Acting Work
AEA / SAG / AFTRA
Over 60+ Professional Stage Productions | Film & Television
Two-Time Award Winner
New Play Development | International Fringe Tours

Production Gallery

The Snowstorm - Many Hats & CoHo Productions
“Impressively drawn. Harder conveys Dmiti’s struggle as he tries to break through the emotional walls he has erected around himself.” - Oregon Live

1984 at Artists Repertory Theatre
"Harder, whose Winston is a perfect everyman - someone easy to identify with right up to and including the disturbing ending" - Broadway World
“Chris Harder gives an incredible performance as Winston. “ – Judy Nedry

The Thanksgiving Play at Artists Repertory Theatre
"Harder brings off-kilter energy to Caden, a history teacher with Broadway dreams who finds a little too much glee in telling stories of settler atrocities." - The Oregonian

George Bailey in It's a Wonderful Life - A live Radio Play at Artists Repertory Theatre

Fishing For My Father at CoHo Theatre
“Charlie Chaplin taught us years ago that Everyman can both act the clown and demonstrate enormous dignity, and Chris Harder’s fisherman shows us the same thing.” - The Oregonian

Twelfth Night @ Pickathon Music Fest with Portland Playhouse

The Yellow Wallpaper at CoHo Productions
“Chris Harder’s John has a steam trunk chest full of 19th century confidence in his practicality and the grand roads that empiricism is paving.” – Oregon Arts Watch

The Centering - Edmonton & Boulder International Fringe Festivals
“…beautifully performed… Harder exhibits masterful command of the script… a superb fringe performance.” -SEE magazine – 4 1/2 STARS
“A powerful actor who attacks his role here with a vengeance. …Harder’s performance is utterly riveting.” -VUEWEEKLY
“His clowning talents alone are endearing and truly entertaining and this gifted actor enthralls with simple, yet timeless antics. …a profound, intellectual and intense experiment that succeeds -EDMONTON SUN – 4 Suns
“Harder’s performance is a tour de force… Most impressive is the ease with which Harder makes difficult, instantaneous transitions — moving with suppleness across gender, ethnic and age lines.” - The Oregonian

Intimate Apparel at Artists Repertory Theatre
“Chris Harder is the production’s secret weapon as Mr. Marks, the Romanian Jewish fabric salesman whom Esther visits weekly. His lilting accent and shuffling appearance has the effect of hiding a character of real depth behind a caricature, but the steady unfolding of his connection with Esther, a connection forged over a shared appreciation for fabric despite its own set of significant cultural barriers, provides many of the play’s most touching and meaningful moments.” - Portland Monthly Magazine
““It is exquisite!” The same could be said about the performance by Chris Harder as that magnanimous merchant, in the production just opened at Artists Repertory Theatre.” - Oregon Arts Watch

Marjory Prime at Artists Repertory Theatre
“Harder’s a master of stillness and understatement and he strikes a delicate balance here — semi-sweet, pleasantly plausible, never quite artificial, just a little flat in spots. Earnest and inviting, drawing us into this brave new world” - Oregon Arts Watch

Caught at Artists Repertory Theatre
“…a seamless presentation of thought, idea, interactive play, and visual and intellectual engagement that defies easy description, and begs to be experienced.” - EDGE Media Network

The Turn of the Screw at Portland Shakespeare Project
“There is, of course, the purely actorly pleasure of watching Harder switch from character to character, which he does not showily (he never even changes costume, wearing formal Victorian men’s attire from start to finish) but subtly, with the slightest twisting of the apparatus.” – Bob Hicks

Cyrano at Portland Center Stage

Ten Chimneys at Artists Repertory Theatre

Angels in America at Portland Playhouse
Selected Film & Television
Feature Film
- Restless Supporting Imagine Entertainment Dir. Gus Van Sant
- Extraordinary Measures Supporting CBS Films Dir. Tom Vaughan
- Music Within Supporting MGM Dir. Steven Sawalich
- Rid Of Me Supporting Alcove Productions Dir. James Westby
- This Vast and Mysterious Ocean Principal New Hope Film Festival Dir. John Bergstrom
- Everyman's War Principal One Eighty Films Dir. Thad Smith
- Recovery Principal Playground Films Dir. Mike Prosser
Television
- The Girl in the Woods (Episode 2) Co Star Crypt TV/Peacock Dir. Krysten Ritter
- The Librarians - "Curse of Cindy" Co Star TNT Dir. Dean Devlin
- Grimm - "Mommy Dearest" Co Star NBC Dir. Norberto Barba
- Leverage - "The Boost Job" Guest Star TNT Dir. Marc Roskin
Selected Stage Credits
Highlighting major roles from over 60 professional productions in Portland theater and beyond.
1984 Winston Smith Artists Repertory Theatre Damaso Rodriguez
Wolf Play Peter Artists Repertory Theatre Damaso Rodriguez
It’s a Wonderful Life...Radio Play George Bailey Artists Repertory Theatre Beth Harper
Cop Out Medford August Wilson Red Door Project Kevin Jones & Damaris Webb
Shrew Hortensio Sun Valley Shakespeare Ben Newman
The Thanksgiving Play Caden Artists Repertory Theatre Luan Schooler
Caught Bob Artists Repertory Theatre Shawn Lee
26 Miles Aaron Profile Theatre Rebecca Martinez
Marjorie Prime Walter Artists Repertory Theatre Adriana Baer
Head, Hands, Feet Agamemnon Shaking the Tree Samantha Van Der Merwe
The Skin of Our Teeth Ensemble Artists Repertory Theatre Damaso Rodriguez
We Are Proud to Present... Another White Man Artists Repertory Theatre Kevin Jones
The Yellow Wallpaper John CoHo Productions Philip Cuomo
The Turn of the Screw The Man Portland Shakespeare Project JoAnn Johnson
Cyrano Vicomte de Valvert Portland Center Stage Jane Jones
The Snowstorm Dmitri CoHo Productions/ Many Hats Jessica Wallenfels
Intimate Apparel Mr. Marks Artists Repertory Theatre Michael Mendleson
Othello Montano Portland Center Stage Chris Coleman
Ten Chimneys Carl Sederholm Artists Repertory Theatre Damaso Rodriguez
Mother Theresa is Dead Mark Portland Playhouse Isaac Lamb
Twelfth Night Orsino Portland Playhouse Rebecca Lingafelter & Brian Weaver
Angels in America Joe Pitt Portland Playhouse Brian Weaver
The Receptionist Martin Dart Portland Center Stage Rose Riordan
Fishing For My Father Solo Hatchery Productions Jonathan Walters
Fool For Love Eddie CoHo Productions Megan Kate Ward
The History Boys Irwin Artists Repertory Theatre Jon Kretzu
Shining City Lawrence Third Rail Repertory Scott Yarbrough
One Day Stan/Ensemble Sojourn Theatre Michael Rohd
The Centering Solo/Multiple Roles Edmonton + Boulder Fringe Lisa L. Abbott
Chasing Empire's Soul Principal Ensemble Artists Repertory Theatre Michael Rohd
Antigone Polynieces Portland Center Stage Nancy Keystone
Anse and Bhule Bhule Sowelu Theater Gretchen Corbett
Headless Frank Sowelu Theater Barry Hunt
The Treatment Andrew Sowelu Theater Barry Hunt
Curse of the Great Eleven Tall Sowelu Theater Barry Hunt
Some Explicit Polaroids Tim Sowelu Theater Barry Hunt
Abducting Diana Third Kidnapper Sowelu Theater Lorraine Bahr
Blue Night - Heart of the West Andrew Sowelu Theater Barry Hunt
Savage in Limbo Tony Sowelu Theater Barry Hunt
Brightest Thing - Dark Tonight Mark Stark Raving Theatre Barry Hunt
Alice in Ireland Connor Stark Raving Theatre Myra Donnelly
Weight & Negative Space Dancer Eggshell Productions Catherine Egan
Awards & Recognition
Drammy Awards (Portland's theater industry awards)
- Actor - Lead Role: The Centering (2007) - WINNER
