Christopher Nicholas Smith is an American actor and screenwriter, best known for portraying Dennis in the horror filmParanormal Activity 3 (2011) and for co-writing the romantic comedySacramento (2024).[1][2]Born on June 20, 1982, in Rockville Centre, New York, Smith began his acting career with early roles such as the Steak House Waiter in the drama Little Children (2006).[1][3] He attended the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University and trained at the Atlantic Theater Company Acting School in New York City.[3]Smith's breakthrough came with Paranormal Activity 3, where his performance as the boyfriend entangled in supernatural events contributed to the film's commercial success as part of the popular franchise.[1][4] He followed this with supporting roles, including Mike Rizzo in the political thriller The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2012) and the voice of Dougland in the animated comedy Storks (2016).[2][1] On television, he appeared in episodes of The Mindy Project (2012–2017) and the short-lived sitcom We Are Men (2013).[2][1]In addition to acting, Smith expanded into writing with Sacramento, a road-trip dramedy that received critical acclaim for its heartfelt storytelling and earned an 85% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[5][1] He has also featured in commercials and independent projects, such as Non-Transferable (2017), where he played Josh Merit.[6][2] Married to actress Rebecca Delgado Smith since 2009, he continues to work in both film and television.[1]
Early life and education
Early life
Christopher Nicholas Smith was born on June 20, 1982, in Rockville Centre, New York.[1]Smith was raised in Rockville Centre, where his family still resides, and developed an early passion for performing arts through local theater opportunities. His aunt, Kathy Smith, who runs the children's theater program Time to Shine at the Rockville Centre Recreation Center, played a key role in nurturing this interest during his childhood.[7]As a young student, Smith participated in school-related theater activities, which further sparked his enthusiasm for acting and comedy. These early experiences in Rockville Centre's community theater scene laid the foundation for his later pursuits in the performing arts.
Education
Smith attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where he pursued formal training in acting.[8][9]He also trained at the Atlantic Theater Company Acting School in New York City, honing his performance skills through intensive programs focused on practical acting techniques.[8][10]During his time at Tisch, Smith secured his first acting role in the short student film I Killed Zoe Day (2006), directed by Powell Weaver, where he portrayed the character Wyatt.[11] This early experience in a Tisch-produced project allowed him to apply classroom techniques in a collaborative production environment, contributing to the development of his on-screen presence as an actor and writer.[12]
Career
Early career and comedy
Christopher Nicholas Smith co-founded the sketch comedy troupe Harvard Sailing Team (HST) in September 2004 with his childhood friend Billy Scafuri, initially as a two-person writing team in New York City.[13] The group quickly expanded to nine members, most of whom were alumni of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, where Smith had participated in an intensive yearlong improvisation class that influenced the troupe's foundational style.[14] Smith and Scafuri served as the primary writers, with all members contributing ideas to sketches that blended absurd humor, character-driven scenarios, and improvisational elements.[14]Following his training at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and the Atlantic Theater Company Acting School, Smith took on a principal performing role in HST alongside his writing duties, helping to establish the troupe through early theater and improv performances across New York venues.[15] The group housed its shows at The Peoples Improv Theater (The PIT) starting in September 2006, presenting full-length productions such as Fall Recital and performing at notable spots including the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, Caroline’s on Broadway, and the New York Comedy Festival.[13] These outings honed Smith's skills in live sketch comedy, where he often portrayed exaggerated, relatable characters in ensemble pieces that emphasized timing and group dynamics. In 2008, HST was named "Best Sketch Comedy Group" by the East Coast Next Yorker (ECNY) Awards, recognizing their growing impact in the New York comedy scene.[13]Smith's entry into feature films came with a small role as a steak house waiter in the 2006 drama Little Children, directed by Todd Field, marking his first on-screen appearance in a major production.[16] This minor part provided an initial foothold in Hollywood while he continued developing his writing through HST's sketches, which evolved into polished scripts exploring themes of everyday absurdity and social satire.[17]
Film career
Smith's breakthrough in feature films came with his role as Dennis, the boyfriend of the protagonist, in the horror sequel Paranormal Activity 3 (2011), which grossed over $207 million worldwide and marked his first major on-screen appearance in a theatrical release.[18] In this found-footage thriller directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman, Smith's character becomes entangled in supernatural events, showcasing his ability to blend everyday relatability with escalating tension.Following this success, Smith expanded into more dramatic territory with supporting roles in The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2012), where he portrayed Mike Rizzo, a colleague in a high-stakes Wall Street firm, in Mira Nair's adaptation of Mohsin Hamid's novel exploring post-9/11 cultural tensions.[19] He then transitioned to lighter fare in Enough Said (2013), playing Hal, a massage client, in Nicole Holofcener's romantic comedy starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini, highlighting his comedic timing honed from earlier improv work.[20]Smith's film career continued to diversify with voice acting as Dougland, a jetpack-wearing chicken, in the animated family adventure Storks (2016), directed by Nicholas Stoller and Doug Sweetland, which earned praise for its humorous take on corporate satire.[21] In 2017, he took a lead role as Josh Merit in the romantic comedyNon-Transferable, directed by Sheila Tombe, where his character joins a spontaneous global trip after a breakup, emphasizing themes of serendipity and romance.[22]More recently, Smith appeared as Mark in the ensemble comedy Out of Office (2022), a workplacesatire directed by Paul Lieberstein, further solidifying his presence in feel-good cinematic narratives.[23] His evolution from horror supporting parts to romantic comedies and voice work reached a milestone in 2025 with co-writing the road-trip dramedy Sacramento, directed by and starring Michael Angarano, which premiered to positive reviews for its quirky exploration of friendship and self-discovery.[24]
