# Chi Lewis-Parry
**Chi Lewis-Parry** (also known by the nickname "Chopper") is a British actor, stunt performer, screenwriter, and former mixed martial arts heavyweight fighter, born in 1983 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5213912/) • [2](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/348913/chi-lewis-parry). Standing 206 cm tall, he is best known for playing [Samson](https://www.edgepedia.org/samson-28-days-later), the hulking "Alpha" infected, in the horror films *28 Years Later* (2025) and *[28 Years Later: The Bone Temple](https://www.edgepedia.org/28-years-later-the-bone-temple)* (2026), and for the role of Phoebus in *Gladiator II* (2024)[3](https://www.cinefil.com/star/chi-lewis-parry) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5213912/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1983, Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England, UK[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5213912/) |
| Professions | Actor, stunt performer, writer, producer; former MMA heavyweight fighter[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/348913/chi-lewis-parry) • [4](https://elcinema.com/en/person/2325160) |
| Nickname | "Chopper"[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/348913/chi-lewis-parry) |
| Height | 206 cm[5](https://www.comingsoon.it/personaggi/chi-lewis-parry/305553/biografia/) |
| Signature role | Samson, the Alpha infected, in *28 Years Later* (2025) and *28 Years Later: The Bone Temple* (2026)[3](https://www.cinefil.com/star/chi-lewis-parry) |
| Other film roles | Phoebus in *Gladiator II* (2024); stunts in *Kraven the Hunter* (2024) and *Expend4bles* (2023)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5213912/) |
| Acting debut | An episode of *Top Boy*, 2011[5](https://www.comingsoon.it/personaggi/chi-lewis-parry/305553/biografia/) |
## Background and fighting career
Before acting, Lewis-Parry competed as a heavyweight mixed martial arts fighter[4](https://elcinema.com/en/person/2325160). He appeared as himself in the televised ONE Fighting Championship events *Honor and Glory* (2014) and *Warrior's Quest* (2015)[6](https://ohsosmall.com/actors/chilewisparry.html). A UFC profile page lists him in the heavyweight division with a 0-0-0 record and a listed octagon debut of September 30, 2026, with the status "Not Fighting"[7](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/chi-lewis-parry). His height and physique, 206 cm, later became the basis of his screen casting as physically imposing characters[5](https://www.comingsoon.it/personaggi/chi-lewis-parry/305553/biografia/).
## Acting career
**Television.** Lewis-Parry made his acting debut in 2011 with an episode of *Top Boy*, followed in 2012 by the short film *The Other Side* and an episode of *Red Dwarf*, in which he played a Gelf[5](https://www.comingsoon.it/personaggi/chi-lewis-parry/305553/biografia/) • [6](https://ohsosmall.com/actors/chilewisparry.html). His television guest roles since then include Allison in an episode of *Pistol* (2022), Blue Raven in two episodes of *Pennyworth* (2022), Matthew in *Ted Lasso* (2023), a bouncer in *Ghosts* (2023), an American man in *The Regime* (2024), a Yeoman Gate Guard in *[My Lady Jane](https://www.edgepedia.org/my-lady-jane)* (2024), and [Bodyguard](https://www.edgepedia.org/bodyguard) 1 in *Slow Horses* (2024)[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/348913/chi-lewis-parry).
**Film.** He appeared as a Marine in *Edge of Tomorrow* (2014)[6](https://ohsosmall.com/actors/chilewisparry.html). In 2024 he played Phoebus in [Ridley Scott](https://www.edgepedia.org/ridley-scott)'s *Gladiator II*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5213912/). In 2025 he appeared in *A Woman Scorned* (as Dom), *The Running Man* (as "Negative Dude"), and *28 Years Later*, in which he introduced the character Samson[5](https://www.comingsoon.it/personaggi/chi-lewis-parry/305553/biografia/) • [8](https://www.moviemeter.com/celebrities/1344320/chi-lewis-parry).
**Stunts and producing.** His stunt credits include *Kraven the Hunter* (2024), *Expend4bles* (2023), *Heart of Stone* (2023), *Avenue 5*, and *Bridgerton*[9](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/chi-lewis-parry/credits/3060110036/). He has also written and produced a number of short films[4](https://elcinema.com/en/person/2325160).
## Samson and the 28 Years Later films
In *28 Years Later* (2025), directed by [Danny Boyle](https://www.edgepedia.org/danny-boyle) from a screenplay by [Alex Garland](https://www.edgepedia.org/alex-garland), Lewis-Parry played Samson, the leader of a pack of infected who roam the post-apocalyptic British mainland[10](https://www.gq.com/story/28-years-laters-monstrously-hung-zombie-tells-all). The character is an "Alpha", an evolved class of infected, and the film shows him killing a soldier by ripping off his head with the spine still attached[11](https://www.gqitalia.it/article/28-anni-dopo-zombie-alfa-superdotato-intervista-storia) • [12](https://nz.news.yahoo.com/alpha-zombie-returns-chi-lewis-000100168.html). Samson also appears in the film's ending, where he arrives to claim a baby born to a pregnant infected woman[13](https://time.com/7296186/28-years-later-ending-sequel/).
