Kristoffer Polaha

Early life

Polaha was born in Reno, Nevada to Esther and Jerome Polaha. Polaha's family has Czech roots. His father was a Washoe District Court Judge. Polaha is the youngest of four brothers. He left Reno in the early 1990s to attend Robert Louis Stevenson boarding school in Pebble Beach, California. In 1999, he graduated from New York University Tisch School of the Arts, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Arts. He moved to Los Angeles on July 4, 2001.

Career

Film and television

Early in his career, Polaha appeared in theatre productions, including Ragtime Revue at Lincoln Center, The Long Days Journey Into Night at the Roundabout Theater, Bread & Butter at Provincetown Playhouse, and Uncle Vanya at the Stella Adler Conservatory. In early 2000s, Polaha began appearing in small roles in several American television series and films. His first on-screen appearance was a role as Gavin in the episode "Plus One" of comedy-drama series That's Life. He had roles in television series Angel, Roswell, Birds of Prey, Tru Calling, House, CSI: Miami, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Bones and Close to Home. Polaha gained attention by portraying John F. Kennedy Jr. in the TBS film America's Prince: The John F. Kennedy Jr. Story (2003) opposite Portia de Rossi. In 2021, Polaha told Highbrow Magazine: "That was the biggest TV movie that TBS had ever released. I think 40 million people watched it that night, and I had a picture in Times Square of my face."

In 2004, he won the lead role of Jason Matthews on the prime-time soap opera North Shore. The series centered on the staff and guests of the fictional Grand Waimea Hotel and Resort. North Shore concluded in January 2005 after a 21-episode, single-season run. Polaha and his family lived in Hawaii for a year and their son was born there. In 2007, Polaha took the role of Carlton Hanson on drama television series Mad Men. In 2008, Polaha starred on the series Miss Guided and appeared in the biographical film Billy: The Early Years (2008). In 2009, he appeared in several guest starring television roles, including The Ex List, Dollhouse, Without a Trace and Better Off Ted. In 2010, he began portraying Nate Bazile, a bar owner who discovers he has a teenage daughter Lux Cassidy (Britt Robertson), on the teen drama series Life Unexpected. The series garnered mostly positive feedback during its two seasons, with many reviews favorably comparing the show to the critically acclaimed series Gilmore Girls and Everwood. In November 2010, Polaha signed a talent holding deal with CBS. Polaha founded a production company titled Podunk Productions in 2010. He played writer Henry Butler in The CW's thriller crime series Ringer until the series conclusion in 2012. Las Vegas Weekly gave Ringer a mixed review, saying it was "a little silly but also juicy and well-acted". In 2012, he landed a guest role on the second season of MTV's teen comedy series Awkward.

Polaha has starred in several original Hallmark Channel films, including Dater's Handbook (2016) opposite Meghan Markle, Rocky Mountain Christmas (2017) opposite Lindy Booth and Pearl in Paradise (2018) alongside Jill Wagner. Especially Rocky Mountain Christmas was a success for the network. Polaha commented the film's popularity by saying: "Rocky Mountain Christmas won the night on cable. We had the highest ratings, not just the highest ratings ever in the history of Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, but we won the night across all the cable channels. It was a big deal for Hallmark, and it was a big deal for us as a cast because it really did set our movie apart. It was definitely one of those special moments." In 2018, he appeared in six episodes of the thriller television series Condor and starred in two films, Beneath the Leaves and Bachelor Lions.

He played detective Travis Burke in Hallmark's mystery television film series Mystery 101 (2019) opposite Jill Wagner. The film series included seven movies and the first one aired on January 27, 2019. Polaha portrayed Michael Truett in the Christian drama film Run the Race (2019), released on February 22, 2019 by Roadside Attractions. The film made $2.3 million in its opening weekend, finishing 10th at the box office. In November 2018, Polaha revealed that he will appear in Wonder Woman 1984 (2020), directed by Patty Jenkins; he played the 'host' to the resurrected spirit of Chris Pine's character. On July 26, 2019, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Polaha will appear in Hallmark Channel's Christmas-themed television film Double Holiday (2019) opposite Carly Pope. In 2020, he had a small role as Courthouse Reporter 2 in Hulu's drama miniseries Little Fires Everywhere starring Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington. Polaha starred in Hallmark's original Christmas film A Dickens of a Holiday! (2021) as Jake Dorsey, famous action star who grew up in Dickens, Ohio.

