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The Story of Resident Evil from the Original Chris Redfield

Chris Redfield is one of the most iconic video game characters, who along with Jill Valentine served as the main protagonists of the first Resident Evil game. While several actors have played the iconic hero, one man set the foundation for those who followed. His name is Charlie Kraslavsky, and he is best known for his role as the beloved character in the live-action cutscenes of the original Resident Evil.

As 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of the series, it was only fitting that Kraslavsky would be invited to speak at California Extreme. Resident Evil: 30 Years of Survival Horror – Q&A Session with Original “Chris Redfield,” Live-Action Actor, Charlie Kraslavsky was a panel that took place on Saturday, August 8 at 4:30 p.m. during the event. The session offered attendees a chance to hear how Kraslavsky became known the world over as the original Chris Redfield.

The Original Chris Redfield

The panel began with a showing of the live action opening of the original Resident Evil that was followed by an introduction to all the main characters. After it’s conclusion, Charlie Kraslavsky walks up to the stage while cosplaying as Chris Redfield.

The panel began with the story of how Kraslavsky landed the iconic role of Chris Redfield. Born and raised in Japan, he was working at a talent agency and acting on the side when Capcom approached the agency in search of Western actors for an upcoming game. He was among the talent chosen for the project because of how closely he resembled the character in the concept art. Capcom disclosed few details about the game to prevent leaks, and the cast received only limited information about the project and the scenes they were filming. Going deeper, Kraslavsky shared behind the scenes stories from the shoot like filming the ending sequence at an abandoned warehouse near the Tama River. He also detailed the ending where Chris smokes a cigarette, and how he pulled off the moment looking like a badass.

When it came to the game’s success, Kraslavsky admitted he was unaware he had appeared in Resident Evil. Because the game released in Japan as Biohazard, he was only familiar with that title. By the time Resident Evil launched in the West, he had stepped away from acting and gaming due to life changing events, including getting married and having a child. He only became aware of his involvement in the series after a group of fans tracked him down in 2018. It was through the bloggers who first reached out that he learned about the success of Resident Evil and how Chris Redfield had become a pop culture icon.

He concluded by detailing his career after the world learned he was the original Chris Redfield. Since then, he has reunited with his castmates and taken part in several games and fan films. He also confirmed he is attached to a few major upcoming titles but cannot share more due to an NDA.

Fan Q&A

After Charlie Kraslavsky shared his story about Resident Evil, the audience had a chance to ask their questions. Attendees wanted a deeper look into the making of the game, his career, and his relationship with his castmates after reuniting with them.

More at California Extreme

Resident Evil: 30 Years of Survival Horror – Q&A Session with Original “Chris Redfield,” Live-Action Actor, Charlie Kraslavsky was one of the many panels hosted at California Extreme 2026. These panels provided an insight into retro games and the arcade market back in the days from industry veterans.  

The original Resident Evil launched on the PlayStation in 1996 and helped define the survival horror genre. It would later be remade for the GameCube in 2002, that was remastered for modern consoles and the PC in 2015. The last title to be released was Requiem on February 27, 2026 and you can check out our review. The next entry will be a remake of Code Veronica that is set to launch in 2027 and will see the return of Chris Redfield.

If you had a chance to check out California Extreme 2026, share your story in the comment section below.

Disclaimer: I bought my pass for California Extreme.

8Bit/Digi is an independent news outlet that provides insight into the video game and fandom community of the San Francisco Bay Area.