Josh Charles
{{Short description|American actor (born 1971)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2015}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Josh Charles (29692170402).jpg
| caption =
| birthname = Joshua Aaron Charles
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|9|15}}
| birth_place = Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
| occupation = Actor
| yearsactive = 1988–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Sophie Flack|2013}}
| children = 2
}}
Joshua Aaron Charles (born September 15, 1971) is an American film, television, and theater actor. He is best known for the roles of Dan Rydell on Sports Night, Will Gardner on The Good Wife, which earned him two Primetime Emmy Award nominations, and his early work as Knox Overstreet in Dead Poets Society and Bryan from Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.
Early life
Charles is the son of Allan Charles, an advertising executive, and Laura Peyton.{{cite news|last=Sandler|first=Gilbert|title=Baltimore Glimpses: the Hollywood trail|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1996/07/16/baltimore-glimpses-the-hollywood-trail/|access-date=September 8, 2013|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|date=July 16, 1996|quote=Josh Charles is the son of Laura and Allen Charles}}{{cite tweet |author= Josh Charles |user= MrJoshCharles|number= 256845329549369344 |date= October 12, 2012 |title= My grandpa, Wilbur Heckscher |access-date= September 8, 2013 }}{{cite news|last=Desmon|first=Stephanie|title=Lillian 'Libby' Charles|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2008/02/17/lillian-libby-charles/|access-date=February 13, 2015|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|date=February 17, 2008|quote=her son Allan Charles, founding partner of Trahan Burden Charles ... grandson is actor Josh Charles}}{{Cite web |last=Badger |first=Sylvia |date=1996-01-28 |title=Local group visits Utah to bring films into Maryland |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1996/01/28/local-group-visits-utah-to-bring-films-into-maryland/ |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=Baltimore Sun |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=By |date=1994-02-04 |title=Boosting state as site for moviemaking |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1994/02/04/boosting-state-as-site-for-moviemaking-2/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=Baltimore Sun |language=en-US}} He is Jewish on his father's side, and he has described himself as Jewish.{{cite web|last=Feinberg |first=Scott |date=June 21, 2012| url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/emmys-2012-josh-charles-the-good-wife-336990 |title=Emmys 2012: Josh Charles on Falling in Love with 'The Good Wife' (Video) |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=2013-08-02}}{{cite web|title=Charles Gets Married|url=http://americanisraelite.com/archives/27805|work=Jewz in the Newz|publisher=The American Israelite|access-date=December 13, 2013|date=October 2, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131213113434/http://americanisraelite.com/archives/27805|archive-date=December 13, 2013|df=mdy-all|quote=Charles’ Jewish father was a prominent Baltimore advertising exec )}}{{Cite web |last=Writer |first=NATE BLOOMContributing |date=2011-07-08 |title=Jewish Stars 7/15 |url=https://www.clevelandjewishnews.com/archives/jewish-stars-7-15/article_fc0ca2f8-97b2-5d0c-8f24-46ed87156603.html |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Cleveland Jewish News |language=en}} He began his career performing comedy at the age of 9. As a teenager, he spent several summers at Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Center in New York.{{Cite web |date=2017-06-29 |title=kritiken/Abrahams |url=http://www.nibis.de/~deadpoets/kritiken/abrahams.htm |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=web.archive.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629081418/http://www.nibis.de/~deadpoets/kritiken/abrahams.htm |archive-date=2017-06-29}} He attended the Baltimore School for the Arts, where he was a classmate of Jada Pinkett and Tupac Shakur.{{Cite web |title=Josh Charles - Trivia |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001038/trivia/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}
Career
Charles' film debut was in fellow Baltimore native John Waters' Hairspray in 1988. The following year, he starred alongside Robin Williams and Ethan Hawke in Dead Poets Society. Other film roles have included Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead, Threesome, Pie in the Sky, Muppets from Space, S.W.A.T, Four Brothers, After.Life, Crossing the Bridge and Brief Interviews with Hideous Men.
