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Christopher Kriesa

Christopher Kriesa

Actor · Born January 1, 1949 (77) · Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin

Chris was born in Appleton, Wisconsin and raised in Davenport, Iowa where his father, a musician, taught at St. Ambrose College and his mother raised their 5 sons then went back to teaching home economics. Working as educators, his parents had the summers off, so the family traveled much of the US and Canada mostly as campers. Chris said all the boys caught the travel bug, and have never stopped - he has traveled in over 60 countries and says most of his brothers have outdone that. It was in his travels that he was introduced to acting. He had a very Midwest upbringing, with a lot of emphasis on family values, education and sports. He was a decent wrestler (a team co- captain), a lousy poll vaulter, and a good student. At the age of 18 his father got a job at St. Norbert College in Green Bay, Wisconsin. There, Chris graduated from SNC with a Biology Degree, spent some time in the Army Rerve before working as a medical supply salesman. He said the world of business was such a double edge sword - he made a lot of money but lost a lot of self-respect as he put making money ahead of the principles he was taught. After a year, he quit, bought a back pack and started on a journey around the world to find himself. He headed West from Green Bay determined to continue in that direction until he arrived back home in Green Bay. Two years, 31 countries and about 29,000 miles later he returned. He said he met many, many wonderful, kind people, so kind that it was humbling to be around them. He had slept in fields, under bridges, on top of trains, on park benches, on beaches, in people's homes and in a lot of youth hostels. He worked in those countries where he could - picking apples in New Zealand and at a ski lodge in Australia. But it was in Hong Kong, while staying at Chun King Mansion Youth Hostel on Nathan Road, that he was asked to work in a Shaw Brothers film playing a "white devil" drug lord. After being killed in that film and in many more there, he continued West, becoming more and more fascinated philosophies and mysticism of the Far East. When he finally returned home to Wisconsin, the president of the medical supply company he had worked for offered him a lot of money to rewrite the company's sales training program. They agreed that it would take about a year to do that, and after that he would leave to continue his academic education. With a new perspective and money in his pocket he ended up at Sonoma State University in N. California where he graduated with a MA in psychology, with an emphasis on the paranormal. During his two year program there, he was warned by many people in the paranormal arena that it would be very difficult for him to find a job in that field. And it was! He then got involved with the Redwood Empire Players, a theatre group in Sonoma County, and being close to San Francisco, worked occasionally as a movie extra. Then he moved to San Francisco where he took acting and improv classes to see what it was all about. He said the way he saw it, an actor's life is about growing as a human being, learning how to feel and to take risks and to truly connect with others, and when that happens, there is magic for the actors and for the audience. He started doing commercials, industrial films and stage. After having a lead in a play at San Francisco's Fort Mason Theatre, he left for Los Angeles and has been there since, with some time off to refresh his soul with world travel. Having been in Los Angeles since the 80's, he has been fortunate to train with some of the 'greats', including Kim Stanley and Larry Moss and to work with such directors as the Coen Brothers, Robert Zemeckis, Billy Bob Thornton, Carl Reiner, Phil Joanou, Wes Craven, John Avildsen, and Robert Downey Sr., Harry Harris, and Don Chaffey. His resume includes over 175 different films, TV shows, and web series, plus a handful of plays and over 50 commercials. His resume and some demo tapes can be found on imdbpro.com

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Biography from IMDb.

Born
January 1, 1949 (77)
From
Appleton, Outagamie, Wisconsin
Works as
Actor
Titles
65 on MovieCove · 109 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 10% in 30 days

What are Christopher Kriesa's films like?

Across their 19 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Survival.

Genres

Drama10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 13th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 26th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 9th percentile
: browse their Horror movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
24%
Survival
22%
Morality
22%
Bonds
18%
Power
10%
Ideas
3%
Society
1%
Survival6 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession4 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma5 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 19 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 2 · Serious 6 · Dark 11

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 12 · Stylized 6 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 2 · Charged 11 · Intense 6

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 6 · Shifting 10 · Whiplash 3

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 16 · Some laughs 2 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 10 · Relentless 2

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 8 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 0

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 10 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles
Threshold guardian
1 of 3
Mentor
1 of 3
Shadow
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
19
Dread
10
Melancholic
6
Absurd
3
Thrilling
2
Other
5

How their films linger

Unsettling10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteInfuriating2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 4 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet5
  • Ambiguous9

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Christopher Kriesa's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 51 of their 65 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (30).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Christopher Kriesa's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

109 credits, 65 with a MovieCove page.

  • Home Makeover Nightmare(2026)

    as Electrician

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Americana(2023)

    as Hiram Bruce Starr

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Maggie Moore(s)(2023)

    as Jerry Connors

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Blonde(2022)

    as Joe E. Brown

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Outer Range(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as JB Stone

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all shows

  • Baby Money(2021)

    as Mr. Reed

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The 11th Green(2020)

    as Beetle Smith

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • A Nasty Piece of Work (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Third Executive

  • Samir (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Gary

  • Interpreters: a C & Earth Chronicle - quantum 1(2019)

    as Mayor Stetson

    Midcredits score: 6th percentile of all films

  • Con Man(2018)

    as Parole Board Officer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • America: Land of the Freeks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Actor

  • House of Deadly Secrets(2018)

    as Commissioner Arnold

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Lethal Weapon(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Parole Commissioner

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Wind Walkers(2015)

    as James Russiere

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Fresh Off the Boat(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack Clovis

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Sugar Daddies(2014)

    as David

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Dead the Damned and the Darkness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Speaker of the House Gates

  • Missing at 17 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Vagrant

  • The Cheating Pact(2013)

    as Nathan

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Dose of Reality (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Doctor Wilkins

