Chris Wiehl
About
Biography
Biography
A steady primetime presence since 1995, actor Chris Wiehl had the kind of All-American good looks and dedicated work ethic that turned a college dream into reality. Armed with a B.F.A from the drama program at the University of Washington, Wiehl landed his first paying gig on an episode of NBC's military drama "JAG" (1995-2005), and made his film debut a few years later in the alcohol-soaked "Gunshy" (1998). A recurring role on the syndicated action series "Pensacola: Wings of Gold" (CBS, 1997-2000) led to a small but memorable part in 2000's "The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy," centered on a group of gay friends in West Hollywood. Wiehl kept the momentum going with a supporting turn as an EMT on "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (CBS, 2000-15), among numerous other one-off roles, and in 2010 he co-starred with Christine Taylor in the Hallmark Movie Channel's Christmas-themed romance "Farewell Mr. Kringle." His portrayal of an art gallery owner on "Switched at Birth" (ABC Family, 2011-17) proved another small but solid showcase for the veteran actor.
Born in Yakima, WA to a family of German and Danish descent, Chris Wiehl grew up in an atypical household; his father, Richard, was an FBI agent assigned to investigate the shooting of JFK. Not keen to follow in his father's footsteps, Wiehl earned a drama degree from the University of Washington. Wiehl made his TV debut in 1995 on "JAG," a military legal drama that later spawned the long-running "NCIS" (CBS, 2003- ) franchise. After jumping to the big-screen in "Gunshy," starring William Petersen, Wiehl touched down in a supporting role on "Pensacola: Wings of Gold" (Syndication, 1997-2000), set at a military training base in the Florida panhandle. A background appearance as simply "J. Crew Guy" in "The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy" offered another outlet for Wiehl's considerable good looks and low-key talent. Wiehl reunited with Petersen in 2001 when he was cast as an EMT on "CSI," and even enjoyed a romantic subplot with star Jorja Fox. A number of subsequent supporting roles on quickly-cancelled shows didn't deter Wiehl, though, in 2010 he appeared as Christine Taylor's small-town love interest in the family-friendly "Farewell Mr. Kringle." A year later Wiehl joined the cast of the Peabody Award-winning series "Switched at Birth" as a sensitive art gallery owner with designs on single mother Regina (Constance Marie).
Life Events
1995
Moved to L.A. (date approximate)
1995
Made TV debut on CBS' "JAG"
1998
Landed first film role in "Gunshy"
1999
Cast in a recurring role on CBS' "Pensacola: Wings of Gold"
2000
Co-starred in "Bull"
2000
Appeared in "The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy"
2001
Featured on CBS' "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation"
2002
Had regular role on the CBS drama "First Monday"
2010
Cast opposite Christine Taylor in the Hallmark Movie Channel's "Farewell Mr. Kringle"
2012
Portrayed an art gallery owner on ABC Family's "Switched at Birth"
