Chris Parnell

Chris Parnell

Acting
Born 1967-02-05Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Biography

​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).

Movies (85)

Hotel Transylvania
7.0

Hotel Transylvania

2012Movie7.0
Stop! That! Train!
5.2

Stop! That! Train!

2026Movie5.2
21 Jump Street
6.9

21 Jump Street

2012Movie6.9
Hotel Transylvania 2
6.8

Hotel Transylvania 2

2015Movie6.8
The Dictator
6.2

The Dictator

2012Movie6.2
The Dink
6.2

The Dink

2026Movie6.2
Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation
6.8

Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation

2018Movie6.8
Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers
7.0

Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers

2022Movie7.0
Turbo
6.3

Turbo

2013Movie6.3
Home Sweet Home Alone
4.8

Home Sweet Home Alone

2021Movie4.8
Lorne
6.9

Lorne

2026Movie6.9
The Laundromat
6.0

The Laundromat

2019Movie6.0
Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween
6.1

Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween

2018Movie6.1
Jingle All the Way
6.1

Jingle All the Way

1996Movie6.1
SNL50: The Homecoming Concert
6.8

SNL50: The Homecoming Concert

2025Movie6.8
Escape from Planet Earth
5.8

Escape from Planet Earth

2013Movie5.8
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
6.7

Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy

2004Movie6.7
The Five-Year Engagement
5.8

The Five-Year Engagement

2012Movie5.8
Hot Rod
6.4

Hot Rod

2007Movie6.4
Battle of the Sexes
6.8

Battle of the Sexes

2017Movie6.8
Down with Love
6.1

Down with Love

2003Movie6.1
Sisters
6.0

Sisters

2015Movie6.0
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
6.1

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues

2013Movie6.1
Life of the Party
6.1

Life of the Party

2018Movie6.1
Senior Year
5.9

Senior Year

2022Movie5.9
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story
6.6

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

2007Movie6.6
Finding ʻOhana
6.2

Finding ʻOhana

2021Movie6.2
Barely Legal
5.9

Barely Legal

2003Movie5.9
Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again
6.3

Night at the Museum: Kahmunrah Rises Again

2022Movie6.3
The Ridiculous 6
5.2

The Ridiculous 6

2015Movie5.2
Paper Man
6.3

Paper Man

2009Movie6.3
The Grand
5.8

The Grand

2007Movie5.8
Labor Pains
5.4

Labor Pains

2009Movie5.4
A Loud House Christmas Movie: Naughty or Nice
6.7

A Loud House Christmas Movie: Naughty or Nice

2025Movie6.7
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Amy Poehler
7.7

Saturday Night Live: The Best of Amy Poehler

2009Movie7.7
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend
6.4

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt: Kimmy vs. the Reverend

2020Movie6.4
Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice
7.0

Prep & Landing: Naughty vs. Nice

2011Movie7.0
Our Little Secret
6.2

Our Little Secret

2024Movie6.2
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Will Ferrell
7.8

Saturday Night Live: The Best of Will Ferrell

2002Movie7.8
The Women of SNL
5.2

The Women of SNL

2010Movie5.2
Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie
6.0

Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie

2004Movie6.0
An SNL Thanksgiving

An SNL Thanksgiving

2024Movie
Elena and the Secret of Avalor
7.3

Elena and the Secret of Avalor

2016Movie7.3
The Ladies Man
5.4

The Ladies Man

2000Movie5.4
Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special
6.1

Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special

2017Movie6.1
Kabluey
6.1

Kabluey

2007Movie6.1
Saturday Night Live in the 2000s: Time and Again

Saturday Night Live in the 2000s: Time and Again

2010Movie
Kung Fu Magoo
4.9

Kung Fu Magoo

2010Movie4.9
Answer This!
4.3

Answer This!

