Chi Lewis-Parry: Actor, MMA Fighter, and 28 Years Later Star

You recognise the face, maybe the build — that towering figure who turns a horror film into something more than jump scares. Chi Lewis-Parry didn’t start on screen. He spent years inside a cage as a professional MMA fighter, and before that he was sinking jump shots on a basketball court. Now, as the terrifying Alpha infected in 28 Years Later, he’s one of the most physically arresting actors in genre cinema.

Date of birth: 10 August 1983 ·
Profession: Actor, stunt performer, MMA fighter, kickboxer, former basketball player ·
Known for: Playing Samson in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026)

The table below distils his core identifiers into a single, scannable snapshot.

Who is Chi Lewis-Parry?

Chi Lewis-Parry is an English actor, stunt performer, professional mixed martial artist and kickboxer, and a former professional basketball player. He was born on 10 August 1983 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England (Wikipedia – encyclopaedic biography).

What is Chi Lewis-Parry’s nationality?

He is British, specifically English, having been born and raised in Hertfordshire, England.

Who are Chi Lewis-Parry’s parents?

His parents’ identities are not publicly confirmed. He has spoken about his mixed heritage but has not released specific details. (Business Insider – entertainment news outlet)

What is Chi Lewis-Parry’s professional background?

• Professional basketball player in the early 2000s
• Mixed martial artist and kickboxer, competing professionally from 2012 to 2020 (Business Insider – entertainment news outlet)
• Transitioned to acting full-time after the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2021 (Business Insider – entertainment news outlet)

The implication: Chi Lewis-Parry’s career is a masterclass in transferring athletic discipline from one arena to another.

What is Chi Lewis-Parry known for?

He is best known for playing Samson, the Alpha infected, in the 28 Years Later franchise. The role — a towering, nude, prosthetic-enhanced zombie — has become his signature. (Wikipedia – encyclopaedic biography)

What role did Chi Lewis-Parry play in 28 Years Later?

Lewis-Parry plays Samson, the leader of the infected, in both 28 Years Later (2025) and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026). The character is an Alpha infected, portrayed with full nudity and a large penis prosthetic — a deliberate choice that director Danny Boyle used to create a primal, unsettling figure. (Wikipedia – encyclopaedic biography)

What movies has Chi Lewis-Parry appeared in?

• 2022: Pistol (TV series) – played a bodyguard for the Sex Pistols (Business Insider – entertainment news outlet)
• 2022–2024: Minor roles in Pennyworth and Slow Horses (Business Insider – entertainment news outlet)
• 2025: The Running Man (remake) – portrayed Stone ‘Negative Dude’ (Wikipedia – encyclopaedic biography)
• 2025: 28 Years Later – Samson/Alpha infected
• 2026: 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple – Samson/Alpha infected
• 2024: Kraven the Hunter – stunt actor (Wikipedia – encyclopaedic biography)

The pattern: silence and physicality become his loudest statements on screen.

Where does Chi Lewis-Parry train?

Lewis-Parry has trained at top MMA facilities. According to Business Insider – entertainment news outlet, he trained with former UFC champion Daniel Cormier ahead of UFC 200.

Who does Chi Lewis-Parry train with?

He has trained with Daniel Cormier, among others, to prepare for professional fights. Cormier has described Lewis-Parry as “a natural athlete, powerful and quick for his size.” (Business Insider – entertainment news outlet)

What is Chi Lewis-Parry’s fighting style?

He competes in the heavyweight division. His style blends striking with ground-and-pound, reflecting his basketball background (agility for a big man) and kickboxing training. (Wikipedia – encyclopaedic biography)

What this means: his fight background translates directly into authentic, high-impact horror performance.

Who played Alpha Male in 28 Years Later?

Chi Lewis-Parry played the Alpha Male, named Samson, in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026). The role required him to perform fully nude with a prosthetic penis, a decision that generated significant press attention. (Wikipedia – encyclopaedic biography)

What did Chi Lewis-Parry say about playing Samson?

In an interview with Variety, Lewis-Parry said he “wanted to bring a raw, physical presence that felt terrifying but also real.” He has cited the poster for Big Trouble in Little China (1986) as the spark that made him want to act. (Business Insider – entertainment news outlet)

Was that a prosthetic in 28 years later?

Yes. The Alpha’s appearance in both films used a large penis prosthetic and full body makeup. The filmmakers chose practical effects to maintain the gritty, realistic horror aesthetic that the franchise is known for. (Wikipedia – encyclopaedic biography)

The catch: what could be a gimmick becomes the cornerstone of a genuinely unnerving portrayal.

Was that a prosthetic in 28 years later? (Practical effects and authenticity)

The film franchise has a history of using practical effects, and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple continues that tradition. The Alpha infected’s appearance — including the prosthetic — was created by a makeup team that blended prosthetics, animatronics, and minimal digital compositing.

How was the Alpha’s appearance created?

Director Danny Boyle and his effects team designed the Alpha to look “primal and anatomical.” The prosthetic was custom-moulded to Lewis-Parry’s body. (Information based on production notes cited by Wikipedia – encyclopaedic biography)

What other practical effects were used in 28 Years Later?

• Full body makeup for infected characters
• Animatronic limbs for gore scenes
• Minimal CGI – the film emphasises on-set physicality

The implication: practical effects demand a performer who can deliver authenticity without digital safety nets.

The pattern: each stage of his life feeds directly into the next, building a performer uniquely suited to physically demanding roles.

“I wanted to bring a raw, physical presence that felt terrifying but also real.”

Chi Lewis-Parry, speaking to Variety (via Business Insider – entertainment news outlet)

“He’s a natural athlete, powerful and quick for his size.”

Daniel Cormier, former UFC champion (via Business Insider – entertainment news outlet)

From basketball court to MMA cage to the screen, Chi Lewis-Parry’s career reflects a rare willingness to reinvent himself. The actor now stands at the intersection of practical horror and physical performance, a combination that the 28 Years Later franchise has bet on — and so far, the bet is paying off. For audiences who appreciate horror that feels tactile, Lewis-Parry’s Samson is a character built from flesh, sweat, and deliberate choice. Chi Lewis-Parry’s trajectory proves that for aspiring actor-athletes, the body can be the most powerful script in the room.

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