Birth name

Christopher Ryan Hardwick is his full birth name; "Chris" is a short form. LOC lists Hardwick, Chris, 1971– (LOC; IMDb bio). Hardwick is not an invented stage surname.

He is the son of professional bowler Billy Hardwick and grew up partly in Memphis and California. He attended UCLA and worked in radio and early MTV/VH1 hosting before stand-up and geek-culture media.

Nerdist, Talking Dead, and TV hosting

Hardwick founded the Nerdist podcast and media brand, later expanding into TV and digital shows aimed at comic-book and genre fans. He hosted AMC's Talking Dead (companion to The Walking Dead) for many seasons and has hosted game shows and live comedy tours. Earlier credits include MTV's Singled Out co-hosting era and voice/acting cameos (NPR profile; LOC).

He remains a prominent face of mainstream "nerd" entertainment hosting. This page uses public career facts only.

The Nerdist Way book by Chris Hardwick Talking Dead / Walking Dead companion books or DVD sets Hardwick stand-up specials

Why the "real name" question matters

Search interest in a celebrity's "real name" usually means one of three things: a shortened everyday form (Tom for Thomas, Dave for David), a middle name used as a stage handle (Drake-style), or a true legal/professional change after immigration or branding. This sprint page states which case applies, cites library or encyclopedia authorities where possible, and avoids gossip. Career sections stay high-level and sourced so Domain Bot can add internal/external links without rewriting the biography. Living subjects are limited to public facts; memorials avoid graphic detail.