Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Chris Parnell enrolled at Germantown High School where he took drama and auditioned for every play. In 1985, when he was a senior at Germantown, he was voted "Most Talented" by his classmates. Right after graduating high school, Chris attended North Carolina School of Arts in Winston-Salem, where he recieved his BFA in Drama. He later performed with the Berkshire Theatre in Stockbridge, Massachusetts, and the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas. Afterwards Chris moved back to Tennessee and taught acting, film and video at his own Germantown High School. He became bored however with teaching and moved to Los Angeles. Once in LA he got a job at FAO Schwartz in Beverly Center, where he eventually became Operations Manager. During that time Chris began taking classes at The Groundlings Main Company, where many SNL cast members are discovered. Fate would have it that talent scouts from SNL saw him and asked him to fly to New York for an audition. Completely surprised by his chances he took the offer. To his amazment son after he joined SNL 25 and became a featured player in the 98-99 season. Parnell has since performed many impressions as NBC News' Tom Brokaw, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Tom Hanks, Senator John McCain, and Eminem. Parnell has also appeared as a member of SNLs resident boy band "Seven Degrees Celsius" but his biggest claim to fame on the show was when he performed an unforgettable hardcore gansta rap fantasizing about a dream date with Britney Spears on Weekend Update. He spends most of his summers in L.A. where he owns his own car and apartment.


Has a sister. As of April 2002, has yet to break character on "Saturday Night Live" (1975). Auditioned for every play in high school and was voted most talented in his class. Returned to "Saturday Night Live" (1975) on March 2, 2002, for the Jonny Moseley/Outkast episode. Began playing George W. Bush on "Saturday Night Live" (1975) on October 12, 2002. Became friends with Fred Willard after working with him on Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004). Donated money to Howard Dean's presidential campaign. He then switched to Senator John Kerry when Kerry became the front-runner. Said "Live From New York, It's Saturday Night" for the first time on only his sixth episode of "Saturday Night Live" (1975). The first "Saturday Night Live" (1975) sketch that he wrote that made it on the air was a commercial parody of the musical "Cats.". On some occasions, he will wind up doing more voice-overs for an "Saturday Night Live" (1975) episode than actual on-camera appearances. Frequently played Will Ferrell's brother in various "Saturday Night Live" (1975) sketches due to their facial resemblance. Has impersonated "Saturday Night Live" (1975) announcer Don Pardo on at least one occasion when Pardo was too ill to announce the opening credits. Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan tried to get him his job back shortly after he had been fired, but to no avail. It would later take Ferrell being off filming Old School (2003) and Darrell Hammond in rehab to get Lorne Michaels to change his mind. His firing/rehiring has been a frequent running gag on "Saturday Night Live" (1975). In one sketch, it was said that "Will Ferrell had him fired so he could get his brother Patty Ferrell (Patrick Farrell) on the show!" In a song that Chris himself sang, he said, "Lorne liked me so much that he hired me twice!". An expert at stage-fighting, so he has frequently beaten up and killed in "Saturday Night Live" (1975) sketches. He has been beaten up by Dwayne Johnson, Paul Levesque, Mick Foley, Mick Foley, and Jackie Chan. He has been killed by Christopher Walken, Robert De Niro, and Will Ferrell, among others. His favorite film is Chariots of Fire (1981) favorite television show "Twin Peaks" (1990) and favorite book "The Selected Poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke.". Enjoys shopping at The Gap. Frequently wears plaid. Decided to pursue a career in comedy after performing in the play "Greater Tuna" while in high school. He and his friend Dan McLeary each played ten different comedic characters. Good friends with Ron Livingston and Lauren Graham. The character of Brick Tamland, the mentally retarded weather man, in 'Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy' (2004) was written by Will Ferrell and Adam McKay with Parnell in mind. Steve Carell ultimately took the role, so they gave Parnell the part of the overly-sensitive stage producer Garth Holliday instead.