Much of the online conversation around the film focused on the character's large prosthetic penis, which went viral after release[10](https://www.gq.com/story/28-years-laters-monstrously-hung-zombie-tells-all). In a June 2025 interview with British GQ, Lewis-Parry said the reaction was expected and that he was proud of the world the filmmakers had created[14](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/28-years-later-hung-zombie). He also described keeping a diary for the role and developed a personal backstory in which Samson sacrificed himself to save others before being infected; the interview presents this as the actor's interpretation rather than confirmed film canon[15](https://www.documentarytube.com/blog/28-years-laters-alpha-zombie-chi-lewis-parry-on-samsons-backstory-train-scene-and-nudity/).
He reprised Samson in *28 Years Later: The Bone Temple* (2026), directed by [Nia DaCosta](https://www.edgepedia.org/nia-dacosta) and written by Alex Garland, which opened in theaters on January 16, 2026[16](https://www.moviefone.com/news/28-years-later-the-bone-temple-cast-interview/). In the sequel, Dr. Ian Kelson, played by [Ralph Fiennes](https://www.edgepedia.org/ralph-fiennes), attempts to treat and communicate with Samson, and the relationship between the two characters forms the film's emotional center[17](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/horror-movies/28-years-later-the-bone-temple-star-ralph-fiennes-says-dr-kelson-is-on-a-collision-course-with-jimmy-crystal-its-good-and-evil-isnt-it/) • [18](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/2026/01/28-years-later-the-bone-temple-movie-review/685631/). Lewis-Parry said before release that he cared about how the character was perceived because, unlike most roles, he had the chance to revisit him across two films[19](https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/28-years-later-fans-are-talking-prosthetic-penis-how-does-the-actor-feel-samson-chi-lewis-parry).
## References
1. [Chi Lewis-Parry, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5213912/)
2. [Chi Lewis-Parry, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/348913/chi-lewis-parry)
3. [Chi Lewis-Parry: biographie et filmographie, Cinefil](https://www.cinefil.com/star/chi-lewis-parry)
4. [Chi Lewis-Parry, elCinema](https://elcinema.com/en/person/2325160)
5. [Chi Lewis-Parry biografia, Comingsoon.it](https://www.comingsoon.it/personaggi/chi-lewis-parry/305553/biografia/)
6. [Chi Lewis Parry, Actors Profile, OhSoSmall](https://ohsosmall.com/actors/chilewisparry.html)
7. [Chi Lewis-Parry, UFC](https://www.ufc.com/athlete/chi-lewis-parry)
8. [Chi Lewis-Parry, MovieMeter](https://www.moviemeter.com/celebrities/1344320/chi-lewis-parry)
9. [Chi Lewis-Parry List of Movies and TV Shows, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/chi-lewis-parry/credits/3060110036/)
10. [28 Years Later's Monstrously Hung Zombie Tells All, GQ](https://www.gq.com/story/28-years-laters-monstrously-hung-zombie-tells-all)
11. [28 anni dopo e lo zombie Alfa superdotato, GQ Italia](https://www.gqitalia.it/article/28-anni-dopo-zombie-alfa-superdotato-intervista-storia)
12. [The Alpha Zombie Returns: Chi Lewis-Parry on Adding Depth to Samson, Yahoo](https://nz.news.yahoo.com/alpha-zombie-returns-chi-lewis-000100168.html)
13. [How the Jarring Ending of 28 Years Later Sets Up Forthcoming Sequel The Bone Temple, Time](https://time.com/7296186/28-years-later-ending-sequel/)
14. [28 Years Later's hung zombie interview, British GQ](https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/article/28-years-later-hung-zombie)
15. [28 Years Later's Alpha Zombie: Chi Lewis-Parry on Samson's Backstory, Train Scene and Nudity, DocumentaryTube](https://www.documentarytube.com/blog/28-years-laters-alpha-zombie-chi-lewis-parry-on-samsons-backstory-train-scene-and-nudity/)
16. [Ralph Fiennes and Chi Lewis-Parry Talk '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple', Moviefone](https://www.moviefone.com/news/28-years-later-the-bone-temple-cast-interview/)
17. [28 Years Later: The Bone Temple star Ralph Fiennes says Dr. Kelson is on a collision course with Jimmy Crystal, GamesRadar+](https://www.gamesradar.com/entertainment/horror-movies/28-years-later-the-bone-temple-star-ralph-fiennes-says-dr-kelson-is-on-a-collision-course-with-jimmy-crystal-its-good-and-evil-isnt-it/)
18. [An Apocalypse Film That Will Prompt Wild Cheering, The Atlantic](https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/2026/01/28-years-later-the-bone-temple-movie-review/685631/)
19. [Yes, 28 Years Later Fans Are Still Talking About That Prosthetic Penis, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/28-years-later-fans-are-talking-prosthetic-penis-how-does-the-actor-feel-samson-chi-lewis-parry)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › English actors: 2000s onward › Surnames L to Mb*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 19, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 19, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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