Christopher Van Jura

Born and raised in Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey as one of 4 kids, Chris had a fantastic childhood. Father Bill Van Jura was an executive in the Print Industry and mother Kathleen was an educator. As parents they have and continue to push him towards success instilling in him at an early age the benefits of hard work and a positive mind. With two older brothers and a younger sister in the house, it was a constant struggle to be heard and Chris certainly tried his hardest. As his aunt's and uncles like to remind him, at an early age he would perform his "shows" at family gatherings -- to stellar reviews. Constantly active, Chris participated in 3 sports until he graduated High School, earning varsity letters in Football, Baseball and Wrestling at Hasbrouck Heights High School (2000). When he was accepted to Western Connecticut State University he had dreams of playing college football, but before he could even get to school that dream was taken away. Away at school and away from home he turned to what he considered as a fall back, Theatre. Although he was in every play he could have been from the 7th grade, it never felt like it could be his life. It was, at the time, the best decision of his life. At Western he was blessed to be under the training of one of the best Programs in the country, led by Academy Award winner Bill Walton, Sal Trapani, Frank Herbert, Liz Popiel and Pam McDaniel, he was immersed in a program that would cover all facets of the art of performance. Chris loved his time at Western so much that he decided to stay for 5 years, much to the chagrin of his parents! Some of his finest performances at Western included Sir Toby Belch in an adaptation of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, Einstein in Picasso at the Lapin Agile and Rich in Neil Labute's epic, The Distance From Here. He was blessed to participate in the 2003 Edinburgh Fringe Festival as a featured performer in Sal Trapani's original work, Food! A Sixteen Course Musical. After graduation in 2005 it was headfirst into the ocean on the industry -- not just entertainment but the food and hospitality business (of course). Since graduating, Chris has been blessed to have achieved commercial success, appearing in spots for Verizon Wireless, Herr's Potato Chips, Subway and Campbell's soup, to name a few as well as several independent films. With lots of life ahead of him, he is excited not only for continued success for his impending nuptials to his longtime girlfriend Corinne. He currently resides in Hoboken, NJ.