Who is Chris Zylka? Paris Hilton's ex-fiance is facing felony charges after scuffle with the cops in public

Actor Chris Zylka, who was previously engaged to Paris Hilton in 2018, is facing multiple felony charges after an altercation with police in Warren, Ohio, on December 4, 2024.

As per People's December 13 report, Zylka, 39, allegedly exhibited erratic behavior, prompting police intervention, and is now charged with felony assault and attempted offense, along with misdemeanor charges for disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and aggravated menacing.

A warrant for his arrest has been issued, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the Warren Police Department. According to a police report obtained by People, officers were called to the scene after Zylka was seen in the middle of a busy road attempting to enter strangers' cars.

Chris Zylka is an actor with over a decade of experience in television and film. He first appeared on screen in 2008, with guest roles on TV shows like 90210, Hannah Montana, and Everybody Hates Chris.

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Chris Zylka's arrest status and charges

As per People, authorities stated that he appeared to be "foaming at the mouth" and was under the influence of drugs, exhibiting signs of "excited delirium." The report also noted that he was barefoot and shirtless despite the 32-degree weather.

When officers attempted to take Chris Zylka into custody, he allegedly resisted, requiring the efforts of three officers to restrain and handcuff him. He reportedly tried to enter a woman’s car and attempted to break its window before police arrived. Subsequently, to subdue him, officers used a taser, and paramedics administered ketamine, a sedative often used in emergencies.

Online court records show that Chris Zylka is facing felony charges of assault and attempt to commit an offense, in addition to misdemeanor charges for disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and aggravated menacing. The Warren Police Department confirmed to People magazine that Zylka is no longer in custody, and a warrant has been issued for his arrest.

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More about the actor

Chris Zylka gained recognition for his role as Jake Armstrong in The CW’s The Secret Circle (2011-2012) and as Tom Garvey in HBO’s The Leftovers (2014-2017). Zylka’s film credits include a role in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012).

Born as Christopher Settlemire in Youngstown, Ohio, Zylka later adopted his mother’s maiden name as his professional name. Per People's January 2018 article, he played football and studied art at the University of Toledo. He pursued acting after being inspired by his Ukrainian grandfather’s passion for theater. Zylka subsequently moved to California without ever having visited the state before.

Chris Zylka's relationship with Paris Hilton remains one of the most publicized aspects of his personal life. The two began dating in 2016 and got engaged in January 2018. Hilton described him as 'the love of her life' to People in 2018, and Zylka even got a large tattoo of Hilton’s name in the Disney font on his arm, calling her his "fairytale princess."

However, the engagement ended after 11 months, with sources revealing to the media outlet that Hilton "realized it wasn’t right for her." Meanwhile, in a December 2023 interview on Ned’s Declassified Podcast Survival Guide, Zylka opened up about the relationship, calling Hilton "a wonderful human being."

Chris Zylka stated that the split stemmed from Paris Hilton’s alleged request for him to stop acting, which he said he agreed to during their relationship. Zylka admitted that while he initially chose her over his career, he later realized the importance of acting to him.

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While Zylka’s acting career has been quiet in recent years, his involvement in fitness and his past roles in The Leftovers and The Secret Circle remain his most notable contributions to the entertainment industry.