- He was actually going to be dropped by his record label until David Lynch used "Wicked Game" on the soundtrack of Wild at Heart (1990), making the song a big hit and saving his record deal. He later acted for Lynch in Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992).
- Is a surfer and has surfed with famous big wave surfers off San Francisco, where he is still living as of 2016.
- From a working-class background, earned his bachelor's degree in English literature, then studied in Japan for a year. He worked in film studio there and also boxed as a light heavyweight amateur. Sang at parties and played rockabilly and Elvis Presley tunes on his guitar.
- Music video "Wicked Game" was ranked #13 on VH1's (2001) 100 Greatest Videos list.
- Turned down the role of Jeffrey Beaumont in Blue Velvet (1986).
- Has "I (Heart) Carole L" written on one of his guitars in memory of Carole Low, his former Stagg High School sweetheart, who passed away from cancer.
- The 1991 black and white music video for "Wicked Game" was directed by Herb Ritts, and featured Isaak and supermodel Helena Christensen.
- Good friends and collaborator with Stevie Nicks.
- Two music videos that made it on VH1's 50 Sexiest Video Moments: "Wicked Game" was #4 and "Baby Did a Bad, Bad Thing" was #28.
- He was one of the valedictorians of his graduating class at Stagg High School, Stockton, California, in 1974.
- When he visited his mother Dorothy (1931-2021), who lived in his childhood home in Stockton, California, he would still clean the yard for her.
- His father's family were ethnic Germans from Bessarabia, Russia. His mother's family is from Trefontane, Monteggio, in Genoa, Italy.
- Was an amateur boxer while in college.
- He lives by the beach in the San Francisco Bay area.
- 1980 graduate of University of the Pacific, Stockton, California, USA.
- Returned to San Francisco and performed as a solo act then backed by Silvertone band. Signed with Reprise Records.
- Ranked #68 on VH1's 100 Sexiest Artists.
- Bruce Weber shot the photo art for his self titled second album, "Chris Isaak" in 1986.
- Chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the world. (1990)
- Has two older brothers, Nick and Jeff. It was Nick who taught him how to play the guitar.
- Turned down the role of Ray Sinclair in Something Wild (1986).
- The 1999 music video for "Baby Did a Bad, Bad Thing" was directed by Herb Ritts, and featured Isaak and French supermodel Laetitia Casta.
- Is a fourth-generation Stocktonian (Stockton, California, USA). His great-grandparents, his grandparents, and his mother were all born in Stockton before Chris and his brothers Nick and Jeff.
- Collects small red sculptural pieces which light up electronically.
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