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).
Acted in
Our Little Secret
2024
In Fidelity
2024
as Lyle Ayker
Micro Budget
2024
as Toby
Nature Cat's Nature Movie Special Extraordinaire
2024
as Houston / Sir Galahad (voice)
Fallout
2024
as Overseer Benjamin
As We Know It
2023
Krapopolis
2023
as Ares (voice)
Millennial Hunter
2023
as John (voice)
My Adventures with Superman
2023
as Agent Slade Wilson (voice)
Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again
2022
as Washington (voice)
Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers
2022
as Dave Bollinari (voice)
Senior Year
2022
as Jim Conway
Hot Mess Holiday
2021
as Mike
Dogs in Space
2021
as Ed (voice)
Yung Punx: A Punk Parable
2021
as therapist (voice)
Home Sweet Home Alone
2021
as Uncle Stu
Marvel's M.O.D.O.K.
2021
as Alvin Healy / Tenpin (voice)
Alpha Betas
2021
as Darryl (voice)
Finding ʻOhana
2021
as Brown
Name That Tune
2021
as Self - Contestant
I Am Woman
2020
as Artie Mogull
Close Enough
2020
as Ron (voice)
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend
2020
as Junior
Dummy
2020
as Agent Chett
Nature Cat: A Nature Carol
2019
as Narrator (voice)
The Laundromat
2019
as Doomed Gringo #2
Love, Death & Robots
2019
as The Cat (voice)
Alien News Desk
2019
Miracle Workers
2019
as God's Dad
The Last Laugh
2019
as Charlie Green
Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween
2018
as Walter
Happy Together
2018
as Wayne
Slice
2018
as Mayor Tracy
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation
2018
as Stan / Fish Man (voice)
Life of the Party
2018
as Wayne Truzack
grown-ish
2018
as Dean Burt Parker
Nature Cat: The Return of Bad Dog Bart
2018
as Houston (voice)
Will & Grace
2017
as Dr. DiLorenzo
Battle of the Sexes
2017
as DJ
Elena of Avalor: Realm of the Jaquins
2017
as Migs (voice)
Austin Found
2017
as Alan Dickinson
Nature Cat: Ocean Commotion
2017
as Houston / Sputnik / Dolphin (voice)
Great News
2017
as Gerald
Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special
2017
as Dr. Vince Harbert
Elena and the Secret of Avalor
2016
as Migs (voice)
Rhett & Link's Buddy System
2016
as Vice Chairman
Ask the Storybots
2016
Elena of Avalor
2016
as Migs (voice)
Match Game
2016
as Self - Panelist
Bajillion Dollar Propertie$
2016
as Walton Rothchild
Electric City
2016
as Voice Actor (voice)
Dawn of the Croods
2015
as Snoot / Evil Egg (voice)
Dawn of the Croods
2015
as Snoot / Dub (voice)
Dawn of the Croods
2015
as Snoot (voice)
Sisters
2015
as Phil
The Better Half
2015
as Daniel
The Ridiculous 6
2015
as Bank Manager
Highston
2015
as Wilbur Liggetts
The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show
2015
as Mr. Peabody (voice)
Adam Ruins Everything
2015
Hotel Transylvania 2
2015
as Fly (voice)
Jeff Dunham: Unhinged in Hollywood
2015
as Self
We Bare Bears
2015
as Additional Voices (voice)
The Spoils Before Dying
2015
as Bebop Jones
Another Period
2015
as Dr. Sigmund Freudas
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
2015
as Junior
Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero
2014
as Judge Blort Clooney (voice)
Benched
2014
as Mitch
Bad Judge
2014
as Douglas Riller
black-ish
2014
as Dean Parker
BoJack Horseman
2014
as Klaus / News Reporter (voice)
Garfunkel and Oates
2014
as Stan
The Maya Rudolph Show
2014
as Self
AJ's Infinite Summer
2014
as Dad (voice)
The Tom and Jerry Show
2014
as Narrator (voice)
Break Point
2014
as Jay LaRoche
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
2013
as Garth Holliday
Rick and Morty
2013
as Jerry Smith (voice)
The Goldbergs
2013
as Harrison Whitby
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
2013
as Geoffrey Hoytsman
Turbo
2013
as Announcer #2 (voice)
Escape from Planet Earth
2013
as Hammer (voice)
Hotel Transylvania
2012
as Mr. Fly (voice)
Gravity Falls
2012
as Host (voice)
Gravity Falls
2012
as Additional Voices (voice)
The Dictator
2012
as News Anchor
The Five-Year Engagement
2012
as Bill
21 Jump Street
2012
as Mr. Gordon
WordGirl: The Rise of Ms. Power
2012
Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice
2011
as Mr. Thistleton (voice)
Answer This!
2011
as Brian Collins
Suburgatory
2011
as Fred Shay
I Just Want My Pants Back
2011
Hollywood & Wine
2011
as Peter West
Bob's Burgers
2011
as Warren Fitzgerald (voice)
The Women of SNL
2010
as Various (archive footage)
T.U.F.F. Puppy
2010
as Caped Cod (voice)
Fish Hooks
2010
as Announcer / Allibut (voice)
Big Lake
2010
as Chris Henkel
Kung Fu Magoo
2010
as Cole Fusion / Ninja (voice)
The Dogfather
2010
as Brian Franks
Archer
2009
as Cyril Figgis (voice)
Archer
2009
as Siegbert Fuchs (voice)
Glenn Martin, DDS
2009
Labor Pains
2009
as Jerry Steinwald
Paper Man
2009
as Peter
Glee
2009
as Mario
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Amy Poehler
2009
as Edward Turlington (archive footage)
Better Off Ted
2009
as Walter
Childrens Hospital
2008
as Ron Pippin
The Life & Times of Tim
2008
as William (voice)
Eavesdrop
2008
as Terrence
Harold
2008
as Coach Vanderpool
Miss Guided
2008
as Bruce Terry
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
2007
as Theo
WordGirl
2007
Hot Rod
2007
as Barry Pasternack
Kabluey
2007
as Frank
The Grand
2007
as Harold Melvin
I'm Reed Fish
2007
as Ralph
Sunny and Share Love You
2007
as Kevin Keith Baker
30 Rock
2006
as Dr. Leo Spaceman
Eureka
2006
as Dr. Noah Drummer
Ira & Abby
2006
as Dr. Ronald Silverberg
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Commercial Parodies
2006
American Dad!
2005
as Doctor (voice)
American Dad!
2005
as (voice)
American Dad!
2005
as Valet / Borax Employee (voice)
American Dad!
2005
as Francine's Drinking Buddy (voice)
American Dad!
2005
as Book on Tape (voice)
American Dad!
2005
as Kidnapper (voice)
American Dad!
2005
as Dr. Moe Munney (voice)
American Dad!
2005
as James Garfield / Mint Worker (voice)
American Dad!
2005
as Co-Worker (voice)
American Dad!
2005
as James Garfield (voice)
American Dad!
2005
as Train Actor (voice)
Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie
2004
as Garth Holliday
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
2004
as Garth Holliday
Looking for Kitty
2004
as Guy Borne
Evil Alien Conquerors
2003
as Du-ug
Barely Legal
2003
as Mr. Ronald Greitzer
Down with Love
2003
as TV Emcee
Farm Sluts
2003
as Larry
The Religetables
2002
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Will Ferrell
2002
as Himself / Various (archive footage)
TV Funhouse
2000
as James Brolin (voice)
Curb Your Enthusiasm
2000
as Hank
The Ladies Man
2000
as Phil Swanson
Ed
2000
as DJ Curtis Morris
Family Guy
1999
as Joe Paterno (voice)
Family Guy
1999
as Priest / Father Raccoon (voice)
Family Guy
1999
as Highway Man (voice)
Family Guy
1999
as White Guy (voice)
Family Guy
1999
as Target Manager / Veterinarian (voice)
Family Guy
1999
as Smarmy (voice)
Family Guy
1999
as Priest (voice)
Family Guy
1999
as Doug (voice)
Family Guy
1999
as Guy at Pool / Priest (voice)
Family Guy
1999
as Card Store Owner (voice)
Conrad Bloom
1998
as Simpson
A Freezerburnt Christmas
1997
Union Square
1997
as Don
Jingle All the Way
1996
as Toy Store Sales Clerk
Suddenly Susan
1996
as Waiter
Suddenly Susan
1996
as Phil
The Jamie Foxx Show
1996
Caroline in the City
1995
as Gene
Hope and Gloria
1995
as Howard
Friends
1994
as Bob
The Simpsons
1989
as Surgeon fiancé (voice)
Seinfeld
1989
as NBC Executive
Murphy Brown
1988