Polaha appeared as CIA officer Wyatt Huntley in the science fiction film Jurassic World Dominion (2022), which was a financial success, grossing $1 billion worldwide and becoming the second highest-grossing film of 2022. On November 6, 2023, he appeared on the cover of TV Guide magazine alongside actress Bethany Joy Lenz. He had a lead role as Kevin Garner in the sci-fi thriller film The Shift (2023), produced by Ken Carpenter. The film follows Kevin, who finds himself in a dystopian world confronted by a stranger known as "The Benefactor" who presents him with challenges as Kevin fights to shift realities and return to the woman he loves. Filmed in Birmingham, Alabama, the film was released on December 1, 2023. Also in 2023, he had a lead role in the Hallmark Christmas movie A Biltmore Christmas opposite Bethany Joy Lenz, playing Jack Huston, an actor from the 1940s, who encounters present time Lucy Collins, played by Lenz, who gets transported to the 1940s through a magical hourglass at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC.

Books

In June 2020, Variety reported that Polaha had signed a book deal with Rosewind Books to co-author a series of romance novels with Anna Gomez. The first in the From Kona with Love book series, titled Moments Like This, is set in Hawaii and centers on a young woman looking to find herself after losing her career and relationship. It was published on February 2, 2021. The second book, Where the Sun Rises, was published on October 11, 2022, by Vesuvian Media's Rosewind Books.

Polaha plans to produce the books for film and television through his production company Podunk Productions.

Personal life

Polaha is a practicing Christian and spoke about how he fell away from his faith, but a death-defying experience made him believe again. In 2019, when asked in an interview what he would like to be remembered for, Polaha replied: "So I'm an actor, and if an audience is going to remember me, I'd kind of like to be in the same boat as Jimmy Stewart, Tom Hanks...these guys who are really great at their craft but who've also made people feel really good on a human level. Even Audrey Hepburn was somebody who – wouldn't it be great to have these amazing successes as an actor so that aspect of your life was a given, but then the stories also include how kind they are. Just what good people they were. And I would love that to be my legacy."

Polaha married actress Julianne Morris on June 7, 2003 at the Windermere Chapel in Windermere, Florida. The couple has three sons born in 2004, 2006, and 2011.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

Bibliography

• Polaha, Kristoffer & Gomez, Anna (2021). Moments Like This. Rosewind Books.
• Polaha, Kristoffer & Gomez, Anna (2022). Where the Sun Rises. Rosewind Books.