On television, Charles played sports anchor Dan Rydell in Aaron Sorkin's Sports Night, which ran for two years (1998–2000) and earned Charles a Screen Actors Guild nomination.{{Cite web |date=2003-01-28 |title=Neyer: Mr. Baltimore |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=neyer_rob&id=1500046 |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} In 2008, Charles played the role of Jake in season one of HBO's In Treatment.{{Cite web |title=Josh Charles interview: 'In Treatment' (HBO), 2007/2008 |url=https://sportsnightlink.livejournal.com/10838.html |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=sportsnightlink.livejournal.com}}{{Cite web |date=2008-05-10 |title=HBO: In Treatment: Jake & Amy |url=http://www.hbo.com/intreatment/jakeandamy/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=web.archive.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080510094156/http://www.hbo.com/intreatment/jakeandamy/ |archive-date=2008-05-10}}{{Cite web |title='Night Talk' interview with Josh Charles: 01/02/08 |url=https://sportsnightlink.livejournal.com/8415.html |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=sportsnightlink.livejournal.com}} In 2009, he returned to network television in the drama The Good Wife. For his work on the series, he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2011 and 2014.
Also in 2011, Charles narrated the debut episode for NFL Network's A Football Life on New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.{{cite web|last=Forsberg |first=Chris |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4701193/belichick-documentary-set-for-nfl-network |title=Belichick documentary set for NFL Network – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston |publisher=Espn.go.com |access-date=2012-09-11}}
In 2022, Charles starred in We Own This City, an HBO limited series.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/jon-bernthal-josh-charles-jamie-hector-we-own-this-city-hbo-limited-series-the-wire-david-simon-george-pelecanos-1234760330/ |title=Jon Bernthal, Josh Charles, Jamie Hector To Star In 'We Own This City' HBO Limited Series From 'The Wire' Team |work=Deadline Hollywood |last=Petski |first=Denise |date=May 19, 2021}} The series was noteworthy because it was set in Baltimore, Charles' hometown. His first film, Hairspray, was set in Baltimore and over three decades later, We Own This City was his only other role to-date with ties to the city.{{Cite web |title=Native Baltimorean Josh Charles on Returning to his Hometown to Play Daniel Hersl in 'We Own This City' |url=https://www.awardsdaily.com/2022/06/13/native-baltimorean-josh-charles-on-returning-to-his-hometown-to-play-daniel-hersl-in-we-own-this-city/ |access-date=2024-12-05 |website=Awardsdaily |language=en-US}}
In theater, Charles headlined a production of Jonathan Marc Sherman's Confrontation in 1986. In 2004, he appeared on stage in New York in a revival of Neil LaBute's The Distance from Here, which received a Drama Desk Award for Best Ensemble Cast. In January 2006, he appeared in the world premiere of Richard Greenberg's The Well-Appointed Room for the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, and he followed this with a run at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, portraying the cloned brothers in Caryl Churchill's A Number. In 2007, he appeared in Adam Bock's The Receptionist at the Manhattan Theatre Club.
He appeared off-Broadway in Annie Baker's The Antipodes at the Signature Theatre in 2017.{{Cite web |title=First Look at Josh Charles and Josh Hamilton in The Antipodes |url=https://playbill.com/article/first-look-at-josh-charles-and-josh-hamilton-in-the-antipodes |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=Playbill |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2017-04-30 |title=Signature Theatre - The Antipodes at Signature Theatre |url=http://www.signaturetheatre.org/shows-and-events/Productions/2016-2017/The-Antipodes.aspx |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=web.archive.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430103808/http://www.signaturetheatre.org/shows-and-events/Productions/2016-2017/The-Antipodes.aspx |archive-date=2017-04-30}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFv74DwADHU |title=Josh Charles Teleports from The Tonight Show Using His Magic Zipper |date=2017-05-20 |last=The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon |access-date=2025-03-22 |via=YouTube}} He made his Broadway debut in Straight White Men by Young Jean Lee at the Hayes Theater in 2018.