Eric Szmanda
Eric Szmanda | |
|---|---|
 Szmanda in 2015 | |
| Born | Eric Kyle Szmanda July 24, 1975 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States (raised in Mukwonago, Wisconsin) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | American Academy of Dramatic Arts; Carroll University |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1998–present |
| Known for | Greg Sanders on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation |
Eric Kyle Szmanda (/səˈmændə/; born July 24, 1975) is an American actor. He is most famous for having played Greg Sanders in the CBS police drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, a role he held from the show's beginning in 2000 until it ended in 2015.
Early life and education
Szmanda was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Elaine (née Enders) and Donald Szmanda,[1] and has two brothers, Brett and Robert. They moved to Mukwonago, Wisconsin when Eric was very young and that’s where he was raised. He attended Mukwonago High School and graduated at the age of nineteen from Carroll University. He went on to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena, California, where he attended classes for four years. While he was in school, he began marketing internships with music conglomerate BMG and moved to Chicago, Illinois, to take a full-time job in the music business.[2] His great-uncle Ray Szmanda was the "Menard's Guy," a local celebrity in the Midwest famous for his enthusiastic ads for Menard's hardware stores.
Career
In 1998 Eric starred in his first TV role on “The Net”
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
In 2000, Szmanda began a recurring role in the CBS police drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation in the first two seasons as Greg Sanders, a DNA technician and investigator, before being added to the main cast in the third season. He remained on the show until it ended after the fifteenth season in September 2015.
Activism
Szmanda supports the U.S. Campaign for Burma and traveled to Thailand to see the conditions of Burmese refugees who have fled their native country.[3]
Szmanda showed his support for Animal Defenders International (ADI) in March 2017 along with former CSI co-star Jorja Fox. The two helped to host a benefit to raise money for the charity that aims to help and save animals all over the world from circuses and from other forms of animal cruelty. He and Fox attended the White House to help put forward a bill to stop circuses from using animals and protect them.
Filmography
Film & Television Credits
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998-1999 | The Net | Jacob Resh/Sorcerer | television debut series regular; 13 episodes |
| 1999 | Dodge's City | Johnny Dodge | Television Movie |
| 2000 | Oh Baby | Brent | 2 episodes |
| 2000 | Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane | Max | Episode: "A Midsummer Night's Nightmare" |
| 2000 | 100 Girls | Sam/Computer Nerd | film debut |
| 2000 | FreakyLinks | Eli | Episode: "Subject: Edith Keeler Must Die" |
| 2000 | Big Time | Avery | Short film |
| 2000-2015 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Greg Sanders | 46 episodes; recurring role 287 episodes; series regular Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2005) Nominated - Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2002-2004) |
| 2001 | Three Sisters | Dave | Episode: "The Faculty Party" |
| 2001 | The Division | Mark | Episode: "The Parent Trap" |
| 2002 | The Rules of Attraction | NYU Film Student | |
| 2004 | Marilyn Manson: Saint | Himself | Video Short/Music Video |
| 2004 | True Vinyl | Billy Thompson | |
| 2005 | Little Athens | Derek | |
| 2005 | Snow Wonder | Luke | Television Movie |
| 2012 | Shadow of Fear | Detective Dominic Leary | Television Movie |
| 2015 | CSI: Immortality | Greg Sanders | Television Movie |
| 2018 | Near Extinction: Shangri-La | Vargas | Television Movie |
Video Games
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Greg Sanders (voice role) | |
| 2004 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - Dark Motives | Lab Technician Greg Sanders (voice role) | |
| 2006 | CSI: 3 Dimensions of Murder | Greg Sanders (voice role) | |
| 2007 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - Hard Evidence | Greg Sanders (voice role) | |
| 2009 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - Deadly Intent | Greg Sanders (voice role) | |
| 2010 | CSI: Fatal Conspiracy | Greg Sanders (voice role) |
Stage
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | The Nerd | Willum Cubbert | Totem Pole Playhouse |
References
- ^ JSOnline.com News Archives
- ^ TV Guide - Eric Szmanda
- ^ Corben, Ron (November 1, 2009). "US Campaign Hopes Celebrities Can Help Burma". VOA. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
External links
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