  • Stalked at 17(2012)

    as Landlord

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Operation Terror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    as Phillip Singer

  • Betrayed at 17(2011)

    as Detective Vincent

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • D.C. Sniper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Agent James Rogan (as Chris Kriesa)

  • Absolute Evil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Beauregard

  • Ibid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Chris Cross

  • Goy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Dr. George Rosenberg

  • Dard Divorce(2007)

    as Lawyer Jake

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Chain Reaction (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Douglas Madsen

  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · as Claude Markham

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Killer Flood: The Day the Dam Broke(2003)

    as Frank

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • Beyond the Limits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Frederick

  • Boomtown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Warden Frank Collins

  • Point of Origin(2002)

    as AJ Jackobowski

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Man Who Wasn't There(2001)

    as Officer Persky

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Facing the Enemy(2001)

    as Detective Stewart

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Legion of the Dead(2001)

    as Psycho Mike (as Chris Kriesa)

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • The Perfect Wife(2001)

    as McGovern

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Downward Angel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Frank

  • Blind Obsession(2001)

    as Frank Dodge

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Living in Fear(2001)

    as Lyle Pointer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • Cast Away(2000)

    as Pilot Kevin

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Hellraiser: Inferno(2000)

    as Older Detective

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • The Stepdaughter(2000)

    as Receptionist

    Midcredits score: 5th percentile of all films

  • Curb Your Enthusiasm(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Club Member

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • The District (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Chief Thomas Clifton

  • The Perfect Tenant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Mr. Summer

  • Alone with a Stranger(2000)

    as Dr. Silverstone

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • Nautilus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Captain Noah Brin

  • The Perfect Nanny(2000)

    as Librarian

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Hostile Environment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Miero

  • Her Married Lover(1999)

    as Clerk

    Midcredits score: 12th percentile of all films

  • The West Wing(1999)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mitch · as Officer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • I'll Remember April(1999)

    as FBI Reeve

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • L.A. Heat(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all shows

  • The Landlady (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Ralphie

  • Captured (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Charlie

  • The Night Caller (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Mr. Brill

  • Man of Her Dreams (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Bill Iripino

  • Cupid (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Officer

  • Runaway Car (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Donner

  • The Nurse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Doctor Sanders

  • Daddy's Girl(1996)

    as Dr. Richardson

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • My Fellow Americans(1996)

    as Agent Kopeck

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Tiger Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Nat

  • The Dentist(1996)

    as Mr. Schaeffer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Heaven's Prisoners(1996)

    as Priest

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • The Silencers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Jennings

  • Mr. Wrong(1996)

    as Cop #1

    Midcredits score: 4th percentile of all films

  • Almighty Fred (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Homer

  • Voodoo(1995)

    as Baird

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Cyber-Tracker 2(1995)

    as Chief of Police

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Dillinger and Capone(1995)

    as Melvin Purvis

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Virus (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Cop

  • The Secretary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as James Robinson

  • Tough and Deadly(1995)

    as Briggers' Man

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Open Fire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as CHP Officer

  • Scanner Cop(1994)

    as Riley

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The Force (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Brooks

  • Martial Outlaw(1993)

    as Hal

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Distant Cousins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as 1st Policeman

  • Bounty Tracker(1993)

    as Grey

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · as Harry Barton · as Man · as Myra's Customer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Mission of Justice(1992)

    as Sergeant Duncan

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Melrose Place(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · as Sheriff

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all shows

  • Carnal Crimes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Cop

  • Eve of Destruction(1991)

    as Korman

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Cop Rock (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Street Asylum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Additional Voices (voice)

  • Mancuso, F.B.I. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • I, Madman(1989)

    as Sarge

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Shocker(1989)

    as Guard #2

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Double Revenge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Dispatcher

  • Moving Target(1988)

    as Police Officer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Summer School(1987)

    as Beach Cop

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Starman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Kent Davis

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Cop

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • MacGyver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Player

  • The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as S.W.A.T. Member

  • The Twilight Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as 2nd Rescuer (segment "The Junction")

  • The Karate Kid(1984)

    as Official

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Airwolf(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Johnson

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all shows

  • The A-Team(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Firefigher Fred

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Matt Houston (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • T.J. Hooker(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Officer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Falcon Crest(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Scott Ridley

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all shows

  • Bitter Harvest(1981)

    as Marshall

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Knots Landing(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Aide · as Mechanic

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 108 titles from 1979 to 2026; peak year 1995.

Biggest box office

The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)

$19M worldwide

Highest rated

The Man Who Wasn't There (2001)

Midcredits 94th

Film career

19792026

Peak 1995 · steadily prominent in film for years. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1984Screen debut· The Karate Kid
  • 2006First top-billed film· Chain Reaction
  • 2006Career best· Chain Reaction

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting108 of 108: 108 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score29th

By decade

1970s1 · acting1980s18 · acting1990s39 · acting2000s25 · acting2010s18 · acting2020s7 · acting

Billing

usually 11th · top billed in 5% of 22 roles
849499

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Christopher Kriesa's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 22nd percentile, the median of all 50; across their 19 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 17th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

17thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Approval · how many liked their films

14thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Reach · how many have seen their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 19

Midcredits score across 65 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up8
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th19
  • Below 25th30

Shape of the crowd

42 of their 65 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Cult Classic2
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed42

Most divisive · actor

The 11th Green (2020)

87th percentile spread · 34% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Cast Away (2000)

Midcredits 97th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the acting 49/100 in their films, across 19 reviewed titles; fans 66, detractors 31. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Christopher Kriesa work with?

People who share at least 2 of Christopher Kriesa's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Pierre David shares the most, 10.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles