Christopher Charles Mintz-Plasse Biography
Christopher Charles Mintz-Plasse (born June 20, 1989) is an American actor and musician known for his breakthrough role as Fogell, nicknamed McLovin, in the 2007 comedy film Superbad. He has built a diverse career spanning films, television, and voice work, including portraying Chris D’Amico, also known as Red Mist, in the Kick-Ass franchise. Raised in Los Angeles, Mintz-Plasse began his acting career in 2006 and has since appeared in more than 25 films and television projects while also pursuing music as a bassist and drummer. His performances have ranged from comedy to horror and animated features, demonstrating versatility across genres.
Early Life and Background
Christopher Mintz-Plasse was born on June 20, 1989, in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California. He is the son of Ellen Mintz, a school counselor, and Ray Plasse, a postal worker. Mintz-Plasse attended El Camino Real Charter High School in Los Angeles, where he discovered his passion for performance by joining the school’s improv comedy team. He has Jewish heritage through his mother, while his father comes from a Catholic background. His paternal family originates from Worcester and Webster, Massachusetts, and Mintz-Plasse has been a lifelong fan of Boston sports teams.
After graduating from high school, Mintz-Plasse continued his education at the University of California, Riverside. During his college years and in the years following, he balanced his growing acting career with his musical pursuits, playing drums and bass guitar in various bands. His upbringing in Los Angeles provided him with proximity to the entertainment industry, though his path to acting success would come through determination and improvisation rather than traditional industry connections.
Path to Acting
Mintz-Plasse’s journey into professional acting began in 2006 when he started auditioning for roles. His most pivotal opportunity came when he auditioned for the role of Fogell in the film Superbad. Notably, he had no professional headshots at the time and instead photographed himself with a camera phone for his audition materials. His improvisational skills and natural comedic timing caught the attention of filmmakers Greg Mottola and Judd Apatow, who cast him in the role that would change his life.
At the time of filming Superbad, Mintz-Plasse was only 17 years old. Because he was a minor, his mother was legally required to be present on set during his scenes, including a notable sex scene in the film. This early experience in the industry provided him with a crash course in professional filmmaking while still completing his secondary education. The combination of his youth, humor, and authenticity made his performance memorable to audiences and critics alike.
Christopher Mintz-Plasse Career
Early Career (2007–2009)
Superbad premiered in 2007 and became a critical and commercial success, grossing over $170 million worldwide. Mintz-Plasse’s performance as McLovin earned widespread praise from critics, with many highlighting his comedic delivery and screen presence as standout elements of the film. His portrayal of the awkward, lovable teenager resonated with audiences and established him as a promising new talent in Hollywood. For his work in Superbad, he received a nomination for the MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance.
Building on his debut success, Mintz-Plasse quickly secured additional film roles. In 2008, he appeared in Role Models alongside Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott, playing Augie Farques, a nerdy teenager obsessed with medieval live-action role-playing games. The same year, he made a guest appearance in David Wain’s internet series Wainy Days. In 2009, he starred as a comedic version of the biblical figure Isaac in Harold Ramis’s film Year One. These early roles allowed him to develop his craft and showcase his comedic abilities in various settings.
Breakthrough (2010–2014)
2010 proved to be a significant year for Mintz-Plasse’s career. He voiced Fishlegs in the animated blockbuster How to Train Your Dragon, which became one of the highest-grossing animated films of the year. He also appeared in Kick-Ass as Chris D’Amico, the superhero known as Red Mist. Originally, Mintz-Plasse had auditioned for the lead role of Kick-Ass, but the producers felt his audition style was too loud and obnoxious for that character. They instead offered him the role of Red Mist, a decision that proved fortuitous as his performance became a defining element of the franchise.
That same year, Mintz-Plasse guest-starred in an episode of Party Down and provided voice work for the film Marmaduke. He also appeared in music videos for Kid Cudi’s “Erase Me” featuring Kanye West and for The Soft Pack’s “Answer to Yourself.” In 2011, he starred in Fright Night, a remake of the 1985 horror classic, playing Edward Lee, the former best friend of the protagonist Charley Brewster.
Notable Works and Milestones
Mintz-Plasse continued to expand his portfolio through voice work and live-action roles. In 2012, he voiced the character Alvin in the animated film ParaNorman and played Tommy in Pitch Perfect, a role that would connect him to a successful franchise. He also starred in a short film titled Would You, written by his Fright Night co-star Dave Franco, which premiered at the SXSW Film Festival. Though the CBS sitcom Friend Me, for which he filmed several episodes, was cancelled before airing, Mintz-Plasse persisted in seeking diverse acting opportunities.
He reprised his role as Chris D’Amico in Kick-Ass 2 in 2013, describing the role as darker than any other he had portrayed and hiring an acting coach to handle the intensity. He appeared in segments of Movie 43 and had small roles in This Is the End and The To Do List. In 2014, he played Scoonie, a college fraternity student, in the hit comedy Neighbors starring Seth Rogen and Zac Efron. He also returned to voice Fishlegs in How to Train Your Dragon 2 and continued voicing the character in the Dragons television series on Cartoon Network and Netflix.
Christopher Mintz-Plasse Awards
Christopher Mintz-Plasse has received recognition from major award organizations for his performances. His most notable nomination came early in his career with an MTV Movie Award nomination for Best Breakthrough Performance for his debut in Superbad (2007). While he has received nominations for his supporting roles, his award recognition has remained relatively limited to this single major nomination during his career spanning from 2006 to the present.
Christopher Mintz-Plasse Family
Mintz-Plasse was born in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, to Ellen Mintz, who worked as a school counselor, and Ray Plasse, who was employed as a postal worker. His mother is Jewish, while his father comes from a Catholic family. The contrast in religious backgrounds provided an interesting cultural mix in his upbringing. His father’s side of the family has roots in Worcester and Webster, Massachusetts, which influenced his unexpected loyalty to Boston sports teams despite growing up in Los Angeles.
Personal Life
Outside of acting, Christopher Mintz-Plasse has pursued music with passion and dedication. He played drums for the rock band The Young Rapscallions, which operated for eight years before disbanding in 2015. Following the group’s split, he founded the band Bear on Fire, in which he plays bass guitar. His commitment to music has remained consistent throughout his acting career, and he has continued to perform with various artists.
In recent years, Mintz-Plasse has collaborated with musician Ben Kweller, playing bass guitar during the 2021 Circuit Boredom tour. He rejoined Kweller’s band in 2025 to support the album Cover the Mirrors, which was dedicated to Kweller’s late son. Performances at venues including Salt Lake City’s Urban Lounge and Vancouver’s Biltmore Cabaret have been described as intimate and cathartic celebrations of life and loss. As of 2025, Christopher Mintz-Plasse continues to balance his acting career with musical pursuits while residing in Los Angeles.