Chris Bauer

Chris Bauer is an American actor whose versatile career spans over three decades, marked by a blend of gritty television roles, compelling film performances, and respected stage work. Born on October 28, 1966, in Los Angeles, California, he spent his formative years in the Bay Area, attending Miramonte High School in Orinda where he played on the 1984 state‑championship football team. After high school he pursued higher education at the University of San Diego, earned a Bachelor of Arts, and refined his craft at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts before graduating with a Master of Fine Arts from the prestigious Yale School of Drama. His early professional ventures included Broadway, notably portraying Mitch in A Streetcar Named Desire, and originating roles in productions by playwrights such as David Mamet, John Patrick Shanley, and Jez Butterworth, underscoring his solid theatrical foundation. Bauer’s television breakthrough arrived with the critically acclaimed HBO series The Wire, where his portrayal of port‑union boss Frank Sobotka earned industry praise, even though he originally auditioned for the iconic Jimmy McNulty. He subsequently cemented his TV reputation with regular roles on NBC’s Third Watch as Fred Yokas, a recurring detective on True Blood, and as Bobby Dwyer on HBO’s The Deuce. More recent highlights include playing astronaut Deke Slayton in Apple TV+’s For All Mankind and a gritty performance as Detective Tom Lange in American Crime Story. In film, Bauer has appeared in diverse projects ranging from the 1997 action classic Face/Off to the biopic The Notorious Bettie Page and the family‑friendly Tomorrowland. Off‑screen, he married Laura Bauer in 1997, and together they raise two children, balancing a busy acting schedule with family life. His enduring presence across mediums reflects a dedication to authentic storytelling and a reputation as a reliable character actor in contemporary American entertainment.