Chris Klein, Posessing the sort of apple-cheeked, translucent-skinned All-American wholesomeness that has made him a natural for the pretty boy jock roles which began his career, Chris Klein started a minor sensation after appearing in only two films. The actor, who is a testament to both good PR and the American appetite for all that is young, athletic, and bearing no discernible acne scars, was born in Chicago on March 14, 1979. After spending the first thirteen years of his life there, he moved with his family to Nebraska. It was while he was in high school that Klein was discovered by director Alexander Payne, who was busy casting his upcoming film, Election (1999). Klein won the role of Paul Metzler in Payne’s film, which opened to enthusiastic reviews. As Paul, Klein played the dim but sweet football player persuaded by Matthew Broderick’s Jim McAllister to run against the unopposed Tracy Flick (Reese Witherspoon) in the school’s student council election. Klein played a similar character in his next film, the 1999 summer smash American Pie. As Chris “Oz” Ostreicher, Klein was again seen as a sweetly dim high school jock, who, rather than wanting to win an election, channeled his energies toward losing his virginity. The success of the film was great enough to lead Klein to drop out of Texas Christian University (where he had been a freshman) to follow an acting career that had certainly gotten off to a serendipitous beginning. Filmography
United States of Leland, The (2002) …. Allan Hughes
We Were Soldiers (2002) …. 2nd Lieutenant Jack Geoghegan
Rollerball (2002) …. Jonathan Cross
… aka Rollerball (2002) (Germany)
American Pie 2 (2001) …. Chris ‘Oz’ Ostreicher
Say It Isn′t So (2001) …. Gilbert Noble
2000 MTV Movie Awards (2000) (TV) …. Presenter
Here on Earth (2000) …. Kelvin ‘Kelley′ Morse
Spotlight on Location: American Pie (1999) (TV) …. Himself
… aka Making of ‘American Pie’, The (1999) (TV) (USA: DVD title)
American Pie (1999) …. Chris ‘Oz’ Ostreicher
“WWF Smackdown!” (1999) TV Series …. Himself
… aka “Smackdown! Xtreme” (1999) (USA)
… aka “Vince MacMahon’s SmackDown!” (1999) (USA)
… aka “World Wrestling Federation Smackdown!” (1999) (USA)
Election (1999) …. Paul Metzler