Chris Eigeman
A sardonic fixture of 1990s indie cinema, his wry, intellectual presence defined the talky, urbane comedies of Whit Stillman.
Born 1965 (age 61)·American actor and film director·Birthday: March 1·Generation X
Biography
Chris Eigeman didn't just act in the defining independent films of the early 1990s; he became their signature voice. Discovered by writer-director Whit Stillman while working at a New York City cinema, Eigeman's debut as the caustic, hyper-articulate Nick Smith in 'Metropolitan' (1990) announced a new kind of movie character: the charmingly cynical observer. With his deadpan delivery and a talent for delivering withering social commentary, he became a cornerstone of Stillman's filmic universe, following up with roles in 'Barcelona' and 'The Last Days of Disco.' His persona was so potent it bled into his work for other directors, including Noah Baumbach's 'Kicking and Screaming' and a memorable turn in the TV series 'Gilmore Girls.' Eigeman later shifted to directing, but his legacy remains that of the sharp-tongued, secretly sentimental heart of a very specific and beloved era of American filmmaking.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Chris was born in 1965, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Chris Was Born
The biggest hits of 1965
#1 Movie
The Sound of Music
Best Picture
The Sound of Music
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Chris's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1965Born
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1970Started school
First Earth Day; The Beatles break up
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $17,000Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Bridge over Troubled Water" — Simon & GarfunkelBest Picture: Patton
1978Became a teenager
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Could drive
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1983Could vote
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1986Turned 21
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1995Turned 30
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 40
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 50
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 60
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 61 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Made his film debut as the cynically witty Nick Smith in Whit Stillman's acclaimed indie 'Metropolitan' (1990).
- Reprised his collaboration with Stillman in the ensemble casts of 'Barcelona' (1994) and 'The Last Days of Disco' (1998).
- Directed the feature film 'Turn of the Century,' showcasing his transition from actor to filmmaker.
- Played a recurring role as Jason 'Digger' Stiles, Lorelai's wealthy suitor, on the popular series 'Gilmore Girls.'
Did You Know?
He was discovered by Whit Stillman while working as a manager at the now-closed Carnegie Hall Cinema in New York.
He is a graduate of Bard College.
He provided the voice for the character of 'The Critic' in an episode of the animated series 'The Venture Bros.'
“I find that a little moral courage is a valuable thing in a man.”
