Chris Parnell Biography

Fast Facts

• Earned a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree from the University of North Carolina's School of the Arts
• After deciding to move to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, he started performing with the improv troupe The Groundlings
• Quote: "(On staying in character) " Sometimes it's very hard, but hopefully you are in the moment as an actor and you are just trying to react as the character in the scene would․""
• Quote: "(On impressions) "The main thing is to be funny, whether people know (the impersonation) or not․ You have to let go of the fact no one knows this person and just try to be funny, ultimately․""
• Frequently appears in sketch alongside Andy Samberg
• Often takes on the role of men who are incompetent in their jobs
• Beat out fellow cast members Darrell Hammond, Jeff Richards and Chris Kattan to take over the impression of George W․ Bush following the departure of Will Farrell from "Saturday Night Live․"
• Was fired from "Saturday Night Live" in 2001, only to be rehired 12 weeks later
• As a struggling actor, he once worked at a FAO Schwartz in the Beverly Center in California
• Was the original choice for the role of Brick Tamland in "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy," but Steve Carell eventually took over the roll