Who is Chris Wilson? 'AGT' contestant is award-winning actor with bizarre connection to Justin Trudeau
TORONTO, ONTARIO: In an upcoming episode of 'America's Got Talent' Season 19, Toronto, Ontario-based comedian, actor, and writer Chris Wilson will take the stage. He's renowned as one half of the award-winning Canadian comedy duo Peter N' Chris and a member of Second City Mainstage.
Peter N' Chris has appeared at several nationally recognized fringe festivals, including Just For Laughs and JFL42. Together, they performed at the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival, and in 2021, they launched their podcast titled 'This Time It's Different'.
You can watch their video skits on their YouTube channel, Peter N Chris, as well as on CollegeHumor and CBC. He has been on several television programs, including 'The Beaverton' (CTV), 'Murdoch Mysteries' (CBC), 'Cavendish' (CBC), and 'New Eden' (Crave).
'AGT' Season 19 comedian Chris Wilson won the Canadian Screen Award
At the 12th Canadian Screen Awards in 2024, Chris Wilson and the other main cast members of 'This Hour Has 22 Minutes' received the Canadian Screen Award for Best Ensemble Performance in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Program or Series.
He has appeared in supporting or guest roles on several television shows including 'Run the Burbs', 'Hudson & Rex', 'Cavendish', 'Murdoch Mysteries', 'The Next Step', 'Gary and His Demons', and 'Cupcake & Dino: General Services'.
Chris has also made significant contributions as a writer for multiple seasons of The Irrelevant Show on CBC Radio 1 and was a cast member of the long-standing Canadian comedy show Royal Canadian Air Farce.
'AGT' Season 19 comedian Chris Wilson becomes a full-time star on 'This Hour Has 22 Minutes'
Chris Wilson, a sketch comedian and actor from Canada, is best recognized for his contributions to 'This Hour Has 22 Minutes'. He joined the program in 2020, initially as a writer and supporting actor.
In the 2023–2024 season, he was elevated to a full-time cast member, partly because of the growing significance of his Pierre Poilievre imitation as the 45th Canadian federal election drew near.
Chris, a three-time recipient of the Canadian Comedy Award, quickly became a fan favorite since his debut on the program in 2020 as a writer and featured performer.
With his impersonation of Pierre and Justin Trudeau, as well as hundreds of characters in comedies that exaggerate the absurdities of ordinary life, he has managed to maintain his popularity with audiences.
Previously, Chris focused more on impressions of celebrities like Jay Baruchel and Ryan Reynolds rather than political figures, and he wasn't particularly immersed in political affairs.
'AGT' Season 19 comedian Chris Wilson's career in question with Pierre Poilievre and Justin Trudeau impression
Chris finds himself in a unique situation where he must decide whether to enter the property market, despite the challenges faced by many millennials in today's economy. The 38-year-old sketch comedian from Victoria was promoted to a full-time cast member this season after spending several years as a writer and featured performer on 'This Hour Has 22 Minutes'.
This was partly due to his flawless portrayal of Pierre, the opposition's leader. The rising stature of the politician who prefers not to be called PP has coincided with Chris's indispensable role in the long-running fake news and sketch comedy program, which is experiencing a resurgence in popularity due to its increased exposure on social media platforms like TikTok.
With a Conservative majority, Chris faces the challenge of securing a down payment for a home. However, he finds himself in a unique predicament regarding the property ladder: under Pierre's platform, the CBC may face funding cuts if he wins the next election.
Then, even if the Conservatives' highly debated proposal to lower the cost of homes succeeds, Chris's housing dream might still be in jeopardy due to potential CBC funding cuts under Pierre's leadership.
Therefore, there's all the more reason to cherish Chris's flawless portrayal of Pierre for as long as possible. Recently, while attempting to surprise him in character at one of Pierre's rallies in Windsor, Nova Scotia, Chris was mistaken for the real deal by Pierre's supporters. This mix-up occurred because Chris had perfected Pierre's deep, nasal accent and his confident yet slightly geeky body language.
Whether it's due to Canadian comedy groups more accurately reflecting the nation's demographics than political leaders these days, or because of the financial constraints faced by public broadcasters in Canada, Chris is also portraying Prime Minister Justin in skits.
However, Chris's political satire is also gaining significant attention. His videos featuring portrayals of Pierre or Justin have amassed over 5.1 million views across social media platforms since the premiere of the 31st season in September.
Scenes where his two political leaders interact using green-screen technology—rapidly cutting between different sides of the House of Commons—seem to especially entertain online viewers.
Even though he has a strong comedic aspect this season, playing a frustrated divorced father, Chris has undergone a significant amount of makeup, including a wig, facial sculpting, and a device that is implanted on his neck to draw his skin back and strengthen his jaw. Chris believes Pierre to be far more aware of his internet persona.
Tune into 'America's Got Talent' Season 19 on July 2 on NBC at 8 pm ET to catch Chris Wilson pull out some of his best impressions.