Television career
Smith's television career spans guest appearances and recurring roles in a variety of comedy series, highlighting his ability to adapt to ensemble casts and improvisational scenarios. Early on, he made a guest appearance in the NBC sitcom 30 Rock in 2009, playing Tim Baker in the episode "Goodbye, My Friend." His background with the Harvard Sailing Team sketch comedy troupe, which he co-founded, informed his comfort with quick-witted, character-driven television formats. This foundation contributed to his versatility across episodic television, where he often portrayed relatable everyman figures that complemented the grounded realism of his film roles.In 2013, Smith guest-starred in The Mindy Project as Mike Menken, Mindy's aspiring rapper brother, in the episode "Mindy's Brother."[25] He also appeared in other notable series that year, including How I Met Your Mother as Strickland Stevens. Later, Smith took on a recurring guest role in the family comedy The Moodys, portraying Nick across six episodes in 2021, which allowed him to explore ongoing family dynamics in a serialized format. His television work during this period emphasized comedic timing in multi-camera setups, providing a contrast to the more narrative-driven demands of his film performances.Smith continued to build his television presence with additional guest spots, including Sickpig in Miracle Workers in 2023.[26] In 2024, he appeared in Curb Your Enthusiasm as Ron Harrington in the episode "Vertical Drop, Horizontal Tug." More recently, he featured in the FX series English Teacher as Brent Collins in 2024, demonstrating his ongoing adaptability in contemporary ensemble comedies. Looking ahead, Smith is set to appear in the 2025 Peacock series Running Point as Finn, further expanding his footprint in streaming television. These roles underscore his skill in blending humor with character nuance, enhancing the breadth of his acting portfolio beyond feature films.
Writing and producing
Smith served as the founder and head writer of the Harvard Sailing Team, a sketch comedy troupe he co-established in the early 2000s, where he contributed to numerous original sketches that gained popularity through live performances and online videos.[27] The group's collaborative writing process emphasized absurd, character-driven humor, with Smith's leadership helping to shape its distinctive style that blended Ivy League satire and improvisational elements.[13]In television, Smith worked as a staff writer on the Netflix series Friends from College, contributing to eight episodes across its second season in 2019.[28] His role involved developing storylines and dialogue for the ensemble comedy, which explored the complexities of adult friendships and relationships among Harvard alumni.[29]Smith expanded into feature film writing and producing with Sacramento (2025), co-writing the screenplay with director Michael Angarano and serving as a producer on the road-trip comedy starring Michael Cera and Kristen Stewart.[24] The film, which premiered in theaters on April 11, 2025, follows two estranged friends on a journey from Los Angeles to Sacramento, blending humor with themes of personal growth and reconciliation.[5]
Personal life
Marriage
Christopher Nicholas Smith married actress and writer Rebecca Delgado Smith in 2009.[1]The couple met through shared involvement in the New York comedy scene, particularly as members of the sketch comedy group Harvard Sailing Team, where they both performed and wrote material.[30]Rebecca Delgado Smith has built a career in television writing and producing, with notable credits including writer on Gordita Chronicles (2022) and The Big Show Show (2020), and producer on the reboot of Night Court (2023).[31] Their marriage has occasionally extended into professional collaborations, such as joint performances in comedy sketches.[30]
Family
Smith and his wife, Rebecca Delgado Smith, maintain privacy regarding their family life, with no public information on children.Professional commitments have led Smith to base his residence primarily in Los Angeles since around 2010, following his early career development in New York City, where he was born in Rockville Centre and educated. This relocation supports his work in film and television while maintaining a stable family unit away from the East Coast spotlight.[32]
Filmography
Film
Little Children (2006) as Steak House Waiter, directed by Todd Field[33]
Aquarium (2007) as Jared[1]
Paranormal Activity 3 (2011) as Dennis, directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman[18]
Another Psycho (2010) as Chris Burns[1]
The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2012) as Mike Rizzo, directed by Mira Nair[19]
Enough Said (2013) as Hal - Massage Client, directed by Nicole Holofcener[20]
Storks (2016) as Dougland (voice), directed by Nicholas Stoller and Doug Sweetland[21]
Non-Transferable (2017) as Josh Merit, directed by Bennett Yellin[22]
Good on Paper (2021) as Director, directed by Kimmy Gatewood[34]
Television
Smith's television acting credits span guest appearances, recurring roles, and series regulars across comedy series.
2008–2010: Mayne Street as Chris (12 episodes)[35]
2009: 30 Rock as Tim Baker (1 episode: "Goodbye, My Friend")[36]
2010: Fake It Til You Make It as Darren Kernin (5 episodes)[37]
2011: The Office as Credit Card Guy (1 episode)[3]
2024: Curb Your Enthusiasm as Ron Harrington (1 episode: "Vertical Drop, Horizontal Tug")
2025: Running Point as Finn (recurring role)[29]
Writing credits
Christopher Nicholas Smith's writing credits span sketch comedy, television, and film. In his early career, he served as head writer for the Harvard Sailing Teamsketch comedy troupe, contributing to various sketches including "Boys Will Be Girls" (2010).[43]He worked as a staff writer on the Netflix series Friends from College (2017–2019), credited on 8 episodes.[28]Smith co-wrote and produced the feature filmSacramento (2025).