Chris Zylka


Chris Zylka is an American actor and model, known for his television roles as Jake Armstrong in The CW's The Secret Circle and Tom Garvey in HBO's The Leftovers. He has appeared in films Shark Night, The Amazing Spider-Man and Freaks of Nature.

Early life

Zylka was born and raised in Howland Township, Ohio, U.S. He took his mother's maiden name, Zylka, as a stage name. Zylka was raised by his mother and he has never met his biological father.
He graduated from Howland High School in 2003. Zylka studied Art at the University of Toledo for two years, but dropped out to care for his maternal grandfather when he suddenly became ill. “My grandfather is from Ukraine, and when I was caring for him he turned me on to Stanislavski, Chekhov, and all these amazing Russian artists. I was completely blown away," he said in 2015.
At the age of 19, he relocated to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting. He was homeless for six months upon arriving to Los Angeles and lived in his car in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven in Burbank. Zylka described this time in his life by saying: "For about six months I lived in a ‘94 Ford Probe behind a 7-11 parking lot. I wound up leaving it in the lot because it wouldn't start anymore, and it just kind of became my home. I think that's where my naivety helped or I was just being stupid! I had this adolescent mind telling me everything was going to be okay, and it was. I’ve been very fortunate." Zylka began working at restaurants, where he was discovered by manager and acting coach Jon Simmons.

Career

Acting

Zylka began his acting career with a guest appearance as Jason on the teen drama television series 90210 in 2008. He was cast in a recurring role in Everybody Hates Chris and had guest roles in television shows Hannah Montana, Cougar Town and Zeke and Luther. In 2009, Zylka landed a sixteen-episode recurring role as Joey Donner in sitcom 10 Things I Hate About You. Zylka began to move into films around this time, appearing in the comedy film The People I've Slept With and the horror television film My Super Psycho Sweet 16. Zylka would later reprise this role in the sequel, . He portrayed Thor in the mystery comedy film Kaboom, which premiered at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.
Zylka starred in two animal-attack-themed films, Shark Night and Piranha 3DD. Zylka portrayed Flash Thompson in the superhero film The Amazing Spider-Man. He played the role of Jake Armstrong in The CW's supernatural drama television series The Secret Circle. He had a leading role as Kermit in the crime drama film Dixieland. The film centers around good-hearted Kermit, who just got out of prison and returns home to Mississippi.
He played Tom Garvey in HBO's The Leftovers from 2014 to 2017. He portrayed Alex Lachan in Lifetime's television film I Killed My BFF. The film is inspired by a true story, the murder of Anne Marie Camp by Jamie Dennis and her husband, Michael Gianakos, in Minnesota in 1997. He played Chuck Harris in the drama film Novitiate. The film received generally positive reviews from critics and fans. In 2018, he directed Paris Hilton's music video for the song "I Need You". He portrayed Will Jefford Jr. in the drama film The Death and Life of John F. Donovan, released in September 2018. By April 2019, Zylka has been cast in a recurring role in USA Network's upcoming television series Dare Me. The series follows the lives of competitive high school cheerleaders in a small Midwestern town. On May 29, 2019, talent agency ICM Partners announced that they have signed Zylka.He appeared in a short film Sorry or What Could Have Been opposite Paris Hilton.

Modeling

Early in his career, Zylka appeared in an advertising campaign for Abercrombie & Fitch, shot by photographer Bruce Weber. He has appeared on the cover of several magazines, including Wonderland, Glamoholic and Bello.

Art

He enjoys painting and is also an artist. Zylka started artmaking when he was nine years old. He described his art often coming from "a darker place”. He launched his first art exhibition titled "Why Use A Name" at Pikes Hotel in Ibiza, Spain in August 2018.

Personal life

Zylka was engaged to DVF brand ambassador and model Hanna Beth Merjos in April 2014. The couple called off the engagement and broke up in early 2015. Zylka became engaged to heiress and television personality Paris Hilton in January 2018. He proposed to her with a ring worth US$2 million during a vacation in Aspen, after one year of dating. The couple called off the engagement in November 2018.
He has several tattoos, including a tattoo that says “Mom” in a heart and "an angel gone bad".

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes2008–201390210JasonEpisodes: "Games People Play", "We're Not Not in Kansas Anymore"
2008Everybody Hates ChrisVarious characters3 episodes----
2009Hannah MontanaGabe LamottiEpisodes: "Knock Knock Knockin' on Jackson's Head", "Promma Mia"----
2009–201010 Things I Hate About YouJoey Donner16 episodes
Nominated–TV Guide Award for Best Ensemble 		----
2009Cougar TownBJEpisode: "Pilot"----
2009My Super Psycho Sweet 16Brigg JennerTelevision film----
2009–2010Zeke and LutherDoyce Plunk3 episodes----
2010'Brigg JennerTelevision film----
2011Teen SpiritNick RamseyTelevision film----
2011–2012The Secret CircleJake Armstrong17 episodes----
2012'Brigg JennerUncredited; television film----
2013TwistedTyler Lewis4 episodes----
2013BloodlineTroy RobbinsTelevision film----
2014–2017The LeftoversTom GarveyMain cast----
2015I Killed My BFFAlex LachanTelevision film----
2019–2020Dare MeCorporal KurtzRecurring role----