CHRIS KLEIN (Gilly) is currently working on two projects: While reprising his role of 'Oz' in "American Pie II," the sequel to the smash comedy hit, Klein will also be shooting the Vietnam War picture "We Were Soldiers Once ... And Young" opposite Mel Gibson, Dylan Walsh, Barry Pepper and Madeline Stowe. Klein will portray Lt. Jack Georghegan, a devout Catholic whose wife just gave birth their first child. Set in 1965, the story centers around the men from the U.S. Air Cavalry, let by Lt. Col. Hal Moore (Gibson), who find themselves surrounded by enemy soldiers after being airlifted into a clearing in Vietnam's Ia Drang Valley. Both films are due in 2001.
Klein made his professional acting debut in Alexander Paynes award-winning satire, "Election." In the film, Klein co-starred opposite Matthew Broderick and Reese Witherspoon as Paul Metzler, a dimwitted football jock running for class president. For his role, Klein received a Chicago Film Critics nomination as Most Promising Newcomer. The film itself won this year's Independent Spirit Award as Best Picture, and was nominated for a best screenplay adaptation Oscar®.
Klein quickly followed this auspicious debut with a starring role in the 1999 box-office hit "American Pie," again playing a high school athlete who vows to lose his virginity before graduation. He then starred opposite Leelee Sobieski and Josh Hartnett in the romantic drama "Here on Earth," released by Twentieth Century Fox. Klein next stars director John MeTiernan's update of the 1975 Norman Jewison film, "Rollerball," which MGM releases on August 17th.
Born in the Chicago suburbs, Klein moved to Omaha at age thirteen. During his senior year at Millard West High School, Klein literally bumped into director Payne as he was scouting Klein's high school as a possible location for "Election." After an audition for Payne, and only four weeks into his first semester at Texas Christian University (where he is studying dramatic arts), he received the offer to star in Payne's comedy.
Prior to his role in "Election," Klein excelled as an outside linebacker for his high school football team while tackling roles in several school stage productions, including the role of Tony in "West Side Story."
Movie Database
In Theaters
(1 votes)
(16 votes)
(4 votes)
(34 votes)
(7 votes)
(73 votes)
(33 votes)