---
name: "Chris Messina"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/chris-messina"
fi1m_id: "chris-messina"
imdb_id: "nm0582149"
tmdb_id: 61659
wikidata_id: "Q1077549"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "11 August 1974"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 11
average_fi1m_score: 73
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 11
updated: "2026-10-05T01:12:17.646163+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Chris Messina

## Identity

Chris Messina

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/chris-messina
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** chris-messina
- **IMDb ID:** nm0582149
- **TMDB ID:** 61659
- **Wikidata ID:** Q1077549
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Messina, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1077549, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0582149/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/61659

Actor. Born 11 August 1974 in New York City, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 11 August 1974, New York City, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1998–present
- **Also known as:** Christopher Messina, 克里斯·梅西納, کریس مسینا, Christopher "Chris" Messina
- **Frequently works with:** [Amy Adams](https://film.one/person/amy-adams.md)
- **SAG Awards:** 1 SAG Award (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 73, as actor, over 11 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 66 (1), 2000s 73 (3), 2010s 78 (3), 2020s 71 (4)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 73 to 71 across 11 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 10 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 8 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 8, Romance 3, Thriller 3, Comedy 2, Crime 2, History 2
- **Screen time:** 15 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $923m across 8 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Messina, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1077549, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0582149/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/61659

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Julie & Julia*](https://film.one/film/julie-and-julia.md) (72), [*Air*](https://film.one/film/air.md) (70), [*Vicky Cristina Barcelona*](https://film.one/film/vicky-cristina-barcelona.md) (70)
- **HBO Max:** [*Sharp Objects*](https://film.one/tv/sharp-objects.md) (84), [*Juror #2*](https://film.one/film/juror-2.md) (75)
- **Disney+:** [*The Mindy Project*](https://film.one/tv/the-mindy-project.md) (72), [*The Boogeyman*](https://film.one/film/the-boogeyman.md) (62)
- **Peacock:** [*Pressure*](https://film.one/film/pressure.md) (78)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Chris Messina

> Chris Messina is a sharp supporting actor, particularly when a job gives his characters something to be angry about. His comedy lands hard; his quieter work needs writing that gives him more than silence.

In *Air* (2023), Chris Messina has a telephone and a succession of obscenities, and he makes both count. His agent, David Falk, exists largely to be furious, but Messina does not make that feel like an inadequate assignment. We laughed at the calls because the outbursts arrive with such conviction. Ben Affleck gets something valuable from him here: comedy that does not require the character to find himself amusing.

The supporting parts came first, including *Vicky Cristina Barcelona* (2008) and Affleck's *Argo* (2012). Television gave him more space: he played Danny Castellano in *The Mindy Project* (2012–2017), alongside its creator Mindy Kaling. In *Sharp Objects* (2018), his detective Richard Willis called for restraint and listening. He has moved between these kinds of performance rather than simply graduating from small parts to leading ones, and the smaller assignments remain worth watching.

Clint Eastwood's *Juror #2* (2024) makes good use of the quieter actor. As defence lawyer Eric Resnick, Messina is tired, decent and overworked, with none of Falk's permission to turn frustration into entertainment. We believe in the job because he makes its demands seem ordinary, rather than a special burden invented for this particular drama. Our reservations about the courtroom premise do not extend to him.

*The Boogeyman* (2023) shows the limit of that restraint. Rob Savage casts him as Will Harper, a father who listens to strangers for a living but cannot talk to his own children. The writing gives him withdrawal and little else, and Messina mostly leaves it there; Sophie Thatcher has to supply much of the film's feeling. We can see why he is cast as a man keeping things to himself, but here there is too little to watch. Start with *Air*, and do not expect Falk to mind his language.

## Biography

Chris Messina is an American actor. He was born on 11 August 1974 in Northport, New York. He is best known for playing Danny Castellano in the comedy series *The Mindy Project* (2012–2017), for which he received two Critics' Choice Television Award nominations.

Messina's film credits include *Vicky Cristina Barcelona* (2008), *Julie & Julia* (2009), *Devil* (2010), *Argo* (2012), *Birds of Prey* (2020), *I Care a Lot* (2021), *Air* (2023) as David Falk, *The Boogeyman* (2023) as Will Harper and *Juror #2* (2024) as Eric Resnick. He wrote, executive produced and starred in *Fairhaven* (2012) and directed and starred in *Alex of Venice* (2014). On television he has appeared in *Six Feet Under* (2005), *Damages* (2011–2012), *The Newsroom* (2012–2014), *Sharp Objects* (2018), *The Sinner* (2020), *Gaslit* (2022) and *Based on a True Story* (2023).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (11)

- *Pressure* (2026), Fi1m 78, as Irving Krick — [page](https://film.one/film/pressure.md)
- *Juror #2* (2024), Fi1m 75, as Eric Resnick — [page](https://film.one/film/juror-2.md)
- *Air* (2023), Fi1m 70, as David Falk — [page](https://film.one/film/air.md)
- *The Boogeyman* (2023), Fi1m 62, as Will Harper — [page](https://film.one/film/the-boogeyman.md)
- *Sharp Objects* (2018), Fi1m 84, as Richard Willis — [page](https://film.one/tv/sharp-objects.md)
- *Argo* (2012), Fi1m 79, as Malinov — [page](https://film.one/film/argo.md)
- *The Mindy Project* (2012), Fi1m 72, as Dr. Danny Castellano — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mindy-project.md)
- *Julie & Julia* (2009), Fi1m 72, as Eric Powell — [page](https://film.one/film/julie-and-julia.md)
- *Vicky Cristina Barcelona* (2008), Fi1m 70, as Doug — [page](https://film.one/film/vicky-cristina-barcelona.md)
- *Damages* (2007), Fi1m 78, as Chris Sanchez — [page](https://film.one/tv/damages.md)
- *You've Got Mail* (1998), Fi1m 66, as Fox Salesperson — [page](https://film.one/film/youve-got-mail.md)

