Christopher Chace Crawford was born in Lubbock, Texas, to Dana Plott, a teacher, and Chris Wayne Crawford, a dermatologist. He grew up in Plano, Texas, with his younger sister Candice Crawford Romo, who won the Miss Missouri USA title in 2008. Chace was an athletic high school student, playing football and golf, and demonstrated a talent for art. He graduated from Trinity Christian Academy in 2003 and initially pursued a career in modeling in Dallas, but never acted.
After high school, Chace moved to Malibu, California, to attend Pepperdine University, where he was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity. He initially struggled to find a career path, considering majors in advertising, business, and communications. Midway through his second year, his mother encouraged him to pursue acting, citing a career aptitude test from high school that suggested he was best suited for the performing arts. Chace credits his mother for initiating this move, stating it was a "practical" decision.
In 2006, Chace appeared in the Lifetime television movie Long Lost Son, and also starred in the horror/thriller movie The Covenant alongside Steven Strait, Taylor Kitsch, Sebastian Stan, and Toby Hemingway. The following year, 2007, was a significant break for Chace as he became one of the leads in the CW drama Gossip Girl, alongside Penn Badgley, Leighton Meester, and Ed Westwick.
In 2008, Chace appeared in the movie Loaded, opposite Jesse Metcalfe, and also starred in the independent movie The Haunting of Molly Hartley with Haley Bennett. Additionally, he made a guest appearance on the Family Guy episode The Former Life of Brian. That year, Chace won the Choice TV Breakout Star Male at the Teen Choice Award.
