Chris Geere is an English actor known for his work across British television, American comedy, feature films and voice acting. His full name is Christopher William Geere, and he was born on 18 March 1981 in Cambridge, England.
He became widely recognised for playing Jimmy Shive-Overly in the comedy series You’re the Worst. He also played Matt Wilding in Waterloo Road, Roger Clifford in Pokémon Detective Pikachu and Philip in This Is Us. His career has developed across several types of entertainment. From theatre and school dramas to major American productions, he has built a reputation for playing confident, complicated and often humorous characters.
Chris Geere Age, Birthplace and Background
Born in Cambridge, Chris Geere grew up in the Winchester area of Hampshire. His early years in Hampshire shaped his connection with southern England, although his professional life later took him to Manchester and the United States. He is 45 years old in 2026. His career has lasted more than two decades, with his first screen work arriving in the early 2000s. Although he keeps many private family details away from the public eye, his professional background is well established. He trained seriously as an actor before building a successful career in television and film.
Education and Acting Training
Chris Geere attended Perins School before continuing his studies at the Guildford School of Acting. The drama school has trained many respected performers and gave him a strong foundation in theatre, movement, voice and character work.
His training helped him develop a flexible performance style. He has since worked in classical theatre, television comedy, school drama, feature films, animation and fantasy productions. This wide range of experience has allowed him to move comfortably between British and American entertainment. His performances often combine sharp humour with emotional tension.
Chris Geere Early Theatre Career
Before becoming familiar to television audiences, he worked in theatre. One of his important early achievements was performing with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He appeared in All’s Well That Ends Well, a Shakespeare production that also featured Dame Judi Dench. Working beside an established stage performer gave him valuable professional experience at an early stage of his career. Theatre helped him build the discipline required for screen acting. It also strengthened his ability to deliver dialogue clearly, create believable characters and maintain focus during demanding performances.
Early Television Roles
His first television credits came during the early 2000s. He appeared in programmes such as Band of Brothers, Casualty, The Bill, Trust and Adventure Inc. He later took roles in Family Affairs, Bombshell, EastEnders, Hollyoaks and Holby City. These early appearances gave him experience in different formats and helped him develop a strong television presence. He also worked in Doctors, Pete Versus Life, Trollied, The Spa, Death in Paradise and Outnumbered. These productions allowed him to show both dramatic ability and comic timing.
Chris Geere in Waterloo Road
One of his most important British roles came in the BBC drama Waterloo Road. He played Matt Wilding, a music and drama teacher working at the troubled school. Matt was a creative teacher who became involved in the daily pressures faced by pupils and staff. The character added warmth, energy and a strong interest in the arts to the school environment. The role made him familiar to British television audiences. He later returned to the programme, making Matt Wilding one of his best-known early characters.
Why Waterloo Road Remains Important
Waterloo Road focused on education, family relationships, teenage challenges and staff pressures. Its mixture of serious storylines and personal drama helped it build a loyal audience. His performance connected with the programme’s focus on teachers who tried to support young people during difficult circumstances. The role also showed that he could make a supporting character memorable. For many viewers, Matt Wilding remains the role most strongly associated with his early British career.
Breakthrough in You’re the Worst
His international breakthrough came with You’re the Worst. He played Jimmy Shive-Overly, an English writer living in Los Angeles. Jimmy is intelligent, proud, sarcastic and emotionally difficult. He often behaves selfishly, yet the character also shows fear, vulnerability and a desire for genuine connection.
The series followed Jimmy’s complicated relationship with Gretchen Cutler, played by Aya Cash. Rather than presenting romance as perfect, the programme examined commitment, mental health, friendship, addiction and personal responsibility.
Jimmy Shive-Overly’s Appeal
The role required careful balance. Jimmy had to remain entertaining without becoming completely unlikeable. He brought dry British humour to the character, while the writing gave him serious emotional depth. His sharp delivery and controlled expressions became an important part of the show’s identity. The series ran for five seasons from 2014 to 2019. It received strong critical attention and established him as a leading performer in American television comedy.
