Michael Cudlitz

Before he redefined himself as a gritty man of action in HBO's critically acclaimed "Band of Brothers" (2001) and on the fan favorite "Southland" (NBC/TNT, 2009-2013), Michael Cudlitz found himself typecast by his naturally cherubic face in roles that rarely strayed far from high school. Cudlitz climbed the industry ladder from behind-the-scene work as a carpenter and construction coordinator to a run of high-profile guest roles on such popular TV series as "Beverly Hills 90210" (Fox, 1990-2000) and "NYPD Blue" (NBC, 1993-2005), as well as in such feature films as "A River Runs Through It" (1992), "D3: The Mighty Ducks" (1996) and "Grosse Pointe Blank" (1997). Playing teenagers well into his thirties, Cudlitz received a major career boost with his casting as Sgt. "Bull" Randleman in "Band of Brothers," a miniseries following the 101st Airborne Division's Easy Company through the European Theater during World War II. A host of man-in-uniform roles followed, including series regular status as the pragmatic SWAT team leader Frank Rogers on the short-lived "Standoff" (Fox, 2006-07), and memorable guest roles on the long-running "Lost" (ABC, 2004-2010) and "24" (Fox, 2001-2010). Cudlitz scored immediately with critics and viewers as troubled LAPD training officer John Cooper on NBC's "Southland" in 2009, then built on that success by joining the critically-acclaimed drama "The Walking Dead" (AMC 2010- ) in 2014.