Chris Messina

Christian Messina (born August 11, 1974) is an American actor. He is best known for starring as Danny Castellano in the series The Mindy Project (2012–2017), which earned him two nominations for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series.

Messina's film appearances include Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008), Julie & Julia (2009), Devil (2010), Argo (2012), Ruby Sparks (2012), Celeste and Jesse Forever (2012), Cake (2014), Birds of Prey (2020), I Care a Lot (2020), Call Jane (2022), Air (2023), and The Boogeyman (2023). Messina wrote, executive produced, and starred in the comedy film Fairhaven (2012). He also directed and starred in the drama film Alex of Venice (2014).

On television, Messina appeared as Ted Fairwell in the HBO drama series Six Feet Under (2005), Chris Sanchez in the Audience Network legal thriller series Damages (2011–2012), Reese Lansing in the HBO political drama series The Newsroom (2012–2014), Richard Willis in the HBO miniseries Sharp Objects (2018), Nick Haas in the USA Network crime drama series The Sinner (2020), Angelo Lano in the Starz political miniseries Gaslit (2022), and as Nathan Bartlett in the Peacock comedy thriller Based on a True Story (2023).

Early life and education Messina was raised in Northport, New York, on Long Island, where he studied theater in high school.

Career He studied acting privately with teachers around Manhattan, and started his career as an off-Broadway actor. He has appeared in episodes of the television series Law & Order, Third Watch, and Medium. He had a recurring role in the fifth and final season of the HBO drama series Six Feet Under as Ted Fairwell. His film credits include Rounders, The Siege, You've Got Mail, and Towelhead.

He starred in an HBO pilot Anatomy of Hope, directed by J. J. Abrams. Simon Callow also starred, but the pilot was not picked up to series. In October 2007, Daily Variety named him as one of ten actors to watch. He starred in Devil, under the direction of John Erick Dowdle and Drew Dowdle, for producer M. Night Shyamalan and Universal Pictures. In April 2010, Monogamy, directed by Dana Adam Shapiro and starring Messina and Rashida Jones, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, where the film won the jury prize for Best New York Narrative.

Messina joined the cast of Damages for its fourth and fifth seasons. He played a recurring character on HBO's The Newsroom. Messina was a series regular on the Fox/Hulu sitcom The Mindy Project, playing Dr. Danny Castellano, until his character was eventually phased out in seasons 4 and 5. He made his return in three episodes, including the season and series finale, in season 6.

In 2014, Messina played the role of a cheating spouse in the music video for Sam Smith's "I'm Not the Only One". That same year, he directed the independent drama, Alex of Venice, starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Don Johnson and Matthew Del Negro. He co-starred in Ben Affleck's crime drama Live by Night, which was released in December 2016. In 2018, Messina starred in a leading role alongside Amy Adams in the HBO series Sharp Objects.

In 2020, Chris Messina starred as mob killer Victor Zsasz in Birds of Prey. When asked how he felt about playing a twisted character, Messina replied, "I've played too many nice guys in my career. So it was like just really a lot of fun to let loose."

In 2021, Messina portrayed attorney Dean Ericson in the black comedy thriller I Care a Lot.

Personal life He was married to actress Rosemarie DeWitt for 12 years, divorcing in 2006.