- Actor - Supporting Role: Anse and Bhule (1999) - WINNER
- Actor - Lead Role: The Snowstorm (2015) - NOMINATION
- Actor - Supporting Role: Intimate Apparel (2015) - NOMINATION
Grants & Fellowships
- Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC) Professional Development Grant (2014)
- Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC) Individual Artist Project Grant (2011)
University Awards
- University of Wisconsin-Parkside Best Actor Awards (1994, 1995, 1996)
Theater Affiliations
- Resident Artist, Artists Repertory Theatre (2014-2022)
- Original Ensemble Member, Sowelu Theatre (1998-2004)
- AEA, SAG/AFTRA Member
Demo Reels
Scene Specific Reels
[VIDEO EMBED: Scene Specific Reels]
Dramatic scenes • Comedy scenes • Voice work
Dramatic scenes • Comedy scenes • Voice work
New Play Development & Workshops
Chris has been an active participant in new play development throughout his career, working with some of the region's and nation's finest playwrights and directors.
Selected New Play Workshops & Readings
- The Untitled Houdini Project - Profile Theatre - Playwright: Jen Silverman - Dir. Mike Donahue
- Crossing Mnisose - NW Stories, Portland Center Stage - Playwright: Mary Kathryn Nagle - Dir - Jocelyn Clarke
- Thanksgiving Play - TRS, Artists Repertory Theatre - Playwright: Larrissa FastHorse - Dir. Damaso Rodriguez
- Dark Flowers - Development with Tim Stapleton - Dir. Brenda Hubbard
- Outrage - JAW, Portland Center Stage - Dir. Chris Coleman
- This Thing of Darkness - JAW, Portland Center Stage - Dir. Chris Coleman
- Auto Delete - JAW, Portland Center Stage - Dir. Chris Coleman
- Mink River - Staged Reading - Portland Center Stage - Dir. Jane Unger
- Dead Special Crabs - LineStorm Playwrights - Dir. Shawn Lee
- And many more...
JAW (Just Add Water) - Portland Center Stage's annual new play festival
TRS - Table Room Stage at Artists Repertory Theatre
Directing & Teaching
Chris is also an accomplished director and teacher with over 20 years of experience.
Selected Directing Credits
- 21 New Messages - Immersive/Touring Production - Edinburgh Fringe 2025
- Adopt A Sailor - 21Ten - Barebones Touring production
- The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Full Production - Portland Actors Conservatory
- A Brave Sliver of Light - Full Production, One Woman Show - CoHo Productions
- The Centering - Drammy Award Performance
- Antigone Now - Oregon Children's Theatre Young Professionals
- Multiple Graduate Showcases (2019-2025) - The Actors Conservatory
- A Midsummer Night's Dream - Portland Playhouse/Metropolitan Learning Center
- And many more...
Teaching Experience
- Faculty, The Actors Conservatory (2014-2025) - 11 seasons teaching Meisner Technique, Viewpoints & Composition
- Ongoing Adult Acting Classes (2012-Present) - Meisner Technique & Scene Study
- Portland Center Stage - Teen Council classes (2012-2016)
- Portland Playhouse - Apprentice Company (2013-2019)
- Oregon Children's Theatre (2005-2021) - Developed curriculum, directed productions
- Prison Outreach through Sowelu Theatre - Coffee Creek & Columbia River Correctional Facilities
- And many workshops and residencies throughout Oregon and Washington
Commercial & Industrial Work
Spokesperson/Featured
- Hollywood Video - Spokesperson - Sockeye Creative
- Comcast - Spokesperson - IBEX Communications
- Nike - Principal - Kennedy Communications
- Hewlett-Packard - Featured/Principal - Multiple productions
- Alaska Airlines - Featured - Alarming Pictures
- Fred Meyer - Featured - CB & S Advertising
- Xbox - Featured - Creative Media Development
- And many more...
[Note: Full commercial/industrial credits available upon request]