Chris Geere Film Work and Detective Pikachu
Chris Geere has worked in films including Wondrous Oblivion, Blood and Chocolate, Cleanskin, After Earth, The Last Showing, Urge, Deadtectives and The Festival. He also played King Edvard in The Prince & Me: A Royal Honeymoon and The Prince & Me 4: The Elephant Adventure. These projects gave him experience in romantic comedy and family entertainment.
In 2019, he joined the cast of Pokémon Detective Pikachu. He played Roger Clifford, a wealthy and influential figure connected to the central mystery. The film starred Ryan Reynolds, Justice Smith, Kathryn Newton and Bill Nighy. His role introduced him to a global film audience and connected his career with one of the world’s most recognisable entertainment brands.
Modern Family and American Television
Chris Geere appeared in Modern Family as Dr Arvin Fennerman, a university professor connected to Alex and Haley Dunphy. The character was intelligent, awkward and slightly unusual. His appearance fitted the show’s style of combining family comedy with character-based humour. He also played Joel in Ill Behaviour, appeared in This Way Up and joined The First Team. His work during this period showed his ability to move between traditional sitcom performances and darker comedy.
Chris Geere in This Is Us
Another important role came in the family drama This Is Us. He played Philip, who became closely connected with Kate Pearson. Philip was initially presented as a demanding and strict employer. As the series continued, the character gained greater emotional depth and became an important part of Kate’s personal story. He joined the main cast during the sixth and final season. His performance helped the programme explore relationships, work, disability, family responsibility and second chances.
A Million Little Things and Other Roles
Chris Geere appeared in A Million Little Things as Jamie, a character involved in the personal lives of the main group. The programme explored friendship, grief, marriage and emotional recovery. His performance added another layer to the series’ relationship-driven storytelling. He also worked in Single Parents, Hacks and other American productions. These roles strengthened his reputation as a performer who could handle humour while still giving his characters emotional detail.
Voice Acting and Goosebumps
His work is not limited to live-action performances. He provided the voice of Klaus in Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight. He later appeared in Goosebumps as Kanduu and Slappy the Dummy. The production was inspired by the popular horror book series created by R. L. Stine. Playing Slappy required a different approach from his usual television roles. The character needed a distinctive voice, exaggerated timing and a sense of menace suitable for a supernatural story. This role introduced him to younger viewers and added horror and fantasy to his growing range.
Chris Geere Wife and Family
Chris Geere is married to Jennie Sawdon, also known as Jennifer Sawdon. She is a singer, songwriter and pianist. Her social-media presence describes her as a musician and Tropic Skincare leader. She shares content connected with music, skincare and business.
The couple married in 2010. Some public records give 23 September 2010 as the wedding date, although the year is more consistently supported than the exact day. They have one son, widely identified as Freddie. He was born in 2012. The family generally maintains a private lifestyle, and there is limited confirmed material about their day-to-day life.
Manchester Connection and Social Media
Public information connects him with Manchester, England. His early life is linked with Hampshire, while Manchester has become an important part of his personal and professional identity. His public Instagram account is known as @cwgeere. He has also maintained a presence on other social platforms, where he shares occasional acting updates and personal content. His wife uses @jenniesawdon on Instagram. Social-media follower numbers change frequently, so they should not be treated as permanent details.
Career Style and Public Image
His performances often combine intelligence, humour and emotional restraint. He is particularly effective when playing characters who are confident on the surface but uncertain underneath. From Matt Wilding to Jimmy Shive-Overly and Philip, his roles have shown different sides of his acting ability. He can play a supportive teacher, an emotionally difficult writer, a romantic partner or a supernatural villain. His career also reflects the value of strong training and flexibility. He has worked in theatre, British drama, American comedy, blockbuster cinema, animation and fantasy television.
Final Thoughts on Chris Geere
Chris Geere has created a varied career without being limited to one type of character. His work in Waterloo Road introduced him to British audiences, while You’re the Worst gave him international recognition. His film work, including Pokémon Detective Pikachu, expanded his reach, while This Is Us demonstrated his ability to work in serious family drama. His performances in Goosebumps and Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight also show his growing range in genre and voice acting.
With a strong theatre background, formal acting training and experience across several major productions, he remains one of the most adaptable English performers working in television and film.
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