Chris Miller Biography: Wife, Age, Children, Net Worth, Movies, Voice Acting, Education

Chris Miller is an acclaimed American animator, director, and voice actor, renowned for his contributions to DreamWorks Animation’s blockbuster franchises.

Best known for directing Shrek the Third (2007) and Puss in Boots (2011), as well as voicing Kowalski in the Madagascar series and the Magic Mirror in the Shrek series, Miller’s storytelling prowess and collaborative spirit have shaped modern animated cinema.

Profile

• Full Name: Christopher Matthew Miller
• Stage Name: Chris Miller
• Born: January 20, 1968
• Age: 57 years old
• Birthplace: Washington, D.C., USA
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Animator, Director, Voice Actor, Screenwriter, Storyboard Artist
• Height: Unknown
• Religion: Unknown
• Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Miller
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Laura Gorenstein Miller (m. 1996)
• Children: Graham and Cora
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $5 million to $10 million

Early Life and Education

Chris Miller was born on January 20, 1968, in Washington, D.C., to Mr. and Mrs. Miller.

Raised in the nation’s capital, he developed an early passion for animation inspired by films like Woody Allen’s Sleeper, which he credits for shaping his career path.

His ethnicity is American, and his religious beliefs are not publicly disclosed.

Miller attended the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts), where he studied animation in the late 1980s and early 1990s, graduating around 1990.

Career

Miller’s career began post-CalArts with a stint at Ralph Bakshi’s studio on the animated/live-action hybrid Cool World (1992), a formative experience in production dynamics.

He joined DreamWorks Animation in 1998 as a storyboard artist on Antz, progressing to story artist on Shrek (2001) and head of story on Shrek 2 (2004).

He voiced the Magic Mirror in the Shrek series and Kowalski in the Madagascar franchise, contributing to films like Madagascar (2005) and Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (2012).

As co-director of Shrek the Third (2007), he helmed the franchise’s third installment, grossing over $800 million worldwide.

Miller made his solo directorial debut with Puss in Boots (2011), a spin-off that earned an Academy Award nomination and grossed $555 million.

After a hiatus, he returned to direct the live-action/animated reboot The Smurfs (2025) for Paramount Animation, voicing Grouchy Smurf and Camouflage Smurf.

His work emphasizes collaborative creativity and innovative visual storytelling.

Awards & Nominations

• 84th Academy Awards (2012): Nominated for Best Animated Feature for Puss in Boots
• 69th Golden Globe Awards (2012): Nominated for Best Animated Feature Film for Puss in Boots
• Variety Creative Impact in Animation Award (2025): Honored for contributions to animation, presented at Nickelodeon Animation Studio

Social Media

Chris Miller does not have social media account.

Personal Life

Chris Miller, 57, maintains a private personal life centered on family and creative pursuits.

He has been married to choreographer Laura Gorenstein Miller since 1996; she founded the Helios Dance Theater in Los Angeles.

The couple has two children, Graham and Cora.

Miller credits his wife’s artistic influence, having created an animated short for her dance company.

He resides in Los Angeles, where he balances directing with family, and enjoys reflecting on films that shaped him, like Sleeper, which he says rescued him from a potential “penniless and drunk” fate.

Net Worth

Chris Miller’s estimated net worth ranges from $5 million to $10 million, derived from his directing credits on high-grossing animated films, voice acting roles, and production work at DreamWorks and Paramount Animation.

Filmography

Selected Filmography (Director):

• Shrek the Third (2007) – Co-Director
• Puss in Boots (2011) – Director
• The Smurfs (2025) – Director

Selected Voice Roles:

• Shrek (2001) – Magic Mirror, Geppetto
• Shrek 2 (2004) – Magic Mirror, Additional Voices
• Madagascar (2005) – Kowalski
• Shrek the Third (2007) – Magic Mirror
• Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (2008) – Kowalski
• Puss in Boots (2011) – Additional Voices
• Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted (2012) – Kowalski
• The Smurfs (2025) – Grouchy Smurf, Camouflage Smurf

Selected Animation/Story Credits:

• Cool World (1992) – Animator
• Antz (1998) – Storyboard Artist
• Shrek (2001) – Story Artist, Additional Dialogue
• Shrek 2 (2004) – Head of Story