{{short description|American actor, writer, producer (born 1972)}} {{promotional|date=October 2015}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2014}} {{Use American English |date=November 2024}} {{Infobox person | name = Christian J. Meoli | spouse = Camilla Meoli | image = | image_size = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|7|6}} | birth_place = Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. | other_names = Chris Voltaire | alma_mater = Temple University | occupation = Actor, writer, producer and film executive | known_for = Cabaret Voltaire Inc. }} '''Christian Meoli''' (born July 6, 1972) is an actor, writer, producer who runs Voltaire Media and film executive.<ref name="Secrets to Success: Q and A With Paul Ben Victor, Star of USA's 'In Plain Sight'"/>
==Early life== Christian Meoli was born on July 6, 1972, in Philadelphia, the son of Jerry Mayo (1934–2011), a band member of the group Freddie Bell and the Bellboys.<ref name="Gennaro Meoli" />
He began his acting career in his early teens in regional-theatre productions.<ref name="Christian Meoli Biography"/> He is an alumnus of Stagedoor Manor. He graduated from Performing Arts School in Philadelphia and received a scholarship to Temple University.
He appeared in the Washington/Baltimore company of the musical ''Tony n' Tina's Wedding'' in the role of bandleader "Donny Dulce". In 1991, Meoli appeared opposite Jason Miller and Malachy McCourt in a production of the play ''Inherit The Wind'' that was staged in a court in the Philadelphia City Hall.<ref name="Inherit the Wind" />
==Career== Meoli's first film role was the movie ''Alive'' (1993) as Federico Aranda and directed by Frank Marshall. He was next cast in the movies ''The Low Life'' (1995) and ''Persons Unknown'' (1996).<ref name="Federico Aranda">{{cite news |url= http://www.filmsandtv.com/movies/christianjmeoli.php |title= Christian Meoli as Federico Aranda, 1993 |website= filmsandtv.com |accessdate= November 16, 2011 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20130123020703/http://www.filmsandtv.com/movies/christianjmeoli.php |archive-date= January 23, 2013 |url-status= dead }}</ref>
He played the comedy-relief role of Boz Bishop for four seasons on the CBS television series ''Nash Bridges''.
After his mother, Sandra Meoli, died from cancer, Meoli created the performance event ''The Big C'', which annually plays for cancer survivors at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center. The Big C Foundation was created to continue a focus of education and outreach on the subject of cancer.<ref name="The Big C - A Much Lived Life"/>
He appeared in the pilot episode of the television series ''Dollhouse'' (directed by Joss Whedon), ''Martial Law'' (Stanley Tong), the ''Masterpiece Theatre'' PBS presentation of ''The Song of the Lark'', as well as Emmy Award–winning episodes of ''NYPD Blue'', ''The Practice'', and the telefilm production of ''Tuesdays with Morrie''.<ref name="Christian Meoli Filmography"/>
In 2003, Meoli wrote the play ''The Dadaists'', a retelling about the Dada art movement and Cabaret Voltaire, which originated in February 1916, in Zürich, Switzerland, at Spiegelgasse 1, and led Meoli to create a modern Cabaret Voltaire in Los Angeles.<ref name="RED Camera Stays Ahead of the Curve"/>
He is credited by the ''Los Angeles Times'' as being the first to initiate flash mobs in Los Angeles.<ref name="Flash mobs hit L.A., but will they stay long?"/>
In 2004, Meoli was one of the co-directors and producers of the documentary film ''Beats for Baghdad'', featuring Jerry Quickley.<ref name="Beats for Baghdad"/>
In 2009, Meoli (under the moniker '''Chris Voltaire''') wrote the book and lyrics, acted, produced and directed ''Octomom the Musical,'' a parody of Nadya Suleman (better known as the Octomom.<ref name="Stage Review: Octomom! The Musical?"/> That same year, he starred in the Victor Goss–directed film ''The Apocalypse According to Doris'', and also became the vice president for marketing at Bigfoot Entertainment where he worked on the film ''Deep Gold'' (2011).<ref name="Christian Meoli"/>
He produced The Singafest Asian Film Festival in Los Angeles, which showcased thirty new films from the Philippines, Taiwan, Korea, China and Japan.<ref name="Singafest Asian Film Festival 3"/>
Meoli's company, Voltaire Media, also expanded its services to include sales and producer representation, handling distribution acquisition for companies such as Potent Media (Deer Crossing) and American Motion Picture Company (Character).<ref name="Actor Christian Meoli Opens Movie Theatre in Hollywood"/>
In 2012, Meoli's company began a new single-screen art house known as Arena Cinema Hollywood.<ref name="Christian Meoli in Hollywood" /> The endeavor, in conjunction with Theatre of Arts, has run engagements of Academy Award–winning films and works with distributors including IFC, Tribeca Film, Phase 4 Films, First Run Features, Kino-Lorber, Breaking Glass Pictures, XL rator Media and Submarine.<ref name="INTERVIEW with the ARENA CINEMA Theater in Hollywood, California" /><ref name="Arena Cinema Announces Call for Entries for 2013 Independent Feature Films" />
In 2013, Meoli starred in the film ''Treachery''<ref name="Traverse to release Treachery"/> opposite Michael Biehn, Sarah Butler and Caitlin Keats.
