Joshua Aaron Charles (born September 15, 1971) is an American film, television, and theater actor best known for playing Will Gardner on The Good Wife, a role which earned him two Primetime Emmy Award nominations. He also appeared in Sports Night, Dead Poets Society and Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.
Josh Charles | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Born | Joshua Aaron Charles September 15, 1971 Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Early life
editJoshua Aaron Charles was born on September 15, 1971[1][2] to Allan Charles, an advertising executive, and Laura Peyton.[3][4][5][6][7] He is Jewish on his father's side and identifies as Jewish himself.[1][8][9] 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.[10] He attended the Baltimore School for the Arts, where he was a classmate of Jada Pinkett and Tupac Shakur.
Career
editFilm
editCharles's film debut was in John Waters's Hairspray in 1988. The following year, he starred alongside Robin Williams and Ethan Hawke in Dead Poets Society. He had also appeared in 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.
Television
editCharles played sports anchor Dan Rydell in Aaron Sorkin's Sports Night (1998–2000), for which he was nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Award.[11] In 2008, Charles appeared in season one of HBO's In Treatment.[12] He played a recurring role in The Good Wife, for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award twice; once in 2011 and another in 2014.
In 2011, Charles narrated the debut episode for NFL Network's A Football Life based on New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.[13] In 2022, he starred in the HBO limited series We Own This City.[14]
In May 2025, Charles joined the cast of the American remake of the British series Doc Martin called Best Medicine.[15]
Theatre
editCharles headlined a production of Jonathan Marc Sherman's Confrontation in 1986. In 2004, he appeared in the 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 Richard Greenberg's The Well-Appointed Room at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago and Caryl Churchill's A Number at the American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco. In 2007, he appeared in Adam Bock's The Receptionist at the Manhattan Theatre Club, New York City.
Charles appeared in the off-Broadway production of Annie Baker's The Antipodes at the Signature Theatre in 2017.[16][17] He made his Broadway debut in Straight White Men by Young Jean Lee at the Hayes Theater in 2018.[18][19][20]
Others
editCharles appeared in Taylor Swift's music video for "Fortnight" in 2024, alongside his Dead Poets Society co-star, Ethan Hawke.[21]
Personal life
editIn September 2013, Charles married ballet dancer and author Sophie Flack. The couple lives in New York City.[22][23][24][25][26] On December 9, 2014, Flack gave birth to the couple's first child, a son.[27] On August 23, 2018, Charles revealed on his Instagram that Flack gave birth to their second child, a daughter.[28]
Charles supports the Baltimore Ravens and Baltimore Orioles.[11]
Politics
editIn 2011, Charles appeared in a Human Rights Campaign video in support of same-sex marriage. He also supported the 2012 Maryland same-sex marriage referendum.[29][30]
Charles supported Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign in 2016.[31] In 1999, Clinton's campaign of for the U.S. Senate had requested a copy of a Sports Night episode in which Charles's character Dan Rydell talks about his admiration for Clinton and recounts attending a fundraiser for her off-screen.[32][33][34]
In August 2014, Charles was amongst the Hollywood signatories for an open letter condemning Hamas attacks on Israel during the 2014 Gaza War.[35][36] In October 2023, he signed an open letter calling on President Joe Biden to work toward the release of all Israeli hostages following the October 7 attacks.[37][38]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Hairspray | Iggy | |
| 1989 | Dead Poets Society | Knox Overstreet | |
| 1991 | Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead | Bryan | |
| 1992 | Crossing the Bridge | Mort Golden | |
| 1994 | Threesome | Eddy | |
| 1995 | Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead | Bruce | uncredited |
