Chris Pine

CHRIS PINE

Stepping into the shoes of another actor’s signature role can never be easy -- especially when the shoes belong to William Shatner, and the role is Captain James T. Kirk -- but Chris Pine seems up to the challenge.

Christopher “Chris” Whitelaw Pine was born on August 26th, 1980 in Los Angeles, California.  His mother, Gwynne Gilford, is a former actress and now a practicing psychotherapist; his father is actor Robert Pine, best known for his role as Sgt. Joseph Getraer on the NBC television series CHiPS (1977 - 1983).

Though Chris earned a degree in English from the University of California at Berkeley, he has always gravitated toward acting.  After some TV work in the early 2000s -- ER, The Guardian, CSI: Miami -- he made his feature film debut in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement opposite Anne Hathaway.  More TV work followed (Six Feet Under, Surrender Dorothy), until he got another break with the feature Just My Luck, with Lindsay Lohan.  Chris came away from that movie better off than his costar, whose very publicized troubles were just beginning.  He followed that film with roles in Blind Dating, Smokin’ Aces, Carriers, and Bottle Shock.

Chris got his biggest break when producer/director J.J. Abrams cast him to play young James Tiberius Kirk in his reboot of Star Trek, to be released in May 2009.  Months before the film has even been released, Chris has received much praise from his fellow actors (including Leonard Nimoy), and those fortunate few, like Kevin Smith, who have seen an early cut of the film.

Hang on tight, Chris – you’re about to go where only one man has gone before.

Up next (after Star Trek): Small Town Saturday Night, Smokin Aces: Blowback, and Killing Pablo