References

References

1. Polaha, Kristoffer. (2021-09-11). "Kristoffer Polaha Auditioned for 'Angel' on 9/11; The Show Kickstarted His L.A. Acting Career".
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3. Little, Josh. (May 6, 2022). "Reno actor lands role in Jurassic World Dominion".
4. (December 10, 2018). "Actor Kristoffer Polaha on why he loves doing Hallmark movies".
5. (November 21, 2018). "Why I Love Doing Hallmark Movies, an Actor's Confession (Guest Column)".
6. (May 22, 2015). "In Their Own Words: Kristoffer Polaha of "Where Hope Grows" ← One Film Fan".
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13. (March 17, 2008). "TV Review: 'Miss Guided'". LA Times.
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20. "Podunk Productions".
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22. (January 18, 2010). "'Life Unexpected': Kristoffer Polaha previews the CW's new drama".
23. (January 18, 2011). "'Life Unexpected' creator Liz Tigelaar on finale: 'By the end, they all get to where they are supposed to be'".
24. craigbyrne. (March 10, 2011). "Life Unexpected's Kristoffer Polaha Joins Ringer".
25. (September 8, 2011). "2011 Fall A+E Guide: New TV to watch … and avoid". Las Vegas Weekly.
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29. "Where Hope Grows (2015) - Box Office Mojo".
30. (January 30, 2016). "Dater's Handbook – Interview – Kristoffer Polaha on Hallmark Channel – The actor talks about why he loves working for Hallmark Channel". Hallmark Channel.
31. Stein, Megan. (January 14, 2019). "Here's What It Was Really Like Working with Meghan Markle on Her Hallmark Movie".
32. "Dater's Handbook - Interview - Meghan Markle - Character Chemistry - Video".
33. (December 22, 2017). "Rocky Mountain Christmas".
34. "Kristoffer Polaha as Colin Page on Pearl in Paradise".
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36. (April 29, 2019). "Hallmark Mystery 101 Star Kristoffer Polaha Hints at Mashup with When Calls the Heart".
37. Elliott, Megan. (June 23, 2019). "Jill Wagner Clears Up Those Rumors About a 'When Calls the Heart,' 'Mystery 101' Crossover".
38. (January 27, 2019). "'Mystery 101' Star Kristoffer Polaha Chats Playing 'Dark' Hallmark Character [Cast, Trailer]".
39. "Kristoffer Polaha as Travis on Mystery 101".
40. (February 23, 2019). "'Run the Race' Film Review: Tim Tebow's Faith-Based Football Saga Elevates the Material a Step or Two".
41. D'Alessandro, Anthony. (February 24, 2018). "'How To Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World' Ablaze With $55M+ Franchise Record Opening & Second Best February Animated Pic Debut".
42. "Kristoffer Polaha Is in 'Wonder Woman 1984'".
43. Kedia, Megha. (November 23, 2018). "'Wonder Woman 1984': Actor Kristoffer Polaha Roped In For An Undisclosed Role".
44. Turchiano, Danielle. (February 14, 2019). "Kristoffer Polaha Talks Message of 'Run the Race,' Filming 'Wonder Woman 1984' With Patty Jenkins".
45. (December 25, 2020). "Why the 'Other' Steve Trevor in Wonder Woman 1984 Looks So Familiar".
46. (December 25, 2020). "Sorry to This Man Who is Not Chris Pine in Wonder Woman 1984".
47. (December 26, 2020). "Wonder Woman 1984: Who Plays the Other Steve Trevor".
48. (July 26, 2019). "Kristin Chenoweth to Headline Hallmark Channel's 2019 Countdown to Christmas (Exclusive)".
49. Dominick, Nora. (April 23, 2020). "25 "Little Fires Everywhere" Behind-The-Scenes Facts That Prove It's One Of The Best New Shows Of 2020".
50. Turchiano, Danielle. (2019-10-10). "'Little Fires Everywhere': Britt Robertson, Kristoffer Polaha Among 'Life Unexpected' Alumni Cast (EXCLUSIVE)".
51. EDT, Norman WeissThursday 10/10/19 at 1:31PM. "Hulu's Little Fires Everywhere to host a Life Unexpected reunion with Britt Robertson and Kristoffer Polaha".
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54. "The Trailer For Film Shot Entirely On Location In Birmingham,"The Shift," Is Here".
55. (2023-02-23). "The Shift Makes Cast Announcement and Begins Filming".
56. Turchiano, Danielle. (2020-06-01). "Hallmark Channel Star Kristoffer Polaha to Pen Book Series (EXCLUSIVE)".
57. "Vesuvian Media Group Launches Romance Book Line".
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60. (February 20, 2019). "christianfilmblog.com {{!}} News about Christian Movies {{!}} Phoenix, AZ".
61. "Kristoffer Polaha Chats Mystery 101: Playing Dead". Moments With Mercy.
62. "Kristoffer Polaha on Hearts of Christmas".
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65. (January 2, 2011). "Life Unexpected's Kristoffer Polaha Welcomes Baby Boy {{!}} TV Guide".
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67. Chang, Tom. (August 5, 2020). "Jurassic World: Dominion Actor Laura Dern Offers BTS Update".
68. Roots, Kimberly. (July 5, 2012). "Exclusive: Ringer's Kristoffer Polaha Joins CBS' Made in Jersey as Series Regular". [[TVLine]].
69. (October 25, 2013). "'CSI' Books 'Ringer' Star for Season 14 (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
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76. (2024-06-02). "ICFF 2024 OFFICIAL NOMINEES".