Christopher James Stapleton was born on February 18, 1971, in Sherman, Illinois, a small rural town located outside Springfield. This marked the beginning of a life that would be filled with creative pursuits, starting from a young age. His parents, Jim and Phyllis, purchased a camcorder, which sparked his initial interest in acting. Along with his younger twin brothers, Tony and Brian, Chris began creating short movies, showcasing his early talent for storytelling.
As he grew older, Chris's passion for performing only intensified. He was convinced by a teacher to audition for the theater club's latest production at Griffin High School, and he went on to win the lead role in the musical, "Carousel", the following year. This marked the beginning of his journey as a performer, and he continued to hone his craft throughout his high school years.
After graduating from high school, Chris received a full football scholarship to the University of Michigan, where he initially focused on his athletic pursuits. However, a foot injury sustained during training camp in his freshman year led to him being sidelined for the season. This setback proved to be a blessing in disguise, as it allowed Chris to redirect his energy towards acting.
Throughout his college years, Chris was the lead in several productions, including "The Time of Your Life", "As You Like It", "Andromache", and the American classic, "Our Town". His performances earned him recognition, and he was named "Performer of the Year" by the Michigan Daily in 1993.
Chris graduated from Michigan in 1993 with a degree in Communications and shortly thereafter, he packed up his belongings and embarked on a road trip to Hollywood. His big break came when he landed a guest spot on the popular soap opera, "The Young and the Restless". Since then, he has appeared in a range of television shows, including "Suddenly Susan", "Family Law", and "JAG", as well as in several independent feature films.
Some of his notable film credits include "Aurora" (1998),"Black Friday" (2000),and "Ultimate Target" (2000),which starred Michael Madsen. Chris has also had the opportunity to work with other notable actors, including Brooke Shields and Dixie Carter.
Currently, Chris can be seen in his recurring role as "Dan" on the new UPN show, "As If". He has also completed principal photography on two projects, the first being a short film called "The Death of Batman", in which he dons the famous cape and cowl. The second project is a gritty independent drama called "American Dream", in which he plays the polar opposite of a hero, an intense drug enforcer named "Shamus".