2011Movie4.3
WordGirl: The Rise of Miss Power

WordGirl: The Rise of Miss Power

2012Movie
Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music
7.7

Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music

2025Movie7.7
I'm Reed Fish
5.6

I'm Reed Fish

2007Movie5.6
I Am Woman
6.2

I Am Woman

2020Movie6.2
Farm Sluts
5.0

Farm Sluts

2003Movie5.0
The Last Laugh
5.4

The Last Laugh

2019Movie5.4
The Better Half
2.8

The Better Half

2015Movie2.8
Break Point
5.8

Break Point

2014Movie5.8
Jeff Dunham: Unhinged in Hollywood
6.4

Jeff Dunham: Unhinged in Hollywood

2015Movie6.4
Austin Found
5.5

Austin Found

2017Movie5.5
Slice
4.5

Slice

2018Movie4.5
Crohnie

Crohnie

Movie
Ira & Abby
5.6

Ira & Abby

2006Movie5.6
Eavesdrop
4.6

Eavesdrop

2008Movie4.6
Hollywood & Wine
3.7

Hollywood & Wine

2011Movie3.7
Harold
5.6

Harold

2008Movie5.6
Micro Budget
8.0

Micro Budget

2026Movie8.0
Mimics
5.0

Mimics

2026Movie5.0
The Dogfather
3.2

The Dogfather

2010Movie3.2
Evil Alien Conquerors
5.6

Evil Alien Conquerors

2003Movie5.6
Sunny and Share Love You

Sunny and Share Love You

2007Movie
Hot Mess Holiday
6.0

Hot Mess Holiday

2021Movie6.0
Wake

Wake

Movie
As We Know It
6.4

As We Know It

2023Movie6.4
Harry and the Mutant Mid-Century Furniture

Harry and the Mutant Mid-Century Furniture

Movie
Elena of Avalor: Realm of the Jaquins

Elena of Avalor: Realm of the Jaquins

2017Movie
AJ's Infinite Summer
6.7

AJ's Infinite Summer

2014Movie6.7
In Fidelity
5.2

In Fidelity

2024Movie5.2
The Maya Rudolph Show
5.0

The Maya Rudolph Show

2014Movie5.0
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Commercial Parodies
6.8

Saturday Night Live: The Best of Commercial Parodies

2006Movie6.8
Looking for Kitty
4.8

Looking for Kitty

2004Movie4.8
A Freezerburnt Christmas

A Freezerburnt Christmas

2002Movie
Millennial Hunter
4.8

Millennial Hunter

2023Movie4.8
Shadows on the Wall
9.0

Shadows on the Wall

1986Movie9.0
Yung Punx: A Punk Parable

Yung Punx: A Punk Parable

2021Movie
The Religetables

The Religetables

2002Movie

TV Shows (91)

The Simpsons
8.0

The Simpsons

1989Series8.0
Family Guy
7.4

Family Guy

1999Series7.4
Rick and Morty
8.7

Rick and Morty

2013Series8.7
American Dad!
7.0

American Dad!

2005Series7.0
Friends
8.4

Friends

1994Series8.4
Late Night with Seth Meyers
5.1

Late Night with Seth Meyers

2014Series5.1
Saturday Night Live
6.9

Saturday Night Live

1975Series6.9
Bob's Burgers
7.8

Bob's Burgers

2011Series7.8
Conan
7.2

Conan

2010Series7.2
Robot Chicken
7.6

Robot Chicken

2005Series7.6
Seinfeld
8.3

Seinfeld

1989Series8.3
The Goldbergs
7.4

The Goldbergs

2013Series7.4
The Tom and Jerry Show
7.3

The Tom and Jerry Show

2014Series7.3
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
7.8

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

2014Series7.8
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
8.2

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

2013Series8.2
Gravity Falls
8.6

Gravity Falls

2012Series8.6
Curb Your Enthusiasm
8.1

Curb Your Enthusiasm

2000Series8.1
BoJack Horseman
8.5

BoJack Horseman

2014Series8.5
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
7.3

Late Night with Conan O'Brien

1993Series7.3
Glee
6.8

Glee

2009Series6.8
30 Rock
7.5

30 Rock

2006Series7.5
Murphy Brown
6.5

Murphy Brown

1988Series6.5
Fallout
8.1

Fallout

2024Series8.1
Archer
7.9

Archer

2009Series7.9
black-ish
7.1

black-ish

2014Series7.1
grown-ish
7.8

grown-ish

2018Series7.8
Love, Death & Robots
8.2

Love, Death & Robots

2019Series8.2
Childrens Hospital
6.9

Childrens Hospital

2008Series6.9
Eureka
7.7

Eureka

2006Series7.7
WordGirl
6.7

WordGirl

2007Series6.7
Comedy Bang! Bang!
6.3

Comedy Bang! Bang!