| 1995 | Coldblooded | Randy | |
| 1996 | The Grave | Tyn | |
| 1996 | Crossworlds | Joe Talbot | |
| 1996 | Pie in the Sky | Charlie Dunlap | |
| 1997 | Cyclops, Baby | Brush Brody | |
| 1997 | Little City | Adam | |
| 1999 | Muppets from Space | Agent Barker | |
| 2000 | Meeting Daddy | Peter Silverblatt | |
| 2003 | S.W.A.T. | T. J. McCabe | |
| 2004 | Seeing Other People | Lou | |
| 2005 | Four Brothers | Detective Fowler | |
| 2006 | The Darwin Awards | Paramedic | |
| 2006 | The Ex | Forrest Mead | |
| 2009 | After.Life | Tom Peterson | |
| 2009 | Brief Interviews with Hideous Men | Subject No. 2 | |
| 2014 | Bird People | Gary Newman | |
| 2014 | Adult Beginners | Phil | |
| 2015 | I Smile Back | Bruce Brooks | |
| 2015 | Freeheld | Bryan Kelder | |
| 2016 | Whiskey Tango Foxtrot | Chris | |
| 2016 | Norman | Arthur Taub | |
| 2016 | The Drowning | Tom Seymour | |
| 2018 | Amateur | Coach Gaines | |
| 2019 | Framing John DeLorean | Bill Collins | [39] |
| 2023 | Memory | Isaac | |
| 2024 | Mothers' Instinct | Damian Jennings |
Television
edit| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Law & Order True Crime | Dr. Jerome Oziel | 7 episodes | |
| 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 |
| The American Revolution | Joseph Warren / David Ramsay (voice) | 5 episodes | |
| 2026 | Best Medicine | Dr. Martin Best | Main role |
Music videos
edit| Year | Title | Artist | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | "Fortnight" | Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone | [40] |
Awards and nominations
editReferences
edit- 1 2 Feinberg, Scott (June 21, 2012). "Emmys 2012: Josh Charles on Falling in Love with 'The Good Wife' (Video)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 2, 2013.
Josh Charles was born on September 15, 1971 in Baltimore, where he was also raised, and his career path was pretty much established before he was even a teenager...The fact that it's something that started in Israel gave me, as a Jew, a tremendous sense of pride, to be perfectly frank with you. There's such great creativity coming out of that country, and a lot of times we don't always hear about that
- ↑ "Josh Charles". prod.tcm.com. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved August 17, 2025. (Not available outside the US.)
- ↑ Sandler, Gilbert (July 16, 1996). "Baltimore Glimpses: the Hollywood trail". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
Josh Charles is the son of Laura and Allen Charles
- ↑ Josh Charles [@MrJoshCharles] (October 12, 2012). "My grandpa, Wilbur Heckscher" (Tweet). Retrieved September 8, 2013 – via Twitter.
- ↑ Desmon, Stephanie (February 17, 2008). "Lillian 'Libby' Charles". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved February 13, 2015.
her son Allan Charles, founding partner of Trahan Burden Charles ... grandson is actor Josh Charles
- ↑ Badger, Sylvia (January 28, 1996). "Local group visits Utah to bring films into Maryland". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved March 29, 2025.
- ↑ By (February 4, 1994). "Boosting state as site for moviemaking". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved March 30, 2025.
- ↑ "The American Israelite » Jewz in the Newz". americanisraelite.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2013. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
Charles' Jewish father was a prominent Baltimore advertising exec.
- ↑ Writer, NATE BLOOMContributing (July 8, 2011). "Jewish Stars 7/15". Cleveland Jewish News. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
- ↑ "kritiken/Abrahams". June 29, 2017. Archived from the original on June 29, 2017. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- 1 2 "Neyer: Mr. Baltimore". ESPN.com. January 28, 2003. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ↑ "HBO: In Treatment: Jake & Amy". May 10, 2008. Archived from the original on May 10, 2008. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ↑ Forsberg, Chris. "Belichick documentary set for NFL Network – New England Patriots Blog – ESPN Boston". Espn.go.com. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
- ↑ Petski, Denise (May 19, 2021). "Jon Bernthal, Josh Charles, Jamie Hector To Star In 'We Own This City' HBO Limited Series From 'The Wire' Team". Deadline Hollywood.
- ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (May 9, 2025). "Josh Charles To Star In Fox Adaptation Of British Hit 'Doc Martin' Ordered To Series For 2025-26". Deadline. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
- ↑ "First Look at Josh Charles and Josh Hamilton in The Antipodes". Playbill. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ↑ "Signature Theatre - The Antipodes at Signature Theatre". April 30, 2017. Archived from the original on April 30, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
- ↑ "See Straight White Men's Armie Hammer, Josh Charles, Kate Bornstein, and More Meet the Press". Playbill. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ↑ Evans, Greg (April 5, 2018). "Josh Charles To Make Broadway Debut In 'Straight White Men' With Armie Hammer". Deadline. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ↑ "2econd Stage Theater". August 19, 2018. Archived from the original on August 19, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
- ↑ The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (May 7, 2024). Josh Charles Thought He Was Being Punk'd by Ethan Hawke About Taylor Swift's "Fortnight" Video. Retrieved March 22, 2025 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Goldstein, Meredith (October 10, 2011). "A novel life: A former dancer's new career takes shape – Boston Globe". Boston.com. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
- ↑ Webber, Stephanie (September 7, 2013). "Josh Charles Wedding: Good Wife Star Marries Girlfriend Sophie Flack!". Us Weekly. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
Josh Charles ... married longtime girlfriend Sophie Flack on Friday, Sept. 6
- ↑ Chen, Joyce (January 4, 2018). "The Good Wife's Josh Charles Just Snapped Up a $6.3 Million Condo in a Star-Studded NYC Building". Architectural Digest. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
- ↑ Robinson, Kara Mayer (April 14, 2017). "How the Actor Josh Charles Spends His Sundays". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
- ↑ Fernandez, Jennifer (October 16, 2024). "Inside Josh Charles and Sophie Flack's Creative Haven in Greenwich Village". Architectural Digest. Retrieved March 11, 2025.
- ↑ Marquina, Sierra (December 12, 2014). "Josh Charles, Wife Sophie Flack Welcome Their First Child Together – a Baby Boy!". Us Weekly. Retrieved December 29, 2014.
- ↑ Josh Charles Reveals The Birth of His Daughter, Instagram, 2018, archived from the original on December 26, 2021, retrieved August 23, 2018
- ↑ "Watch Now: The Good Wife's Josh Charles Takes a Stand for Marriage Equality". E! Online. November 30, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ↑ Linskey, Annie (September 13, 2012). "New York star power behind Md. same-sex marriage law". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
- ↑ Josh Charles on the HFA Victory Counsel | Hillary Clinton. Hillary Clinton. October 17, 2016. Retrieved January 28, 2025 – via YouTube.
- ↑ Starr, Michael (October 12, 1999). "'SPORTS' FAN HILLARY AWAITS 'NIGHT' GUY". Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ↑ Archerd, Army (October 12, 1999). "'Sports' features Hillary-inspired story". Variety. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ↑ "Sports Night: "Special Powers"/"When Something Wicked This Way Comes"". AV Club. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ↑ "More Than 190 Hollywood Notables Sign Pro-Israel Statement Criticizing Hamas". The Hollywood Reporter. August 23, 2014. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ↑ "Creative Community For Peace - Commitment to Peace & Justice". August 25, 2014. Archived from the original on August 25, 2014. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ↑ Donnelly, Matt (October 23, 2023). "Hollywood Stars and Executives Thank President Biden for Leadership, Call for Release of All Hamas Hostages". Variety. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ↑ "NoHostageLeftBehind". October 24, 2023. Archived from the original on October 24, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2025.
- ↑ Evans, Greg (March 6, 2019), 'Framing John DeLorean' Trailer: Alec Baldwin Stars Alongside Real DeLorean In New Hybrid Film
- ↑ Saunders, Angel (April 19, 2024). "Taylor Swift Enlists Dead Poets Society Actors Ethan Hawke and Josh Charles for 'Fortnight' Music Video". People. Dotdash Meredith. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
External links
edit- Josh Charles on X
- Josh Charles on Instagram
- Josh Charles at IMDb
- Josh Charles at the Internet Off-Broadway Database (archived)
