Christian Campbell was already a seasoned young actor by the time he struck indie film gold in the gay romantic comedy Trick (1999). Born in Toronto, Campbell began acting as a child, making his professional theater debut at age 12. After spending his teens in Canadian television, Campbell relocated to Los Angeles in the 1990s. Further bolstering his acting resume with TV films, including Seduced by Madness: The Diane Borchardt Story (1996), as well as a role on the short-lived primetime drama Malibu Shores (1996), he also remained true to his stage roots and founded the Blue Sphere Alliance theater company. Branching out into feature films, Campbell co-produced Hairshirt (1998) with star younger sibling Neve Campbell, and co-starred in the racial drama Next Time (1998). He reached a larger movie audience, however, as an aspiring composer attempting a one-night stand with a studly dancer in Trick. An utterly light-hearted gay romance, Trick became a summer 1999 art house success after gaining fans and critical kudos at the Sundance Film Festival. Campbell returned to television in 2000, as part of the cast of producer Darren Star's hotly anticipated but little-watched drama The $treet.