2012Series6.3
The Jamie Foxx Show
6.7

The Jamie Foxx Show

1996Series6.7
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
7.1

Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

2015Series7.1
Rock, Paper, Scissors
6.3

Rock, Paper, Scissors

2024Series6.3
Caroline in the City
6.6

Caroline in the City

1995Series6.6
Elena of Avalor
6.4

Elena of Avalor

2016Series6.4
Workaholics
7.4

Workaholics

2011Series7.4
Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!
8.0

Be Cool, Scooby-Doo!

2015Series8.0
Will & Grace
7.5

Will & Grace

2017Series7.5
My Adventures with Superman
8.1

My Adventures with Superman

2023Series8.1
Fish Hooks
6.5

Fish Hooks

2010Series6.5
Krapopolis
7.1

Krapopolis

2023Series7.1
The Hughleys
6.8

The Hughleys

1998Series6.8
Dawn of the Croods
7.5

Dawn of the Croods

2015Series7.5
Miracle Workers
6.8

Miracle Workers

2019Series6.8
Drunk History
6.8

Drunk History

2013Series6.8
Suburgatory
6.7

Suburgatory

2011Series6.7
Close Enough
7.9

Close Enough

2020Series7.9
Name That Tune
6.9

Name That Tune

2021Series6.9
Match Game
6.4

Match Game

2016Series6.4
Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero
7.2

Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero

2014Series7.2
The $100,000 Pyramid
7.0

The $100,000 Pyramid

2016Series7.0
Bajillion Dollar Propertie$
6.0

Bajillion Dollar Propertie$

2016Series6.0
The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show
6.1

The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show

2015Series6.1
Good Hang with Amy Poehler
10.0

Good Hang with Amy Poehler

2025Series10.0
Another Period
6.8

Another Period

2015Series6.8
Ed
7.6

Ed

2000Series7.6
The Hawk
5.3

The Hawk

2026Series5.3
Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: An Almost History of America
5.5

Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness: An Almost History of America

2026Series5.5
Glenn Martin, DDS
6.7

Glenn Martin, DDS

2009Series6.7
Suddenly Susan
6.0

Suddenly Susan

1996Series6.0
Dogs in Space
7.6

Dogs in Space

2021Series7.6
T.U.F.F. Puppy
7.2

T.U.F.F. Puppy

2010Series7.2
Better Off Ted
7.6

Better Off Ted

2009Series7.6
Great News
6.6

Great News

2017Series6.6
The Life & Times of Tim
7.3

The Life & Times of Tim

2008Series7.3
Oh My God... Yes! A Series of Extremely Relatable Circumstances
7.7

Oh My God... Yes! A Series of Extremely Relatable Circumstances

2025Series7.7
Love Bites
6.3

Love Bites

2011Series6.3
Hope and Gloria
6.3

Hope and Gloria

1995Series6.3
Adam Ruins Everything
7.5

Adam Ruins Everything

2015Series7.5
Ask the Storybots
7.0

Ask the Storybots

2016Series7.0
SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night
8.0

SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night

2025Series8.0
Marvel's M.O.D.O.K.
6.7

Marvel's M.O.D.O.K.

2021Series6.7
Happy Together
7.1

Happy Together

2018Series7.1
Garfunkel and Oates
6.9

Garfunkel and Oates

2014Series6.9
Union Square
8.5

Union Square

1997Series8.5
Bad Judge
6.2

Bad Judge

2014Series6.2
Breaking Bear
6.7

Breaking Bear

2026Series6.7
Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday
6.6

Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday

2008Series6.6
Dummy
6.9

Dummy

2020Series6.9
Rhett & Link's Buddy System
7.0

Rhett & Link's Buddy System

2016Series7.0
TV Funhouse
6.8

TV Funhouse

2000Series6.8
Benched
6.9

Benched

2014Series6.9
The Spoils Before Dying
6.0

The Spoils Before Dying

2015Series6.0
Alien News Desk
3.8

Alien News Desk

2019Series3.8
Mad Love
5.5

Mad Love

2011Series5.5
Conrad Bloom
10.0

Conrad Bloom

1998Series10.0
I Just Want My Pants Back
5.4

I Just Want My Pants Back

2011Series5.4
Miss Guided
6.6

Miss Guided

2008Series6.6
Highston
7.0

Highston

2015Series7.0
Big Lake

Big Lake

2010Series