AJ's Infinite Summer as Dad (voice)
- 2014 · Last Week Tonight with John Oliver as HOA Ambassador
- 2014 · Last Week Tonight with John Oliver as Voice Over (voice)
- 2014 · The Tom and Jerry Show as Narrator (voice)
- 2014 · Break Point as Jay LaRoche
- 2014 · Late Night with Seth Meyers as Self
- 2013 · Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues as Garth Holliday
- 2013 · Rick and Morty as Jerry Smith (voice)
- 2013 · The Goldbergs as Harrison Whitby
- 2013 · Brooklyn Nine-Nine as Geoffrey Hoytsman
- 2013 · Turbo as Announcer #2 (voice)
- 2013 · Drunk History as Thomas Edison
- 2013 · Drunk History as Jim Bowie
- 2013 · Drunk History as King Charles II
- 2013 · Escape from Planet Earth as Hammer (voice)
- 2012 · Hotel Transylvania as Mr. Fly (voice)
- 2012 · Gravity Falls as Additional Voices (voice)
- 2012 · Gravity Falls as Host (voice)
- 2012 · Comedy Bang! Bang! as Poseidon
- 2012 · Comedy Bang! Bang! as Stephendorff
- 2012 · The Dictator as News Anchor
- 2012 · The Five-Year Engagement as Bill
- 2012 · 21 Jump Street as Mr. Gordon
- 2012 · WordGirl: The Rise of Ms. Power as
- 2011 · Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice as Mr. Thistleton (voice)
- 2011 · Answer This! as Brian Collins
- 2011 · Suburgatory as Fred Shay
- 2011 · I Just Want My Pants Back as
- 2011 · Hollywood & Wine as Peter West
- 2011 · Bob's Burgers as Warren Fitzgerald (voice)
- 2010 · Conan as Self
- 2010 · Conan as Book Signing
- 2010 · The Women of SNL as Various (archive footage)
- 2010 · T.U.F.F. Puppy as Caped Cod (voice)
- 2010 · Fish Hooks as Announcer / Allibut (voice)
- 2010 · Big Lake as Chris Henkel
- 2010 · Kung Fu Magoo as Cole Fusion / Ninja (voice)
- 2010 · The Dogfather as Brian Franks
- 2009 · Archer as Cyril Figgis (voice)
- 2009 · Archer as Siegbert Fuchs (voice)
- 2009 · Glenn Martin, DDS as
- 2009 · Labor Pains as Jerry Steinwald
- 2009 · Paper Man as Peter
- 2009 · Glee as Mario
- 2009 · Saturday Night Live: The Best of Amy Poehler as Edward Turlington (archive footage)
- 2009 · Better Off Ted as Walter
- 2008 · Childrens Hospital as Ron Pippin
- 2008 · Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday as
- 2008 · The Life & Times of Tim as William (voice)
- 2008 · Eavesdrop as Terrence
- 2008 · Harold as Coach Vanderpool
- 2008 · Miss Guided as Bruce Terry
- 2007 · Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story as Theo
- 2007 · WordGirl as
- 2007 · Hot Rod as Barry Pasternack
- 2007 · Kabluey as Frank
- 2007 · The Grand as Harold Melvin
- 2007 · I'm Reed Fish as Ralph
- 2007 · Sunny and Share Love You as Kevin Keith Baker
- 2006 · 30 Rock as Dr. Leo Spaceman
- 2006 · Eureka as Dr. Noah Drummer
- 2006 · Ira & Abby as Dr. Ronald Silverberg
- 2006 · Saturday Night Live: The Best of Commercial Parodies as
- 2005 · American Dad! as Doctor (voice)
- 2005 · American Dad! as (voice)
- 2005 · American Dad! as Valet / Borax Employee (voice)
- 2005 · American Dad! as Francine's Drinking Buddy (voice)
- 2005 · American Dad! as Book on Tape (voice)
- 2005 · American Dad! as Kidnapper (voice)
- 2005 · American Dad! as Dr. Moe Munney (voice)
- 2005 · American Dad! as James Garfield / Mint Worker (voice)
- 2005 · American Dad! as Co-Worker (voice)
- 2005 · American Dad! as James Garfield (voice)
- 2005 · American Dad! as Train Actor (voice)
- 2004 · Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie as Garth Holliday
- 2004 · Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy as Garth Holliday
- 2004 · Looking for Kitty as Guy Borne
- 2003 · Evil Alien Conquerors as Du-ug
- 2003 · Barely Legal as Mr. Ronald Greitzer
- 2003 · Down with Love as TV Emcee
- 2003 · Farm Sluts as Larry
- 2002 · The Religetables as
- 2002 · Saturday Night Live: The Best of Will Ferrell as Himself / Various (archive footage)
- 2000 · TV Funhouse as James Brolin (voice)
- 2000 · Curb Your Enthusiasm as Hank
- 2000 · The Ladies Man as Phil Swanson
- 2000 · Ed as DJ Curtis Morris
- 1999 · Family Guy as Joe Paterno (voice)
- 1999 · Family Guy as Highway Man (voice)
- 1999 · Family Guy as Priest / Father Raccoon (voice)
- 1999 · Family Guy as White Guy (voice)
- 1999 · Family Guy as Target Manager / Veterinarian (voice)
- 1999 · Family Guy as Smarmy (voice)
- 1999 · Family Guy as Priest (voice)
- 1999 · Family Guy as Doug (voice)
- 1999 · Family Guy as Guy at Pool / Priest (voice)
- 1999 · Family Guy as Card Store Owner (voice)
- 1998 · Conrad Bloom as Simpson
- 1996 · Jingle All the Way as Toy Store Sales Clerk
- 1996 · Suddenly Susan as Waiter
- 1996 · Suddenly Susan as Phil
- 1996 · The Jamie Foxx Show as
- 1995 · Caroline in the City as Gene
- 1994 · Friends as Bob
- 1993 · Late Night with Conan O'Brien as Self - Guest
- 1989 · The Simpsons as Surgeon fiancé (voice)
- 1989 · Seinfeld as NBC Executive
- 1988 · Murphy Brown as
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Self - Various Characters
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Talent Scout
- 1975 · Saturday Night Live as Self
- Future · The Dink as
- 1997 · A Freezerburnt Christmas as
- 1997 · Union Square as Don
- 1995 · Hope and Gloria as Howard