## Complete filmography (69)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Pressure* (2026), as Irving Krick — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/pressure.md)
- *Juror #2* (2024), as Eric Resnick — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/juror-2.md)
- *I.S.S.* (2024), as Gordon Barrett
- *Dreamin' Wild* (2023), as Matt Sullivan
- *Based on a True Story* (2023), series, as Nathan Bartlett
- *The Boogeyman* (2023), as Will Harper — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/the-boogeyman.md)
- *Air* (2023), as David Falk — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/air.md)
- *Call Jane* (2022), as Will
- *The Aviary* (2022), as Seth
- *Gaslit* (2022), series, as Angelo Lano
- *Love Is Love Is Love* (2021), as Jack (segment "Two for Dinner")
- *I Care a Lot* (2021), as Dean Ericson
- *The Secrets We Keep* (2020), as Lewis
- *She Dies Tomorrow* (2020), as Jason
- *Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)* (2020), as Victor Zsasz
- *The True Adventures of Wolfboy* (2019), as Denny
- *Zeroville* (2019), as Brian De Palma
- *Light of My Life* (2019), Thanks
- *Too Long at the Fair* (2018), as Lee
- *Sharp Objects* (2018), series, as Richard Willis — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/sharp-objects.md)
- *Blame* (2018), as Jeremy Woods
- *The Sweet Life* (2017), as Kenny
- *Live by Night* (2016), as Dion Bartolo
- *Ordinary World* (2016), as Jake
- *Digging for Fire* (2015), as Tango
- *OM CITY* (2015), series, as Joseph
- *Manglehorn* (2015), as Jacob
- *Alex of Venice* (2015), as George · Director
- *The Oven* (2014), as Narrator
- *Cake* (2014), as Jason Bennett
- *Palo Alto* (2014), as Mitch
- *Fairhaven* (2013), as Dave · Executive Producer
- *Argo* (2012), as Malinov — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/argo.md)
- *The Mindy Project* (2012), series, as Dr. Danny Castellano — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mindy-project.md)
- *Celeste & Jesse Forever* (2012), as Paul
- *Ruby Sparks* (2012), as Harry
- *Denise* (2012), as Brad
- *The Newsroom* (2012), series, as Reese Lansing
- *The Giant Mechanical Man* (2012), as Tim
- *28 Hotel Rooms* (2012), as Man · Executive Producer
- *Like Crazy* (2011), as Mike Appletree
- *The Trouble with Bliss* (2011), as NJ
- *An Invisible Sign* (2010), as Ben Smith
- *Devil* (2010), as Detective Bowden
- *Monogamy* (2010), as Theo
- *Greenberg* (2010), as Phillip Greenberg
- *Brief Interviews with Hideous Men* (2009), as Subject #19
- *Julie & Julia* (2009), as Eric Powell — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/julie-and-julia.md)
- *Away We Go* (2009), as Tom
- *Humboldt County* (2008), as Max
- *Towelhead* (2008), as Barry
- *Vicky Cristina Barcelona* (2008), as Doug — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/vicky-cristina-barcelona.md)
- *Made of Honor* (2008), as Dennis
- *Damages* (2007), series, as Chris Sanchez — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/damages.md)
- *Security* (2007), as Zelly
- *Ira & Abby* (2006), as Ira Black
- *Road* (2005), as Larry
- *Medium* (2005), series, as Casey Edward Frank
- *Six Feet Under* (2001), series, as Ted Fairwell — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/six-feet-under.md)
- *Turn It Up* (2000), as Baz
- *Third Watch* (1999), series, as Charlie
- *You've Got Mail* (1998), as Fox Salesperson — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/youve-got-mail.md)
- *The Siege* (1998), as Corporal
- *Rounders* (1998), as Higgins
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Tommy Bell, Kevin Turner, Don Cushman — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *We're Just Married*, Actor
- *Hellhound*, Actor
- *Lear Rex*, as Cornwall
- *Tumor*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Chris Messina](https://film.one/media/person/10646/gallery-38e15166eb87.jpg) Chris Messina — iDominick, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/Chris_Messina_at_PaleyFest_2013.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![© Dig In Magazine/Andrea Salles (2014)](https://film.one/media/person/10646/gallery-10bfc5c65504.jpg) © Dig In Magazine/Andrea Salles (2014) — diginmag - Photo by Cindy Maram for Dig In Magazine www.diginmag.com, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4a/SFIFF57_Closing_Night_-_%27Alex_of_Venice%27_%2814460248620%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Chris Messina](https://film.one/media/person/10646/gallery-8b1c9abfb350.jpg) Chris Messina — Image via TMDB
- ![Chris Messina](https://film.one/media/person/10646/gallery-b387c4f35c9a.jpg) Chris Messina — Image via TMDB
- ![Chris Messina](https://film.one/media/person/10646/gallery-0b4b39ede357.jpg) Chris Messina — Image via TMDB
- ![Chris Messina](https://film.one/media/person/10646/gallery-6b4468b052c5.jpg) Chris Messina — Image via TMDB
- ![Chris Messina](https://film.one/media/person/10646/gallery-49a82c3c6a24.jpg) Chris Messina — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### SAG Awards — 1 won

- 2013: Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture (won), for *Argo*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/chris-messina