Messina and his second wife Jennifer Todd have two sons.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1995 When Dating Turns Dangerous Zach Educational film 1998 Rounders Higgins Corporal You've Got Mail Fox Salesperson 2000 Turn It Up Baz 2001 Ordinary Sinner Silvio 2005 Road Larry Bittersweet Place Seymour Nephew 2006 Ira & Abby Ira Black 2007 Security Zelly Short film Towelhead Barry 2008 Humboldt County Max Made of Honor Dennis Vicky Cristina Barcelona Doug 2009 Brief Interviews with Hideous Men Subject #19 Away We Go Tom Garnett Julie & Julia Eric Powell 2010 Greenberg Philip Greenberg Monogamy Theo Devil Detective Bowden Ben Smith 2011 Like Crazy Mike Appletree NJ 2012 Celeste and Jesse Forever Paul 28 Hotel Rooms Man Also executive producer Tim Fairhaven Dave Also writer and executive producer Denise Brad Short film Ruby Sparks Harry Weir-Fields Argo Malinov 2013 Palo Alto Mitch 2014 Narrator Short film Showing Up Himself Documentary Alex of Venice George Also director Manglehorn Jacob Cake Jason 2015 Digging for Fire Billy T 2016 Ordinary World Jake Live by Night Dion Bartolo The Sweet Life Kenny 2017 Blame Jeremy Woods 2019 The True Adventures of Wolfboy Denny 2020 Birds of Prey Victor Zsasz She Dies Tomorrow Jason Love Is Love Is Love Jack I Care a Lot Dean Ericson The Secrets We Keep Lewis Reid 2022 Call Jane Will Seth Dreamin' Wild Matt Sullivan 2023 Air David Falk The Boogeyman Will Harper I.S.S. Gordon Barrett 2024 Juror #2 Eric Resnik 2026 Pressure Irving P. Krick Post-production Lear Rex Duke of Cornwall Post-production Tumor Post-production

Television Year Title Role Notes 1995 Law & Order Tommy Bell Episode: "Rebels" 1996 Law & Order Kevin Turner Episode: "Homesick" 2000 Third Watch Charlie Episode: "History" 2001 Big Apple Ricky Episode: "A Ministering Angel" 2003 Law & Order Don Cushman Episode: "Suicide Box" 2005 Six Feet Under Ted Fairwell 6 episodes 2007 Medium Casey Edward Frank Episode: "The Whole Truth" 2011–2012 Damages Chris Sanchez 16 episodes 2012–2014 Reese Lansing 12 episodes 2012–2017 Dr. Daniel Castellano Main role (season 1–4)Recurring (season 5–6): 90 episodes 2018 Sharp Objects Detective Richard Willis Main role: 8 episodes 2019 Robot Chicken Various voices Episode: "Boogie Bardstown in: No Need, I Have Coupons" 2020 The Sinner Nick Haas Main role (season 3): 5 episodes 2022 Gaslit Agent Angelo Lano Recurring role: 4 episodes 2023–2024 Based on a True Story Nathan Bartlett Main role, Executive Producer (S2) TBA TBA Season 4

Stage Year Title Role Run Theater and production Notes 1997 Sidney Margolies/Charley/Ralph/Walter October 19, 1997 – unknown Signature Theatre Company atThe Peter Norton Space 1999 Director August 9–20, 1999 All Seasons Theatre Group atThe Ensemble Studio Theatre 1999 Refuge Nat November 18 – December 12, 1999 Playwright's Horizon Studio Theater 2000 Joe Buck March 27 – April 9, 2000 McGinn/Cazale Theater 2000 Frankie November 5 – December 16, 2000 The Flea Theater 2001 Tamicanfly C.J. January 17 – February 4, 2001 McGinn/Cazale Theater 2001 Blur Joey D'Amico May 17 – June 24, 2001 Manhattan Theater Club atNew York City Center Stage II 2001–02 Good Thing Bobby December 16, 2001 – January 6, 2002 The New Group atThe Theater at St. Clements Church 2002 This Thing of Darkness Abbey/Reef May 30 – June 16, 2002 Atlantic Theater Company atLinda Gross Theater 2002 Faster Skram September 8 – October 13, 2002 Rattlestick Theater 2002–03 Far Away Todd November 11, 2002 – January 18, 2003 New York Theatre Workshop 2003 Salome by Oscar Wilde:The Reading The Young Syrian(Captain of theGuard) April 30 – June 12, 2003 Ethel Barrymore Theater Broadway debutfor Messina 2003 St. Scarlet Director June 13 – July 12, 2003 Ontological Theater atSt. Mark's Church 2004 Motel Blues: Management Mike March 25 – April 11, 2004 Apartment 929 atGreenwich Street Theatre 2004 Treplev May 24–29, 2004 White Heron Theater company at Second Stage Theatre 2004 Trofimov August 11–22, 2004 Williamstown Theatre Festival at Adams Memorial Theater 2004 Late Night, Early Morning October 21–31, 2004 2004 Tribeca Theatre Festival

Awards and nominations