{{Cite web |title=See Straight White Men's Armie Hammer, Josh Charles, Kate Bornstein, and More Meet the Press |url=https://playbill.com/article/see-straight-white-mens-armie-hammer-josh-charles-kate-bornstein-and-more-meet-the-press |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=Playbill |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Greg |date=2018-04-05 |title=Josh Charles To Make Broadway Debut In 'Straight White Men' With Armie Hammer |url=https://deadline.com/2018/04/josh-charles-straight-white-men-broadway-debut-armie-hammer-1202359323/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2018-08-19 |title=2econd Stage Theater |url=https://2st.com/shows/current-production/straight-white-men |access-date=2025-02-24 |website=web.archive.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819152850/https://2st.com/shows/current-production/straight-white-men |archive-date=2018-08-19}}
He appeared in Taylor Swift's music video for Fortnight in 2024.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3X7t_1Po4s |title=Josh Charles Thought He Was Being Punk'd by Ethan Hawke About Taylor Swift's "Fortnight" Video |date=2024-05-07 |last=The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon |access-date=2025-03-22 |via=YouTube}}
In May 2025, it was announced that he was set to star in an American remake of the British series Doc Martin on Fox network titled Best Medicine in the 2025-2026 TV season.{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=2025-05-09 |title=Josh Charles To Star In Fox Adaptation Of British Hit ‘Doc Martin’ Ordered To Series For 2025-26 |url=https://deadline.com/2025/05/josh-charles-doc-martin-remake-fox-1236391628/ |access-date=2025-05-10 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}
Personal life
In September 2013, Charles married ballet dancer and author Sophie Flack, with whom he lives in New York City.{{cite web|last=Goldstein |first=Meredith |date=October 10, 2011| url=http://www.boston.com/ae/books/articles/2011/10/11/turning_point_watertowns_sophie_flack_spins_her_dance_experience_into_a_young_adult_novel/ |title=A novel life: A former dancer's new career takes shape – Boston Globe |publisher=Boston.com |access-date=2013-05-01}}{{cite news|last=Webber|first=Stephanie|title=Josh Charles Wedding: Good Wife Star Marries Girlfriend Sophie Flack!|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/josh-charles-weds-longtime-girlfriend-sophia-flack-201379|access-date=September 8, 2013|newspaper=Us Weekly|date=September 7, 2013|quote=Josh Charles ... married longtime girlfriend Sophie Flack on Friday, Sept. 6}}{{Cite web |last=Chen |first=Joyce |date=2018-01-04 |title=The Good Wife's Josh Charles Just Snapped Up a $6.3 Million Condo in a Star-Studded NYC Building |url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/the-good-wifes-josh-charles-just-snapped-up-a-dollar63-million-condo-in-a-star-studded-nyc-building |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=Architectural Digest |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Robinson |first=Kara Mayer |date=2017-04-14 |title=How the Actor Josh Charles Spends His Sundays |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/14/nyregion/josh-charles-sunday-routine.html |access-date=2025-03-11 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite web |last=Fernandez |first=Jennifer |date=2024-10-16 |title=Inside Josh Charles and Sophie Flack's Creative Haven in Greenwich Village |url=https://www.architecturaldigest.com/gallery/inside-josh-charles-and-sophie-flacks-creative-haven-in-greenwich-village |access-date=2025-03-11 |website=Architectural Digest |language=en-US}} On December 9, 2014, Flack gave birth to the couple's first child, a son.{{cite news|last1=Marquina|first1=Sierra|title=Josh Charles, Wife Sophie Flack Welcome Their First Child Together – a Baby Boy!|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/josh-charles-wife-sophie-flack-welcome-son--20141212|access-date=December 29, 2014|work=Us Weekly|date=December 12, 2014}} On August 23, 2018, Charles revealed on his Instagram that Flack gave birth to their second child, a daughter.{{citation|title=Josh Charles Reveals The Birth of His Daughter|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Bm1Y_MNnJc-/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/Bm1Y_MNnJc- |archive-date=December 26, 2021 |url-access=registration|publisher=Instagram|year=2018|access-date=23 August 2018}}{{cbignore}}
Charles was born, raised and educated in Baltimore, he got his first big acting break in a John Waters film, and his family still lives in the city. As a result, Charles is known for his deep ties to Baltimore and he returns frequently for visits. Charles is famously a big fan of the Ravens and Orioles, and follows city politics closely.
