Patrick J. Adams

A frequent guest star on television series and the occasional independent feature, actor Patrick J. Adams was a fast-rising actor who began his on-screen career while still a student at the University of Southern California Within a few short years, Adams had amassed an impressive list of small-screen credits, including top-billing on the USA Network series "Suits" (2011- ). An extensive career in theater, where he also directed and produced in addition to acting, prepared him for a wide variety of roles, from a shy pen pal in the holiday TV-movie "Christmas in Boston (ABC, 2005) to an amiable but randy slacker in the indie feature "Weather Girl" (2009). His starring role on "Suits" as a sly law student who faked his way into a Harvard degree brought him his greatest exposure to audiences and allowed the young performer to expand his talents toward more acclaimed projects. Born on Aug. 27, 1981 in Toronto, Canada, Adams began working as an actor immediately after arriving in Los Angeles to study at the University of Southern California School of Theatre. He made his debut in Todd Phillips' blockbuster hit "Old School" (2003) and soon added appearances on "Jack and Bobby" (The WB, 2004-05) and "Cold Case" (CBS, 2003-2010) to his rapidly growing résumé. After earning the Jack Nicholson Award in 2004, which provided scholarships directly funded by the eponymous actor to outstanding performers at the school, Adams earned his bachelor of fine arts in theater and immediately began working on a production of Edward Albee's "The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?" at the Mark Taper Forum, which later earned an Ovation Award. Adams' television appearances grew exponentially over the next few years, from guest appearances on "Numb3rs" (CBS, 2005-2010) to a recurring role as a love interest for Adrianne Palicki on "Friday Night Lights" (NBC/101 Network, 2006-2011) and leads in TV features like the romantic comedy "Christmas in Boston" (ABC, 2005). In 2007, he moved up to guest appearances on top-rated shows like "Lost" (ABC, 2005-2010), where he played a young man who sought out John Locke (Terry O'Quinn), while maintaining his presence in the Los Angeles theater scene, most notably with an award-winning production of "Marat/Sade," which he produced and directed for the Blue House Theatre Company. In 2009, Adams enjoyed prominent roles in two major independent films. In "Weather Girl," he played a young man whose solution for a stressed-out former news reporter (Tricia O'Kelley) is to initiate a purely sexual relationship, while Sally Potter's experimental "Rage" (2009) cast him as a bigoted executive whose inflammatory statements are captured on digital video by the film's hero, a young, unseen intern. That same year, he co-starred in "The Dealership" (2009), an unsold pilot about a family-run car dealership reeling from the failed economy, and continued to expand his television guest appearances with turns on "Lie to Me" (Fox, 2009-2011) and "Pretty Little Liars" (ABC Family, 2010- ). In 2011, Adams starred in his first network series, "Suits" (USA Network, 2011- ), which told the story of a slacker law student whose photographic memory allowed him to graduate from Harvard Law School without ever cracking a book for study. After being hired by a top law firm executive (Gabriel Macht), the pair must keep Adams' ruse alive or risk losing both of their jobs. Well received by audiences in its initial season, "Suits" was quickly picked up for a full-season run and by year's end, Adams was nominated for a SAG Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series. While working on that series, Adams filmed guest appearances on "Luck" (HBO, 2011-12), a drama set in the world of professional horse racing produced by David Milch, and starring Dustin Hoffman and Nick Nolte. Between seasons of "Suits," Adams co-starred in a miniseries remake of "Rosemary's Baby" (NBC 2014) starring Zoe Saldana and appeaqred in brief arcs on science fiction series "Orphan Black" (BBC America 2013- ) and "Legends of Tomorrow" (CW 2016- ).