Meoli's Voltaire Media represented Bruce Ramsay's 2011 film ''Hamlet'' and the film was acquired by Breaking Glass Pictures, opening theatrically in January 2014 in New York City and Los Angeles.<ref name="A New Look At 'Hamlet'">{{cite news |url= http://highlighthollywood.com/2013/12/a-new-look-at-hamlet-opens-january-17-at-arena-cinema-theatre-in-hollywood-highlight-hollywood-news/ |title= A New Look At 'Hamlet' |date= December 23, 2013 |work= Highlight Hollywood |accessdate= March 5, 2014 |archive-date= January 26, 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140126180219/http://highlighthollywood.com/2013/12/a-new-look-at-hamlet-opens-january-17-at-arena-cinema-theatre-in-hollywood-highlight-hollywood-news/ |url-status= dead}}</ref>
==Filmography== *''Ray Donovan'' as Kevin (2012) *''Desperate Housewives'', "What's the Good of Being Good" (TV series) as himself (2012) *''Should've Been Romeo'' as Eddie (2012) *''The Girl with No Number'' as Mr. Johnson (2011) *''Apocalypse According to Doris'' as Apperson (2011) *''Dollhouse'', "Ghost" (TV series) as Thug 1 (2009) *''Eli Stone'', "The Path" (TV series) as Janitor (2008) *''In Plain Sight'', "Stan" by Me (TV series) as Jason (2008) *''Everybody Hates Chris'' (TV series) as himself (2008) *''Life-The Fallen Woman'' (TV series) as Ron (2007) *''Final Approach'' (TV movie) as himself (2007) *''Alias'' (TV series) as Semanko (2006) *''JAG'', "Automatic for the People" (TV series) as P.O. Dave Mooney (2005) *''Joan of Arcadia'', "The Gift" (TV series) as Ben Pollack (2004) *''The Division'' (TV series) as Vinnie Praiser (2004) *''Crossing Jordan'', "Devil May Care" (TV series) as Seth Pale (2004) *''Cold Case'', "Fly Away" (TV series) as Angel Rivera (2003) *''Without a Trace'', "The Bus" (TV series) as Carl (2003) *''Looking for Jimmy'' as himself (2002) *''Wanderlust'' as Brian (2001) *''Nash Bridges'' (TV series) as Boz Bishop (1999–2001) *''Tuesdays with Morrie'' (TV movie) as Aldo (1999) *''The Practice'', "Target Practice" (TV series) as Charles Best (1999) *''Walker, Texas Ranger'', "Livegirls.now" as Rolf Gaines (1999) *''V.I.P.'', "One Wedding and Val's Funeral" (TV series) as Waiter (1998) *''The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer'' (TV series) as Telegraph Operator (1998) *''Martial Law'', "Shanghai Express" (TV series) as Detective Jones (1998) *''Hitz'', "Give the Drummer Some" (TV series) as Jimmy (1997) *''Bongwater'' as himself (1997)<ref name="Bongwater(Overview)">{{cite news |url= http://www.yohungama.com/detail/movie.php?mid=0125678 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20130210005130/http://www.yohungama.com/detail/movie.php?mid=0125678 |url-status= dead |archive-date= February 10, 2013 |title= Bongwater(Overview) |year= 1997 |work=yohungama |accessdate= November 21, 2011 }}</ref> *''Persons Unknown'' as himself (1996) *''L.A. Firefighters'', "Fuel and Spark" (TV series) as Freddy the Store Manager (1996) *''Boy Meets World'', "Turkey Day" (TV series) as Carl (1996) *''The Pretender'', "The Paper Clock" as Marcus Whittaker (1996) *''Dogtown'' as Mickey Jenks (1996) *''NYPD Blue'', "The Girl Talk" (TV series) as Phil Farr (1996) *''The Naked Truth'' (TV series) as Vanjacker (1996) *''The Low Life'' as Leonard (1995) *''Cleghorne!'', "This Magic Moment" (TV series) as Magini the Magician (1995) *''Chicago Hope'', "Wild Cards" (TV series) as Luigi (1995) *''Weird Science'', "Quantum Wyatt" (TV series) as Dangerous Felon (1995) *''Ellen'', "The Christmas Show" as Grunge Guy (1994) *''Nunzio's Second Cousin'' (short) as himself (1994) *''In This Corner'' as Julio (1994) *''Beverly Hills, 90210'' (TV series) as Pablo (1993) *''Alive'' as Federico Aranda (1993)<ref name="Federico Aranda"/>
