Chris Parnell
Known for: Acting
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).
Filmography
Series
Rick and Morty
Jerry Smith (voice)
2013
Series
The Simpsons
Surgeon fiancé (voice)
1989
Series
Family Guy
Joe Paterno (voice)
1999
Series
Family Guy
Highway Man (voice)
1999
Series
Family Guy
Priest / Father Raccoon (voice)
1999
Series
Family Guy
White Guy (voice)
1999
Series
Family Guy
Target Manager / Veterinarian (voice)
1999
Series
Family Guy
Smarmy (voice)
1999
Series
Family Guy
Priest (voice)
1999
Series
Family Guy
Doug (voice)
1999
Series
Family Guy
Guy at Pool / Priest (voice)
1999
Series
Family Guy
Card Store Owner (voice)
1999
Series
Friends
Bob
1994
Series
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self - Guest
2014
Series
American Dad!
Doctor (voice)
2005
Series
American Dad!
(voice)
2005
Series
American Dad!
Valet / Borax Employee (voice)
2005
Series
American Dad!
Francine's Drinking Buddy (voice)
2005
Series
American Dad!
Book on Tape (voice)
2005
Series
American Dad!
Kidnapper (voice)
2005
Series
American Dad!
Dr. Moe Munney (voice)
2005
Series
American Dad!
James Garfield / Mint Worker (voice)
2005
Series
American Dad!
Co-Worker (voice)
2005
Series
American Dad!
James Garfield (voice)
2005
Series
American Dad!
Train Actor (voice)
2005
Series
American Dad!
Funeral Speaker (voice)
2005
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self - Various Characters
1975
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self - Cameo (uncredited)
1975
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self
1975
Series
Saturday Night Live
Tom Brokaw (voice)
1975
Series
Bob's Burgers
Warren Fitzgerald (voice)
2011
Series
Seinfeld
NBC Executive
1989
Series
Conan
Self
2010
Series
Conan
Book Signing
2010
Series
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Geoffrey Hoytsman
2013
Series
Glee
Mario
2009
Series
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
HOA Ambassador
2014
Series
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
(voice)
2014
Series
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Hank
2000
Series
The Tom and Jerry Show
Narrator (voice)
2014
Series
The Goldbergs
Harrison Whitby
2013
Series
Fallout
Overseer Benjamin
2024
Series
Gravity Falls
Additional Voices (voice)
2012
Series
Gravity Falls
Host (voice)
2012
Series
BoJack Horseman
Klaus / News Reporter (voice)
2014
Series
Robot Chicken
Scooter / Major Nelson (voice)
2005
Series
30 Rock
Dr. Leo Spaceman
2006
Series
black-ish
Dean Parker
2014
Series
My Adventures with Superman
Agent Slade Wilson (voice)
2023
Series
Archer
Cyril Figgis (voice)
2009
Series
Archer
Siegbert Fuchs (voice)
2009
Series
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest
1993
Series
Love, Death & Robots
The Cat (voice)
2019
Series
Love, Death & Robots
Sanchez (voice)
2019
Film
The Dink
Neil
2026
Series
Eureka
Dr. Noah Drummer
2006
Series
Murphy Brown
1988
Series
Rock, Paper, Scissors
Parchment Paper (voice)
2024
Series
Childrens Hospital
Ron Pippin
2008
Film
Stop! That! Train!
Conductor Davenport
2026
Series
WordGirl
2007
Series
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Junior
2015
Series
grown-ish
Dean Burt Parker
2018
Series
The Hawk
Anton Floyd
2026
Series
Caroline in the City
Gene
1995
Series
Elena of Avalor
Migs (voice)
2016
Series
Workaholics
Bruce Benson
2011
Series
Dawn of the Croods
Snoot / Dub (voice)
2015
Series
Dawn of the Croods
Snoot / Evil Egg (voice)
2015
Series
Dawn of the Croods
Snoot (voice)
2015
Series
Krapopolis
Ares (voice)
2023
Film
Hotel Transylvania
Mr. Fly (voice)
2012
Series
Fish Hooks
Announcer / Allibut (voice)
2010
Series
Comedy Bang! Bang!
Poseidon
2012
Series
Comedy Bang! Bang!
Stephendorff
2012
Series
Drunk History
Thomas Edison
2013
Series
Drunk History
Jim Bowie
2013
Series
Drunk History
King Charles II
2013
Series
Drunk History
Carl Sagan
2013
Series
Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!
Dustin Wallswreath / Jim McCoy / Cop (voice)
2015
Series
The Jamie Foxx Show
Director
1996
Series
Miracle Workers
God's Dad
2019
Series
Suburgatory
Fred Shay
2011
Series
Will & Grace
Dr. DiLorenzo
2017
Series
Close Enough
Ron (voice)
2020
Film
The Dictator
News Anchor
2012
Film
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation
Stan / Fish Man (voice)
2018
Series
T.U.F.F. Puppy
Caped Cod (voice)
2010
Series
Name That Tune
Self - Contestant
2021
Series
The Hughleys
Rick
1998
Series
Match Game
Self - Panelist
2016
Series
Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: An Almost History of America
Benjamin Franklin
2026
Film
Hotel Transylvania 2
Fly (voice)
2015
Series
Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero
Judge Blort Clooney (voice)
2014
Series
Ed
DJ Curtis Morris
2000
Film
21 Jump Street
Mr. Gordon
2012
Series
The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show
Mr. Peabody (voice)
2015
Film
Turbo
Announcer #2 (voice)
2013
Series
Another Period
Dr. Sigmund Freudas
2015
Series
The $100,000 Pyramid
Self
2016
Series
Great News
Gerald
2017
Film
Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween
Walter
2018
Film
Home Sweet Home Alone
Uncle Stu
2021
Series
Glenn Martin, DDS
2009
Series
Ask the Storybots
2016
Series
Better Off Ted
Walter
2009
Series
Suddenly Susan
Waiter
1996
Series
Suddenly Susan
Phil
1996
Film
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Garth Holliday
2004
Series
Dogs in Space
Ed (voice)
2021
Series
Breaking Bear
Dwight Salter / Governor Jim Cummings / Shooter (voice)
2026
Series
Good Hang with Amy Poehler
Self - Guest
2025
Film
Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers
Dave Bollinari (voice)
2022
Film
Jingle All the Way
Toy Store Sales Clerk
1996
Series
Adam Ruins Everything
2015
Series
Love Bites
Chad Banks (segment "A Sexual Haunting")
2011
Series
Bajillion Dollar Propertie$
Walton Rothchild
2016
Series
Hope and Gloria
Howard
1995
Series
SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night
Self
2025
Film
Senior Year
Jim Conway
2022
Series
Marvel's M.O.D.O.K.
