Gaius Charles

In just a few short years, actor Gaius Charles emerged from the New York stage and became a star on television, thanks to his first major role, playing running back Brian "Smash" Williams on the critical darling, "Friday Night Lights" (NBC, 2006-2011). Charles shone as the talented, but stereotypical jock who matures following a brush with scandal, leading to wider exposure and prominent roles in both major features and on other popular shows. After leaving "Friday Night Lights" in its third season, the actor branched out to land guest spots on series like "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (NBC, 1999- ) and NCIS" (CBS, 2003- ), while securing parts in films like "The Messenger" (2009) and "Salt" (2010). Though he was only at the start of his career, Charles had already established himself as a dedicated performer capable of tackling a wide variety of roles.