== References == {{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="Christian Meoli in Hollywood">{{cite news |url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/actor_christian_meoli_opens_movie_theatre_in_hollywood/prweb10976857.htm |title= Christian Meoli in Hollywood |date= July 31, 2013 |work=PRWEB |access-date= March 5, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="INTERVIEW with the ARENA CINEMA Theater in Hollywood, California">{{cite news |url=http://www.filmfestivaltoday.com/interviews/interview-with-the-arena-cinema-theater-in-hollywood-california |title= INTERVIEW with the ARENA CINEMA Theater in Hollywood, California |date= December 17, 2012 |author= Jerome Courshon |work= Film Festival Today |accessdate= March 5, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="Arena Cinema Announces Call for Entries for 2013 Independent Feature Films">{{cite news |url=http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/4/prweb10676018.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304234121/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2013/4/prweb10676018.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |title= Arena Cinema Announces Call for Entries for 2013 Independent Feature Films |date= April 30, 2013 |author= Jerome Courshon |work= PRWEB |accessdate= March 5, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="Traverse to release Treachery">{{cite news |url=http://www.screendaily.com/news/distribution/traverse-to-release-treachery/5063760.article |title= Arena Cinema Announces Call for Entries for 2013 Independent Feature Films |date= November 18, 2013 |author= Jeremy Kay |work= Screen Daily |accessdate= March 5, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="Actor Christian Meoli Opens Movie Theatre in Hollywood">{{cite news |url=https://www.studentfilmmakers.com/actor-christian-meoli-opens-movie-theatre-in-hollywood/ |title= The inaugural Singafest Asian Film Festival hits Westwood this weekend |work= Student Film Makers |accessdate= March 4, 2014}}</ref>
<ref name="Christian Meoli Biography">{{cite news |url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/20/Christian-J-Meoli.html |title= Christian Meoli Biography |work= filmreference.com |accessdate= November 16, 2011}}</ref>
<ref name="Christian Meoli Filmography">{{cite news |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/person/48467/Christian-Meoli/filmography |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130220701/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/48467/Christian-Meoli/filmography |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 30, 2013 |title= Christian Meoli Filmography |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=The New York Times |accessdate= November 16, 2011}}</ref>
<ref name="Christian Meoli">{{cite news |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/person/48467/Christian-Meoli/filmography |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130220701/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/48467/Christian-Meoli/filmography |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 30, 2013 |title= Christian Meoli,Interview |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=The New York Times |accessdate= November 16, 2011}}</ref>
<ref name="Secrets to Success: Q and A With Paul Ben Victor, Star of USA's 'In Plain Sight'">{{cite news |url=https://tv.yahoo.com/news/secrets-success-q-paul-ben-victor-star-usas-173300439.html |title= Secrets to Success: Q and A With Paul Ben Victor, Star of USA's 'In Plain Sight' |date= April 6, 2011 |work=tv.yahoo.com |publisher= Yahoo Contributor Network |accessdate= June 5, 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="RED Camera Stays Ahead of the Curve">{{cite news |url=http://www.forcesofgeek.com/2010/04/red-camera-stays-ahead-of-curve.html |title= RED Camera Stays Ahead of the Curve |date= April 12, 2010 |work= Force of Geek |accessdate= November 16, 2011}}</ref>
