As the dedicated doctor of Serenity, South Carolina, it seemed like Bill Townsend could do no wrong. But Netflix's Sweet Magnolias wouldn't be the gripping drama it is without this seemingly perfect man falling from grace—and exposing all of his secrets along the way.
The man behind the not-so-good doctor is Chris Klein, a Hollywood staple who's enjoyed a long career as an iconic teen heartthrob and a well-loved romantic lead. Born in Hinsdale, Illinois, the actor relocated to Nebraska in his teens and started getting involved in his high school's theatre scene. At the same time, director Alexander Payne was scouting shooting locations for an upcoming movie. Klein got the opportunity to perform in front of him, and the rest is history.
After his first big break, Klein went on to become one of the most bankable leading men for the next few years. But a series of duds and misguided projects ended his short-lived hot streak. With not as much work coming in, the now 44-year-old actor developed an alcohol addiction that resulted in multiple rehab stints and two DUIs.
"The me that I knew was slipping away," he opened up during an interview with The Daily Beast. "Living with addiction is not living; it's existing and barely hanging on. I was sick and tired of feeling that way, and I didn't know how to not feel that way, so I got help."
Thankfully, that help paid off. Since then, Klein has enjoyed a resurgence in his acting career, with his starring role in Sweet Magnolias being the latest in a string of successful projects. His performance as the newly divorced—and chronically unfaithful—Dr. Bill Townsend requires him to play both doting and deceitful. It's a line he walks well.
But before he ever stepped foot in Serenity, Klein was already a familiar face on the big and small screens. Here's where you've seen him before.
As Paul Metzler in Election
Paramount Pictures
Klein's first role was bigger than most. That project Payne was scouting for? It was just a little 90's comedy-romance flick starring Reese Witherspoon and Matthew Broderick called Election. Playing the injured football player Paul Metzler (opposite Witherspoon's Tracy Flick), Klein was charming—even if his character was a bit clueless.
When speaking in a 2016 interview, Klein revealed that his nervousness and confusion about being on a movie set for the first time ended up working out perfectly for the character. At one point, he told Payne that he didn't know when he was supposed to be funny. Payne responded by saying that's exactly what the film needed.
As Oz in American Pie
Universal Studios
Soon after his role in Election, Klein went on to play what is probably still his most well-known part today: the ultra-chill lacrosse player/hopeless romantic Christopher "Oz" Ostreicher in the American Pie franchise. In addition to the original 1999 coming-of-age comedy, he reprised his role for America Pie 2 and American Reunion. While the raunchy series was—and still is—criticized for its vulgarity, it was without a doubt a box office hit that launched Klein into international stardom.
As 2nd Lt. Jack Geoghegan in We Were Soldiers
Paramount Pictures
With American Pie and Election under his belt, Klein was primed and ready to be a comedy powerhouse. His surprising pivot to a serious drama came as a shock to many, but his performance in the 2002 historical war drama We Were Soldiers was unquestionably powerful. Playing a brave soldier in the middle of the Vietnam War positioned the young actor alongside Hollywood A-listers like Mel Gibson, Sam Elliott, Greg Kinnear, Keri Russell, and Jon Hamm—and let him show off his acting chops in a completely different genre.
As Dusty Dinkleman in Just Friends
New Line Cinema
After a few more serious roles that didn't quite make the impact of We Were Soldiers, Klein returned to the rom-com stage with a bang in 2005's Just Friends. Playing the loveable (and formerly pimpled) Dusty Dinkleman, Klein was the ultimate romantic rival to Ryan Reynolds' Chris Brander. The movie didn't break any records, but it continues to be a Christmas staple and fan favorite thanks to its combination of slapstick humor and heartwarming moments.
As Drew in Wilfred
Wilfred Productions
The 2000s were a bit of a low point for Klein's career. But in the 2010s, he got sober, got back on his feet, and started to re-establish himself as an actor. One of the projects that was instrumental in this resurgence was none other than Wilfred, a dark comedy starring Elijah Wood and Jason Gann. Klein played Drew, one of Wilfred's owners who is overly competitive and controlling.
"Jason really captured what it's like to be a dog because I often find myself sitting there and looking at the Chief—my dog's name is Chief—and knowing if he could talk, we could have some really cool conversations," the actor said in a 2012 interview. "In terms of what goes on around here, I think he's got a pretty heady opinion about it."
As Orlin Dwyer/Cicada in The Flash
The CW
In 2018, Klein shifted into a new genre: the supernatural. He joined the cast of The Flash as recurring villain Orlin Dwyer (also called Cicada), who wanted to kill all meta-humans after they tore apart his family. While his character was universally despised, Klein's performance was praised by critics and fans alike.
Is Season 3 of Sweet Magnolias Coming Out?
Today, Klein is reaping the rewards of his dedication to sobriety and hard work, reviving his career by playing Dr. Bill Townsend in Netflix's Sweet Magnolias. All 10 episodes of the third season of the show are set to premiere on the platform on July 20th, but you can binge the first two seasons now.
