Chris Ellis (born April 14, 1956) is an American actor with parts in movies such as My Cousin Vinny and Days of Thunder as well as countless television programs.

Ellis always wanted to be an actor because of television. He grew up in the 50's in the deep south in a "world of privation and violence," but saw on television people who seemed to have lives of ease and privilege. On February 9th, 1964, when Chris was 7 years old, The Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show for the first time.

It took him seven years to finish college however, because "I have always been shiftless." During those years Chris became involved in community theatre in Memphis, where "I did and do still think the quality of the work has always been quite good." By the time he moved to New York, he had worked with many excellent actors in about two dozen plays, classical and contemporary. "I cannot imagine what might have supplanted that background for a newcomer in New York."

After working in regional theatre for a year or so, Chris fell off the radar screen and did not work for about ten years. During that time he lived in "bone-grinding poverty" in Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen. In one nine month period of 1987, Chris accepted 102 dinner invitations. "I don't know why they kept arriving, nor why I counted them, though I do know why I accepted them."

When Chris began working in film at age 40, he began for the first time to make a living as an actor. By then he was no longer in the flush of youth, and no longer had hair like "Algernon Swinburne, nor hips like two coconuts." Since then Chris has made a living playing character roles, "mostly southerners, men who snarl and vote for Republicans, and who work for NASA in Mission Control."

Chris Ellis (born February 11, 1985) is an American football defensive end. Collegiately, he played for the Virginia Tech Hokies. His senior year, he was a first team all-ACC selection.