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Chris Pine Born on Aug. 26, 1980, Pine was reared in a show business home by his actor parents, Robert Pine, then at the peak of his fame as Sgt. Joseph Getraer on the 1970s staple, "CHiPS" (NBC, 1977-1983), and Gwynne Gilford, star of the film "Masters of the Universe" (1987). Pine was also the grandson of 1940s film siren, Anne Gwynne, who had starred in "Ride 'Em Cowboy" (1942) and "House of Frankenstein" (1944). Not surprisingly, the young actor and his sister Katie grew up in Los Angeles, soaking up the Hollywood lifestyle by often visiting their parents on set. Though he set his sights on acting, Pine first received an education, earning a bachelor's degree in literature from the University of California, Berkeley. During his junior year at Berkley, he spent a year studying abroad at the University of Leeds before returning home to finish his degree. He also took an acting class with an adjunct professor connected to the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, which led to Pine performing in a number of local plays; later he studied his craft with Howard Fine and Ivana Chubbuck.
Taking a professional stab at the family business, Pine began his career on television, making guest appearances on a variety of popular series, including a 2003 episode of the medical drama "ER" (NBC, 1994-2010), as well as episodes of "The Guardian" (CBS, 2001-04) and "CSI: Miami" (CBS, 2002- ).
Pine received a second chance when he tried out for the role opposite friend Zachary Quinto, who had been cast as Spock. With the rest of the cast in place - Karl Urban as Bones, Zoe Saldana as Uhura, Simon Pegg as Scotty, John Cho as Sulu and Anton Yelchin as Chekov - the new crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise blasted off into theaters, receiving strong critical reviews and huge take at the box office that practically guaranteed a sequel. But most importantly, the high-profile part proved to be his breakout role, earning Pine a degree of celebrity he never before experienced. With sudden fame came tabloid attention, with reports coming in of the actor briefly dating actresses like Olivia Munn and Audrina Patridge. Of course, the film offers poured in, with Pine's name being attached to other coveted parts, including the lead in "Green Lantern" (2011) that ultimately went to "Aces" co-star Ryan Reynolds. Meanwhile, director Tony Scott cast Pine opposite Denzel Washington in "Unstoppable" (2010), with the pair playing two railroad conductors tasked with trying to stop a runaway train loaded with enough combustible liquids and poisonous gas to wipe out a nearby city.