Christopher Gorham

Christopher Gorham – Life, Career, and Notable Insights

Learn about Christopher Gorham — American actor born August 14, 1974 — from his beginnings in Fresno to standout TV roles, voice work, personal advocacy, and lessons from his career.

Introduction

Christopher David Gorham (born August 14, 1974) is an American actor whose steady presence across television, film, and voice work has earned him a loyal following. He is best known for roles like Henry Grubstick in Ugly Betty, Auggie Anderson in Covert Affairs, and as the voice of Barry Allen / The Flash in the DC Animated Movie Universe.

His career spans genre TV (sci-fi, drama, comedy), voice acting, and more recently directing and starring projects — all while maintaining a grounded, versatile identity.

In the following, we’ll trace his early life, career highlights, style & impact, personal life & advocacy, and the lessons his journey offers.

Early Life and Education

Christopher Gorham was born in Fresno, California on August 14, 1974. His parents are David Gorham, who worked as a certified public accountant, and Cathryn Gorham, a school nurse.

He attended Roosevelt School of the Arts (a local arts high school), where he engaged in extracurriculars like martial arts, fencing, ballroom dancing, stage combat, and more.

Gorham later studied at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), earning a B.A. in Theater (or Theater & Film) in 1996. During his college years, he also participated in a variety of physical disciplines: martial arts, rollerblading, fencing, and so on.

These early interests in movement, performance, and storytelling laid the foundation for his multi-faceted career.

Career: Roles, Highlights & Evolution

Christopher Gorham’s career has had several phases: early guest roles, breakthrough TV series, voice work, and more recent starring/directing ventures.

Early Roles & Genre Work

• His earliest screen work included guest spots on series like Party of Five, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Felicity, and Without a Trace.

• He landed a more steady role as Harrison John on Popular (1999–2001) on The WB, which helped raise his profile.

• He led in several short-lived genre or ensemble series: Odyssey 5 (sci-fi) , Jake 2.0 (as the titular character) , Medical Investigation, Out of Practice , and Harper’s Island (a limited slasher/ensemble series)

Though many of these series were canceled early, they show his willingness to take diverse risks rather than staying in one comfort zone.

Breakthrough & Signature TV Roles

• Henry Grubstick — Ugly Betty
  Gorham’s portrayal of Henry, the romantic interest of Betty Suarez, resonated with audiences. He moved from recurring to series regular in Ugly Betty’s second season.

• Auggie Anderson — Covert Affairs
  Probably his most high-visibility leading role: from 2010 to 2014, he played a blind special-ops officer who mentors the main character. He appeared in 75 episodes.

• Bob Barnard — Insatiable
  In the Netflix dark comedy series Insatiable, Gorham played Bob Barnard.

• Trevor Elliott — The Lincoln Lawyer
  In 2022, Gorham joined The Lincoln Lawyer (Netflix) as Trevor Elliott, a client in a legal drama.

Voice Acting & Animated Work

Gorham has also done notable voice work:

• He voices Barry Allen / The Flash in the DC Animated Movie Universe, starting from Justice League: War (2014) through Justice League Dark: Apokolips War (2020).

• Additional voice roles in DC animated films and related projects.

Film & Directing

In terms of film roles:

• Early film credits include A Life Less Ordinary (1997) and The Other Side of Heaven (2001)

• He starred in films like My Girlfriend’s Boyfriend, The Ledge, Somebody’s Hero, Answer This!

• He made his directorial debut with We Love You, Sally Carmichael! (2017) in which he also starred.

Thus, Gorham has gradually expanded from actor to actor-director, balancing TV and cinematic work.

Style, Strengths & Influence

Versatility & Relatability

One of Gorham’s strengths is his ability to play both grounded everyday characters and those in high-stakes, genre settings. Whether as the earnest accountant Henry, the blind operative Auggie, or the morally complex lawyer client, he brings humanity to his roles.

Persistence in Unstable TV Landscape

Many of his early lead roles were in series that didn’t last long. But rather than retreating, he continued seeking new projects, which shows resilience and adaptability.

Voice & Physicality

His background in movement disciplines (dance, martial arts, fencing) gives him physical awareness, which can support action or performance nuance.

His voice work as The Flash also demonstrates his capacity to transition between on-screen acting and voice acting credibly.

Low-Key Public Persona

Unlike many actors who heavily court publicity, Gorham keeps a more modest profile, letting roles speak for him. He also speaks publicly on his family, notably around autism awareness, which we’ll cover next.

Personal Life & Advocacy

Christopher Gorham is married to Anel Lopez Gorham, whom he met while working on Popular. They married in January 2000, and they have three children.

Their children are named Lucas, Ethan, and Alondra Cecilia. His son Lucas was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome, and Gorham has spoken publicly about autism awareness.

He has said:

“I don’t think of him as my son with Asperger’s. I think of him as my son. He’s not wrong. He’s not broken. He is who he is.”

Gorham thus blends his public work with private purpose, using his platform to promote understanding and acceptance.

Lessons from Christopher Gorham’s Journey

1. Adapt and evolve
   Gorham’s willingness to take on shorter-lived or genre series—and not simply chase guaranteed hits—allowed him to develop range and discover new opportunities (e.g. voice acting, directing).

2. Let craft flex across mediums
   He moves between TV, film, voice work, and directing. This flexibility helps sustain a long career amid shifting industry tides.

3. Ground ambition with grounded values
   Even with success, he maintains humility, focuses on family, and advocates for causes important to him (autism awareness), showing that personal integrity can coexist with career ambition.

4. Resilience in face of instability
   Many actors face series cancellations and project setbacks. Gorham’s consistency—pursuing new roles, staying visible, and diversifying—helps buffer against volatility.

5. Humanity over spectacle
   Whether as an empathetic romantic lead or a complex supporting role, his performances tend to emphasize character and relatability rather than flashy showmanship.

Conclusion

Christopher Gorham is a quietly enduring figure in modern screen acting. His body of work spans genres and media—from romantic leads to spies, from live action to animated voices—yet his performances remain grounded and human. He demonstrates how an actor can build a versatile, meaningful career by staying open to diverse roles, evolving his craft, and anchoring it all in personal authenticity.