Biografia
Chris Kerson is an American actor renowned for his roles as Nails in the acclaimed series True Detective and Willie Boy in Gotti. He developed his acting skills through drama clubs during his childhood in Manhattan and Westchester, New York. Although he initially pursued a career in finance, Chris continued performing theater while attending the College of William and Mary. After graduating, he achieved success as an investment banker and corporate finance analyst, notably leading a company through its public offering.
Despite his early corporate accomplishments, Chris' passion for acting prevailed. He soon divided his time between Los Angeles and New York, securing roles in theater, film, and television while refining his craft under prominent industry coaches. Among his key mentors was Charlie Laughton, longtime mentor to Al Pacino, whose guidance significantly influenced Chris’ career path. His Off-Broadway credits include a sold-out run of Stephan Morrow's Hurry at the Blue Heron Art Center and a well-received portrayal of Carl the Usher in Tennessee Williams' previously unproduced play These Are the Stairs You Got the Watch. Additionally, he starred in Missionaries alongside theater legend Rose Gregorio. Though his foundation lies in theater, Chris has garnered increasing demand for his on-camera performances.
With a career spanning over twenty years, Chris has earned recognition for numerous television and film roles, especially within independent productions by emerging industry talents. Early in his career, he appeared in NYU student films produced by Oscar winner Mollye Asher, including The Ride, which Martin Scorsese selected as the film school's best short of the year.
Other notable projects include Cost of a Soul, the AMC Big Break Movie Contest-winning feature in which Chris played the lead role. He also co-starred with Lance Henriksen in Chad Law’s Project Greenlight submission Daylight’s End. Independent Spirit Award nominee Tim McCann cast him as the lead detective in the crime drama Zero in the System, notable for including ex-convicts and parolees to authentically portray street culture’s grit. More recently, Chris co-starred in the 2019 suspense thriller Rendezvous, acclaimed as the most decorated American short film ever, with nearly 200 international awards. He also appeared in 2020’s Equal Standard, a timely film addressing racism within the New York Police Department, starring and produced by rapper and actor Ice-T. Producers noted Chris as the sole New York-based actor they believed could convincingly play opposite Bruce Dern in IFC's Last Call, casting him as Dern’s son.
