Blake Shields

Blake Shields is best known for his roles on the series "Sleeper Cell" and "Carnivàle." Born in Ithaca, New York, Shields moved with his family to Israel but eventually came back to the United States, and settled in Boise, Idaho. There he began devoting his time to the theater group the Washington Street Players. After spending time at the American Academy of Arts in Los Angeles, Shields starred in productions of Shakespeare's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "Hamlet." His screen career began with bit parts in such popular television series as the politically charged "The West Wing" and the teen sitcom "Boy Meets World" before transitioning into feature roles. Shields starred in the independent film "Crime and Punishment in Suburbia" and the Freddie Prinze, Jr. comedy "Boys and Girls." He rubbed shoulders with the Judd Apatow gang, making guest appearances on both the short-lived high-school series "Freaks and Geeks" and the college comedy "Undeclared." In 2003, Shields received the most substantial role of his career thus far, as circus worker Osgood on the HBO series "Carnivàle." Following the end of that show, he gave an acclaimed performance on the first season of the Showtime terrorism drama "Sleeper Cell" as a young American who turns to militant Islam.