He supported Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in 2016.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMIrba9eDTE |title=Josh Charles on the HFA Victory Counsel {{!}} Hillary Clinton |date=2016-10-17 |last=Hillary Clinton |access-date=2025-01-28 |via=YouTube}} In 1999, the campaign of then-U.S. Senate candidate Hillary Clinton had requested a copy of a Sports Night episode in which Charles' character Dan Rydell talks about his admiration for Clinton and recounts attending a fundraiser for her off-screen.{{Cite web |last=Starr |first=Michael |date=1999-10-12 |title='SPORTS' FAN HILLARY AWAITS 'NIGHT' GUY |url=https://nypost.com/1999/10/12/sports-fan-hillary-awaits-night-guy/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Archerd |first=Army |date=1999-10-12 |title='Sports' features Hillary-inspired story |url=https://variety.com/1999/voices/columns/sports-features-hillary-inspired-story-1117756522/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Sports Night: “Special Powers”/“When Something Wicked This Way Comes” |url=https://www.avclub.com/sports-night-special-powers-when-something-wicked-t-1798176936 |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=AV Club |language=en-US}}
In August 2014, he signed an open letter from members of the Hollywood community condemning Hamas rocket attacks on Israel during the 2014 Gaza War.{{Cite web |author=T. H. R. Staff |date=2014-08-23 |title=More Than 190 Hollywood Notables Sign Pro-Israel Statement Criticizing Hamas |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/more-190-hollywood-notables-sign-727221/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2014-08-25 |title=Creative Community For Peace - Commitment to Peace & Justice |url=http://www.creativecommunityforpeace.com/justice |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=web.archive.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140825191905/http://www.creativecommunityforpeace.com/justice |archive-date=2014-08-25}} In October 2023, he was one of many Hollywood signatories of a letter calling on President Biden to work toward the release of all Israeli hostages after the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel.{{Cite web |last=Donnelly |first=Matt |date=2023-10-23 |title=Hollywood Stars and Executives Thank President Biden for Leadership, Call for Release of All Hamas Hostages |url=https://variety.com/2023/film/news/hamas-hostages-hollywood-stars-open-letter-biden-1235765726/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2023-10-24 |title=NoHostageLeftBehind |url=https://www.nohostageleftbehind.com/ |access-date=2025-01-28 |website=web.archive.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024000623/https://www.nohostageleftbehind.com/ |archive-date=2023-10-24}}
Filmography
=Film=
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Murder in Mississippi | Andrew Goodman | Television film |
| 1993 | Cooperstown | Jody | Television film |
| 1996 | Norma Jean & Marilyn | Eddie Jordan | Television film |
| 1997 | The Underworld | Ehrlich | Television film |
| 1998–2000 | Sports Night | Dan Rydell | 45 episodes |
| 2002 | Our America | Dave Isay | Television film |
| 2005 | Stella | Jeremy | episode: "Meeting Girls" |
| 2007 | Six Degrees | Ray Jones | 4 episodes |
| 2008 | In Treatment | Jake | 8 episodes |
| 2008 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Sean Kelley | episode: "Confession" |
| 2009–2016 | The Good Wife | Will Gardner | 107 episodes, also director (3 episodes) |
| 2014–2016 | Inside Amy Schumer | Various | 4 episodes |
| 2015 | Masters of Sex | Dan Logan | 10 episodes |
| 2015 | Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp | Blake | 6 episodes |
| 2016–2017 | Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt | Duke Snyder | 5 episodes |
| 2016–2019 | Drunk History | Various | 3 episodes |
| 2017 | Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later | Blake | 6 episodes |
| 2017 | Law & Order True Crime | Dr. Jerome Oziel | 7 episodes |
| 2017 | Last Week Tonight with John Oliver | Forensic Scientist | episode: "Forensic Science" |
| 2019 | The Loudest Voice | Casey Close | 3 episodes |
| 2020 | Away | Matt Logan | 10 episodes |
| 2021 | Law & Order: Organized Crime | Vince Baldi | episode: "Forget it, Jake; It's Chinatown" |
| 2022 | We Own This City | Daniel Hersl | miniseries, main cast |
| 2023 | The Power | Daniel Dandon | recurring role |
| 2024 | The Veil | Max Peterson | 4 episodes |
| 2025 | The Handmaid's Tale | Commander Wharton | 4 episodes |
=Music videos=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Artist ! class="unsortable"| {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |
|---|
| 2024
| "Fortnight" | Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone |
Awards and nominations
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Twitter}}
- [https://www.instagram.com/mrjoshcharles/ Josh Charles] on Instagram
- {{IMDb name|1038|Josh Charles}}
- {{iobdb name|24438}}
- [http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-april-13-1999/josh-charles Josh Charles on The Daily Show, April 13, 1999]
{{People's Choice Award for Favorite Dramatic TV Actor}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Charles, Josh}}
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male stage actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:Jewish American male actors
Category:American people of Jewish descent