James Le Gros

Biography

James Le Gros (born April 27, 1962, Minneapolis, Minnesota) is an American actor who grew up in Redlands, California, after his family moved from the Midwest. He briefly attended the University of California, Irvine, before dropping out to pursue acting in Los Angeles, where he completed an apprenticeship at the South Coast Repertory Theatre. He became a staple of 1990s independent cinema, earning an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Male for Living in Oblivion (1995), and has since maintained a prolific career across both film and television. He married actress and photographer Kristina Loggia, daughter of actor Robert Loggia, in 1992; they have two sons, one of whom, Noah LeGros, is also an actor. His notable film credits include Drugstore Cowboy (1989) (Matt Dillon, James Russo), Point Break (1991) (Keanu Reeves, Patrick Swayze), Singles (1992) (Bridget Fonda, Woody Harrelson), Guncrazy (1992) (Drew Barrymore, John Heard), Living in Oblivion (1995) (Steve Buscemi, Catherine Keener), Enemy of the State (1998) (Will Smith, Gene Hackman), Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994) (Jane Fonda, Jeff Daniels), Certain Women (2016) (Julianne Moore, Jessica Chastain), Night Moves (2013) (Jake Gyllenhaal, Rachel McAdams), and The Wilderness (2025) (Miles Teller, Anya Taylor-Joy). On television he is best known for his recurring role on Ally McBeal (2000–2001), his lead as FBI agent Ray Fuller in Sleeper Cell (2005–2006), his recurring role as Wade Messer in Justified (2010–2014), and appearances in Severance (2022), The Mosquito Coast (2021), and Fear the Walking Dead (2017).