<ref name="Singafest Asian Film Festival 3">{{cite news |url=http://www.dailybruin.com/index.php/article/2011/09/festival_to_feature_asian_films |title= The inaugural Singafest Asian Film Festival hits Westwood this weekend |date= September 28, 2011 |author= Marjorie Yan |website= Daily Bruin |accessdate= November 17, 2011}}</ref>
<ref name="Gennaro Meoli">{{cite news |url=http://articles.philly.com/2011-06-15/news/29660722_1_rock-n-roll-freddie-bell-jerry-lewis |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019210142/http://articles.philly.com/2011-06-15/news/29660722_1_rock-n-roll-freddie-bell-jerry-lewis |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 19, 2015 |title= Gennaro Meoli, trumpeter with Bellboys, shirtmaker, dies at 76 |date= June 15, 2011 |author= John F. Morrison |website= Philly |accessdate= November 17, 2011}}</ref>
<ref name="Inherit the Wind">{{cite news |url= http://www.ottawalittletheatre.com/html/cm2.cfm?fid=62&sid=52&lang=1&html=long_weekend.html |title= Inherit the Wind,About |website= ottawalittletheatre.com |accessdate= November 17, 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110112103310/http://www.ottawalittletheatre.com/html/cm2.cfm?fid=62&sid=52&lang=1&html=long_weekend.html |archive-date= January 12, 2011 |url-status= dead }}</ref>
<ref name="Beats for Baghdad">{{cite news |url= http://www.lasplash.com/publish/Los_Angeles_Entertainment_109/Beats_for_Baghdad_in_store_concert_and_DVD_release_party_.php |title= Beats for Baghdad in store concert and DVD release party!! |author= Steven Baird |website= LAsplash |accessdate= November 17, 2011}}</ref>
<ref name="Flash mobs hit L.A., but will they stay long?">{{cite news |url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-sep-05-et-ehrman5-story.html |title= Flash mobs hit L.A., but will they stay long? |date= September 5, 2003 |author=Mark Ehrman |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date= November 27, 2011}}</ref>
<ref name="Stage Review: Octomom! The Musical?">{{cite news |url= http://www.losanjealous.com/2009/08/20/stage-review-octomom-the-musical/ |title= Stage Review: Octomom! The Musical |date= August 20, 2009 |author=Merideth |website= Los Anjelous |accessdate= November 27, 2011}}</ref>
<ref name="The Big C - A Much Lived Life">{{cite news |url= https://saffronbutterflyfluttersby.blogspot.com/2008/06/big-c-much-lived-life.html |title= The Big C – A Much Lived Life |date= June 19, 2008 |author=Christine Pechera |work= saffronbutterflyfluttersby.blogspot.com |accessdate= November 27, 2011}}</ref>
}}
== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.christianmeoli.com/}} * {{IMDb name|0580063}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Meoli, Christian}} Category:1972 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century American businesspeople Category:20th-century American dramatists and playwrights Category:20th-century American male actors Category:20th-century American male writers Category:20th-century pseudonymous writers Category:21st-century American businesspeople Category:21st-century American dramatists and playwrights Category:21st-century American male actors Category:21st-century American male writers Category:21st-century pseudonymous writers Category:American documentary film directors Category:American documentary film producers Category:American founders Category:American male dramatists and playwrights Category:American male film actors Category:American male musical theatre actors Category:American male television actors Category:American musical theatre directors Category:American musical theatre librettists Category:American musical theatre lyricists Category:American musical theatre producers Category:Businesspeople from Los Angeles Category:Businesspeople from Philadelphia Category:Film producers from Los Angeles Category:Film producers from Pennsylvania Category:Male actors from Los Angeles Category:Male actors from Philadelphia Category:Temple University alumni Category:Writers from Los Angeles Category:Writers from Philadelphia