Christopher Wiehl

A steady primetime presence since 1995, actor Chris Wiehl had the kind of All-American good looks and dedicated work ethic that turned a college dream into reality. Armed with a B.F.A from the drama program at the University of Washington, Wiehl landed his first paying gig on an episode of NBC's military drama "JAG" (1995-2005), and made his film debut a few years later in the alcohol-soaked "Gunshy" (1998). A recurring role on the syndicated action series "Pensacola: Wings of Gold" (CBS, 1997-2000) led to a small but memorable part in 2000's "The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy," centered on a group of gay friends in West Hollywood. Wiehl kept the momentum going with a supporting turn as an EMT on "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (CBS, 2000-15), among numerous other one-off roles, and in 2010 he co-starred with Christine Taylor in the Hallmark Movie Channel's Christmas-themed romance "Farewell Mr. Kringle." His portrayal of an art gallery owner on "Switched at Birth" (ABC Family, 2011-17) proved another small but solid showcase for the veteran actor.

Born in Yakima, WA to a family of German and Danish descent, Chris Wiehl grew up in an atypical household; his father, Richard, was an FBI agent assigned to investigate the shooting of JFK. Not keen to follow in his father's footsteps, Wiehl earned a drama degree from the University of Washington. Wiehl made his TV debut in 1995 on "JAG," a military legal drama that later spawned the long-running "NCIS" (CBS, 2003- ) franchise. After jumping to the big-screen in "Gunshy," starring William Petersen, Wiehl touched down in a supporting role on "Pensacola: Wings of Gold" (Syndication, 1997-2000), set at a military training base in the Florida panhandle. A background appearance as simply "J. Crew Guy" in "The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy" offered another outlet for Wiehl's considerable good looks and low-key talent. Wiehl reunited with Petersen in 2001 when he was cast as an EMT on "CSI," and even enjoyed a romantic subplot with star Jorja Fox. A number of subsequent supporting roles on quickly-cancelled shows didn't deter Wiehl, though, in 2010 he appeared as Christine Taylor's small-town love interest in the family-friendly "Farewell Mr. Kringle." A year later Wiehl joined the cast of the Peabody Award-winning series "Switched at Birth" as a sensitive art gallery owner with designs on single mother Regina (Constance Marie).