You know those actors who just feel like a core memory from your childhood? For a lot of us who grew up glued to the Disney Channel during the early 2010s, that guy is Chris Galya. He wasn’t the main star, sure, but he was the glue. Most people know him as Tony Chiccolini, the well-meaning, slightly airheaded doorman with the incredible hair in Jessie. But honestly, there is a lot more to his career than just holding the door for the Ross family.
If you’ve been wondering where he went or what else he’s actually been in, you’re in the right place. His filmography isn't miles long, but it has some weirdly interesting turns. From zombie apocalypses to satirical dark comedies about the "living dead" in Hollywood, he’s stayed busy in ways you might not expect.
The Big One: Jessie and the Legend of Tony Chiccolini
Let’s be real. If we’re talking about Chris Galya movies and tv shows, the conversation starts and ends with Jessie. Tony was more than just a supporting character; he was Jessie’s main love interest for a huge chunk of the series. He played the Italian-American doorman at the Fairfield with this specific kind of earnest charm that made him impossible to hate.
The chemistry between him and Debby Ryan was actually pretty sweet. Remember the "Tony knows a guy" running gag? Or the fact that he was a "Brony" who loved Power Ponies? It was those little character quirks that made him stand out. He appeared in over 80 episodes between 2011 and 2015. Even after he and Jessie "broke up" in that one episode that broke everyone's heart (Break-Up and Shape-Up), he stayed around as a friend, eventually getting back together with her by the end of the series.
Interestingly, Chris didn't just act in the show. He was known on set for his impressions. If you dig through old YouTube interviews from 2012 or 2013, you can find him doing voices that would make you forget he's the same guy playing a New York doorman.
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Moving Past the Mouse: Acting Dead and Dead Trigger
After Jessie wrapped, Chris didn't just disappear, though it might feel like it if you only watch mainstream network TV. He took a pivot into some darker, more niche territory.
One of his coolest projects was a digital series called Acting Dead (2014). It was a satirical dark comedy about what happens when actors in Hollywood literally become "zombies" to get work. It was super meta and actually won an Emmy for its category. Chris played a character named Hunter Lee, and it showed he had some range beyond the "handsome goofball" archetype Disney had him in.
Then there was Dead Trigger in 2017.
This was a big jump.
He starred alongside action legend Dolph Lundgren.
Basically, it’s a zombie movie based on a mobile game. Chris plays Chris Northon, one of the young recruits trained to go into a zombie-infested city to find a cure. It’s not exactly Citizen Kane, but seeing "Tony the Doorman" fighting off hordes of the undead with a machine gun is a trip.
The Voice Work You Probably Missed
Here is a fun fact: Chris Galya is a massive fan of Family Guy. He actually ended up voicing a character in the episode "The Most Interesting Man in the World" back in 2014. He played a version of Johnny Lawrence (the Cobra Kai guy).
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He also did some voice work for The Boonies, which was a project that popped up around 2017. His voice is deep and versatile, which is why he’s been able to stick around in the industry as a model and voice actor even when he’s not leading a sitcom.
Why Chris Galya Still Matters to Fans
It’s easy to dismiss child-star-adjacent actors when they don't become the next Tom Holland. But Chris Galya represents a specific era of TV comfort. He wasn’t trying to be a brooding Method actor; he was just... fun.
In 2026, nostalgia for the "Debby Ryan era" of Disney is at an all-time high. People are rediscovering Jessie on streaming platforms, and Tony is consistently cited as a "green flag" boyfriend by Gen Z fans looking back.
What is he doing now?
Honestly, he’s living a pretty chill life. He’s been very open about his personal life on social media, especially his relationship with Heather Catania. They got engaged back in late 2020. Professionally, he’s still in the mix, often appearing at fan conventions or doing voiceover work.
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Actionable Insights for Fans
If you want to catch up on his work today, here is the best way to do it:
- Binge the Classics: Jessie is fully available on Disney+. If you want a hit of nostalgia, start with the episode "Used Karma"—it's where the Tony/Jessie romance really kicks off.
- Check Out the Indie Stuff: Look for Acting Dead on independent streaming platforms or YouTube. It’s a great look at his comedic timing outside of a G-rated environment.
- Action Fix: If you want to see him in a totally different light, find Dead Trigger. It’s often available on ad-supported streamers like Tubi or Freevee.
- Follow the Personal Journey: Chris is fairly active on Instagram. It’s the best place to see his current modeling work and his life away from the cameras.
The "Disney curse" is a real thing people talk about, but Chris Galya seems to have avoided it by just being a normal, hardworking guy who happens to have been a part of one of the biggest kids' shows of the decade. Whether he’s opening doors or shooting zombies, he’s always been easy to root for.
Check out his credits on IMDb or Filmaffinity to see the latest updates to his filmography as he moves into more adult-oriented roles in the late 2020s.