Dance Fever

Background:

An accomplished cross-country runner from Detroit, Katie Chonacas tried her hand in acting and modeling and was first noticed as a semi-finalist on the hit ABC Family show, “Dance Fever” (2003).

She has appeared in the musical documentary "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" (2002) and in the films "Slingshot" (2005), "Killer Pad" (2008), and "Triloquist" (2008). She will next be seen in the upcoming films "Legacy," "The Code," "Major Movie Star," "Righteous Kill," "A Perfect Getaway," "Grinder," and "Streets of Blood."

On the small screen, TV viewers could catch her guest-starring in "CSI: NY," "Strong Medicine," "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," "Cold Case," "Campus Ladies," and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation."

As a model, the 5' 5" beauty with long hair has worked for such quality modeling projects as Nordstroms and Macy's, and is currently featured in a prominent European ad campaign for Sun Silk hair care products, a National spot for Doritos, Lux hair products for Japan only, Pepsi Lemon Twist for Japan only. She also had commercials' running for Marshall's clothing stores and a PSA for a Drug Free America, as well as starred in Pink’s music video for the song “Who Knew.”

Cross-Country Runner

Childhood and Family:

In Detroit, Michigan, Kyriaki Chonacas, nicknamed Kiki, Katwoman, or Purity, was born on February 18, 1981. In the seventh grade, she was turned on to running by her father and became one of the fastest runners in her town and became champion in her home state of Michigan. She took first place in her region and state, as well as became the 6th fastest cross-country runner in the nation in 2000. She continues to run marathons even today

Katie, who did a PSA for Drug Free America, won Miss Michigan Teen Motor City, raised $4500 for kids with Leukemia, went to Alaska, and ran one of the hardest marathons up Mt. McKinley. She has sponsored two children in the Philippines for five years, and now sponsors a baby boy, Ruben, from Chile.

"How do you know if your being treated right? When you don't have to ask, because you wouldn't feel like something is wrong." Katie Chonacas.

The Connection

Career:

“In our basement, she [Katie] would always use the broom as a microphone to sing and dance.” Katie Chonacas' mother.

An accomplished cross-country runner, Katie Chonacas entered modeling and acting world after being discovered by Mary Fischioni, an agent at The Talent Shop. She soon began booking modeling and acting jobs around the United States.

The Detroit native arrived in Los Angeles around 2001-2002 and landed her first films role, a small part as an interview subject, in the documentary film that recounts the story of The Funk Brothers, a group of Detroit musicians who backed up dozens of Motown artists, "Standing in the Shadows of Motown" (2002). In the following year, she joined the musical game show "Dance Fever" (2003), where she managed to enter the semi final.

In 2005, Katie returned to the big screen and supported David Arquette, Thora Birch, Balthazar Getty, and Julianna Margulies in director Jay Alaimo's romantic crime/drama "Slingshot." She also played the female lead in Kim Ray's 15-minute sci-fi film "The Connection" (2005), as the manipulative girl Sita.

Meanwhile, she was spotted as a guest in an episode of the CBS police procedural series "CSI: NY," Lifetime medical drama "Strong Medicine," FX comedy "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," CBS police procedural drama "Cold Case," Oxygen sitcom "Campus Ladies," and popular, Emmy Award-winning CBS cop/crime drama "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation."

2008 saw Katie played Constance in Robert Englund-directed horror/comedy film "Killer Pad," alongside Daniel Franzese, Eric Jungmann, and Shane McRae, and co-starred as Robin in yet another horror/comedy movie, Mark Jones' "Triloquist," with Rocky Marquette and Paydin LoPachin.

Katie has wrapped her new film, "Legacy," a drama/comedy by Irving Rothberg starring Haylie Duff, and will soon complete "The Code," a crime movie by Mimi Leder starring Morgan Freeman, Antonio Banderas, and Radha Mitchell, and "Major Movie Star," a comedy by Steve Miner starring Jessica Simpson.

Now Katie is filming "Righteous Kill," Jon Avnet's crime/drama starring Al Pacino and Robert De Niro, "A Perfect Getaway," David Twohy's thriller starring Timothy Olyphant, Milla Jovovich, Steve Zahn, and Kiele Sanchez. She is also working on the upcoming films "Grinder," a horror/thriller by Richard Clark Jr. in which she will co-star with Danielle Harris, Sid Haig, Bo Barrett, and Yvonne Maverick, and "Streets of Blood," a action/drama by Charles Winkler in which she will support Val Kilmer, Sharon Stone, 50 Cent, and Dylan McDermott.

“...Flying home from Chicago all by myself, listening to elderly ladies tell me to do it all now, do it while I’m young so I do not miss out on anything. I listened to them then, and I still do today. It’s great advice. I want to live life to the fullest!” Katie Chonacas.

As a model, Katie has worked for such quality modeling projects as Nordstroms, Macy's, to name a few. She is currently featured in a prominent European ad campaign for Sun Silk hair care products, a National spot for Doritos, Lux hair products for Japan only, Pepsi Lemon Twist for Japan only, and had commercials' running for Marshall's clothing stores and a PSA for a Drug Free America.

Katie, who has worked with famed film director David Fincher on a project for Motorola, was also featured in a Chemical Brothers video directed by Chris Milk, the “Show Me A Sign” video by the band Breaking Point, a Jake Coco music video, and starred in Pink’s music video for the song “Who Knew.”

"Life is what you make it. Life is a blessing. Life is real, so real. Life is the gold you wear in your heart. Life is the brass ring someone teaches you to wear. Life is the statement of who and what you have become. Life is love and life is grand." Katie Chonacas.

Awards:
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