Chris Bashinelli

Christopher Stephen Peter “Bash” Bashinelli is an American actor, producer, explorer, and television host. He is best known as the executive producer and host of the television series, Bridge the Gap, which currently airs on PBS and the National Geographic channel. Bashinelli is also known for being one of the youngest people to ever moderate an event at the United Nations General Assembly Hall.

Early life Christopher Bashinelli was born on November 10, 1986, to Stephen and Florence Bashinelli, who are, respectively, of Italian and Lebanese descent. Chris was born and raised in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York and attended Xaverian High School. He attended Marymount Manhattan College and graduated in 2008 with a BA in Theatre Arts.

Acting career Bashinelli has appeared on television (The Sopranos, 2007) and in several films: How to Grow a Fig Tree (2007), Knock Knock (2007), Last Day of Summer (2009), Good Shot Bash (2009), Take Off (2009), and All Screwed Up (2009).

United Nations In 2010 Bashinelli moderated the Launch of the International Year of Youth in the United Nations General Assembly Hall with the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon. In 2011, at 24 years old, Bashinelli became the youngest male to moderate the United Nations International Day of Peace.

Following the completion of Bridge the Gap: Tanzania, Bashinelli launched the production company Bridge the Gap TV. Bridge the Gap TV focuses on telling the stories of everyday life in a positive way from areas around the world that often receive negative media attention.

Bridge the Gap TV has produced four episodes of the Bridge the Gap series in addition to Tanzania that are currently airing on PBS ” Bashinelli used his grant to help fund Bridge the Gap to Mongolia, where he lived as a nomad.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 2006 Break the Addiction: An Inconvenient Truth Himself TV documentary 2007 Knock Knock Tommy Movie 2007 How to Grow a Fig Tree Michael Short Movie 2007 The Sopranos Kevin Episode: "Kennedy and Heidi" 2009 Last Day of Summer Skateboarder Movie 2009 Take Off (2009 short film) Ernie Short Movie 2009 Bridge the Gap: Tanzania (Pilot) Himself Executive producer, TV Documentary 2011 Bridge the Gap to Uganda Himself Executive producer, TV Documentary 2012 Bridge the Gap to Pine Ridge Himself Executive producer, TV Documentary