Alvin Healy / Tenpin (voice)
2021
Film
Hot Rod
Barry Pasternack
2007
Series
The Life & Times of Tim
William (voice)
2008
Film
Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again
Washington (voice)
2022
Film
The Laundromat
Doomed Gringo #2
2019
Series
Benched
Mitch
2014
Film
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
Garth Holliday
2013
Series
Bad Judge
Douglas Riller
2014
Film
Barely Legal
Mr. Ronald Greitzer
2003
Series
Garfunkel and Oates
Stan
2014
Series
Oh My God... Yes! A Series of Extremely Relatable Circumstances
Ted (voice)
2025
Film
The Ridiculous 6
Bank Manager
2015
Series
Happy Together
Wayne
2018
Film
The Five-Year Engagement
Bill
2012
Film
Sisters
Phil
2015
Film
Escape from Planet Earth
Hammer (voice)
2013
Series
Rhett & Link's Buddy System
Vice Chairman
2016
Film
Life of the Party
Mr. Truzack (Wayne)
2018
Film
Lorne
Narrator
2026
Series
The Spoils Before Dying
Bebop Jones
2015
Film
Down with Love
TV Emcee
2003
Film
Battle of the Sexes
DJ
2017
Series
TV Funhouse
James Brolin (voice)
2000
Film
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
Theo
2007
Film
Finding ʻOhana
Brown
2021
Series
Union Square
Don
1997
Series
Mad Love
Officer Barrett
2011
Film
Paper Man
Peter
2009
Film
Labor Pains
Jerry Steinwald
2009
Series
Dummy
Agent Chett
2020
Series
Conrad Bloom
Simpson
1998
Film
Elena and the Secret of Avalor
Migs (voice)
2016
Series
Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday
2008
Series
Miss Guided
Bruce Terry
2008
Film
Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie
Garth Holliday
2004
Series
Alien News Desk
2019
Film
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
Self (archive footage)
2025
Film
Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice
Mr. Thistleton (voice)
2011
Film
The Grand
Harold Melvin
2007
Film
I'm Reed Fish
Ralph
2007
Film
The Ladies Man
Phil Swanson
2000
Film
A Loud House Christmas Movie: Naughty or Nice
Gerald (voice)
2025
Film
I Am Woman
Artie Mogull
2020
Film
Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special
Dr. Vince Harbert
2017
Film
Our Little Secret
Veterinarian
2024
Series
Big Lake
Chris Henkel
2010
Film
SNL50: The Homecoming Concert
Self
2025
Wake
Film
Kung Fu Magoo
Cole Fusion / Ninja (voice)
2010
Film
Harold
Coach Vanderpool
2008
Film
WordGirl: The Rise of Miss Power
2012
Film
The Last Laugh
Charlie Green
2019
Film
The Women of SNL
Various (archive footage)
2010
Film
Kabluey
Frank
2007
Series
I Just Want My Pants Back
JB
2011
Film
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend
Junior
2020
Film
Eavesdrop
Terrence
2008
Series
Highston
Wilbur Liggetts
2015
Film
Evil Alien Conquerors
Du-ug
2003
Film
Hot Mess Holiday
Mike
2021
Film
Ira & Abby
Dr. Ronald Silverberg
2006
Film
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Amy Poehler
Edward Turlington (archive footage)
2009
Film
Elena of Avalor: Realm of the Jaquins
Migs (voice)
2017
Farm Sluts
Larry
2003
Film
Hollywood & Wine
Peter West
2011
Saturday Night Live in the 2000s: Time and Again
Self
2010
Film
Slice
Mayor Tracy
2018
Film
Break Point
Jay LaRoche
2014
Film
Answer This!
Brian Collins
2011
Film
The Better Half
Daniel
2015
Film
Austin Found
Alan Dickinson
2017
Crohnie
Film
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Will Ferrell
Self / Various (archive footage)
2002
Film
Jeff Dunham: Unhinged in Hollywood
Self
2015
Film
Mimics
Jack Conrad
2026
Film
Shadows on the Wall
Charlie
1986
Film
AJ's Infinite Summer
Dad (voice)
2014
Film
The Dogfather
Brian Franks
2010
Film
In Fidelity
Lyle Ayker
2024
Harry and the Mutant Mid-Century Furniture
Film
Sunny and Share Love You
Kevin Keith Baker
2007
Film
The Maya Rudolph Show
Self
2014
Film
Micro Budget
Toby
2026
Film
Looking for Kitty
Guy Borne
2004
Film
As We Know It
Ted Sommers
2023
Film
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Commercial Parodies
2006
Film
A Freezerburnt Christmas
2002
Film
Millennial Hunter
John (voice)
2023
Film
The Religetables
2002
Film
Yung Punx: A Punk Parable
therapist (voice)
2021