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Eric Szmanda

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Eric Szmanda
Szmanda in 2015
Born
Eric Kyle Szmanda[1]

(1975-07-24) July 24, 1975 (age 49)
Alma materAmerican Academy of Dramatic Arts; Carroll College[1]
OccupationActor
Years active1998–present
Known forGreg Sanders on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

Eric Kyle Szmanda (/səˈmændə/; born July 24, 1975) is an American actor. He is best known for having played Greg Sanders in the CBS police drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, a role he held from the show's beginning in 2000 until it ended in 2015.

Early life and education

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Szmanda was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Elaine (née Enders)[2] and Donald Szmanda, and has two brothers, Brett and Robert.[1] His great-uncle Ray Szmanda was the "Menard's Guy," a local celebrity in the Midwest famous for his enthusiastic ads for Menard's, a chain of hardware stores.

When Eric was very young, the family moved to Mukwonago, Wisconsin. He attended Mukwonago High School and subsequently Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin.[1] While he was in school, he began marketing internships with music conglomerate BMG and moved to Chicago, Illinois, to take a full-time job in the music business.[1]

Szmanda attended classes for four years at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Pasadena, California, and graduated.[1]

Career

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In his first role on television, Szmanda starred in The Net, a series based on the 1995 film of the same name.

In 2000, Szmanda began a recurring role in the CBS police drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation in the first two seasons as Greg Sanders, a DNA technician and investigator. He was subsequently added to the main cast in the third season. He remained on the show until it ended after the fifteenth season in September 2015.[3]

Activism

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Szmanda supports the U.S. Campaign for Burma and traveled to Thailand to see the conditions of Burmese refugees who have fled their native country.[4]

Szmanda showed his support for Animal Defenders International (ADI) in March 2017 along with former CSI co-star Jorja Fox. The two helped to host a benefit to raise money for the charity that aims to help and save animals all over the world from circuses and from other forms of animal cruelty. He and Fox attended the White House to help put forward a bill to stop circuses from using animals and protect them.

Filmography

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Film and television credits

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Year Title Role Notes
1998–1999 The Net Jacob Resh/Sorcerer Television debut
Series regular; 13 episodes
1999 Dodge's City Johnny Dodge Television movie
2000 Oh Baby Brent Two episodes
2000 Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane Max Episode: "A Midsummer Night's Nightmare"
2000 100 Girls Sam/Computer Nerd Film debut
2000 FreakyLinks Eli Episode: "Subject: Edith Keeler Must Die"
2000 Big Time Avery Short film
2000–2015 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Greg Sanders 46 episodes; recurring role
287 episodes; series regular
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2005)
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2002–2004)
2001 Three Sisters Dave Episode: "The Faculty Party"
2001 The Division Mark Episode: "The Parent Trap"
2002 The Rules of Attraction NYU Film Student
2004 Marilyn Manson: Saint Himself Video short/music video
2004 True Vinyl Billy Thompson
2005 Little Athens Derek
2005 Snow Wonder Luke Television movie
2012 Shadow of Fear Detective Dominic Leary Television movie
2015 CSI: Immortality Greg Sanders Television movie
2018 Near Extinction: Shangri-La Vargas Television movie
2023 CSI: Vegas Greg Sanders

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2003 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Greg Sanders (voice role)
2004 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - Dark Motives Lab Technician Greg Sanders (voice role)
2006 CSI: 3 Dimensions of Murder Greg Sanders (voice role)
2007 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - Hard Evidence Greg Sanders (voice role)
2009 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation - Deadly Intent Greg Sanders (voice role)
2010 CSI: Fatal Conspiracy Greg Sanders (voice role)

Stage

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Year Title Role Notes
2015 The Nerd Willum Cubbert Totem Pole Playhouse

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Eric Szmanda". TV Guide.
  2. ^ "Search results for news archive: Enders, Lorna Jean (obituary); Milwaukee Journal Sentinel". newsbank.com. Archived from the original on August 20, 2018. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  3. ^ Hatmaker, Julia (May 29, 2015). "'CSI' actor Eric Szmanda on starring in 'The Nerd' at Totem Pole Playhouse, finale of the CBS show". PennLive. Retrieved December 29, 2021.
  4. ^ Corben, Ron (November 1, 2009). "US Campaign Hopes Celebrities Can Help Burma". VOA. Retrieved 2017-04-06.
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