Callis was born and raised in London, where he attended Harrow School in North West London. His parents owned a bed-and-breakfast. Callis is Jewish, the descendant of immigrants from Russia and Poland. In 1990, he studied for a BA in English and Related Literature at the University of York, where he was a member of Derwent College. At university he was a keen student actor, director, and writer, Read more...

Callis subsequently went on to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art from which he graduated in 1996, and in the same year he was awarded the Jack Tinker Award (Theatre Record Critic of the Year) for Most Promising Newcomer for his performance in Old Wicked Songs, a two-hander by Jon Marans, in which he starred alongside Bob Hoskins.

Callis has appeared in various West End productions Read more...

Callis has two sisters. He lives in London, with his wife Neha, and their sons Joshua and Sacha, who were born in 2003 and 2005, respectively. Apart from acting, directing, and writing, he writes music, and plays piano and guitar.