Christopher James Baker

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Christopher James Baker (also known as Chris Baker) is an Australian actor, writer, and director who has worked in theatre, film, and TV since 1994. He is best known for playing Brainwave (Henry King Sr.) on Stargirl, as well as roles in Ozark, True Detective, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Baker grew up in Australia, raised by his parents Maggie and John Baker. He spent part of his youth in the United Kingdom before returning to Australia. After high school, he traveled a bit and then studied a three-year drama course in Sydney. He began his career in theatre, co-founding the Urban Tales stage company and performing in more than 14 productions. He also worked with the State of Play theatre company.

In Australia, he appeared in several films, including Kangaroo Jack (2003), Ned Kelly (2003), Hell Has Harbour Views (2005), The Great Raid (2005), Kokoda (2006), The Condemned (2007), Nim’s Island (2008), and Sanctum (2011).

After moving to the United States, Baker pursued Off-Broadway roles and landed a TV pilot part in Deliverance Creek (2014). He then joined True Detective for its second season as Blake Churchman, and had a recurring role in Shades of Blue (2016).

In 2019, Baker starred as Boyd Langmore in Netflix’s Ozark and played Chronicom Hunter Malachi in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. In 2020, he was cast as Brainwave in DC’s Stargirl. His other TV credits include Gotham, Bull, The Blacklist, The Good Cop, and The Rookie. His film work in the U.S. includes Deliverance Creek (2014), The Duel (2016), and The Purge: Election Year (2016).

After returning to Australia, Baker appeared in Stan’s Eden as Lou Gracie and in the murder mystery miniseries New Gold Mountain as Patrick Thomas (filmed back-to-back in 2021). He later returned to the U.S. to shoot the fourth season of Ozark, the second season of Stargirl, and the thriller Unit 234 in the Cayman Islands. Back in Australia, he starred as Ivan Kroll in Netflix’s Boy Swallows Universe and as Mitch Leeway in the drama Prosper (both 2024).

Baker moved to New York City in 2009 with his wife, Hannah, and they have two children born in Manhattan. In 2020, after eleven years in the United States, he moved back to Australia to be closer to family and for his kids to grow up there.