Josh Charles
A versatile and grounded character actor who stole scenes as the charming, ill-fated lawyer Will Gardner on 'The Good Wife'.
Born 1971 (age 55)·American actor·Birthday: September 15·Generation X
Biography
Josh Charles has built a durable career by embodying characters with a compelling blend of intelligence, warmth, and underlying complexity. The Baltimore-born actor broke through as an idealistic teenager in 1989's 'Dead Poets Society,' but resisted being typecast. He moved deftly between film, theatre, and television, earning critical praise as the witty sportscaster Dan Rydell on Aaron Sorkin's 'Sports Night.' His defining role came two decades into his career: Will Gardner on CBS's 'The Good Wife.' As Alicia Florrick's former flame and formidable law partner, Charles brought a magnetic, layered intensity to the courtroom drama. His character's shocking, mid-season exit became one of the most talked-about television events of 2014, a testament to his performance's impact. Charles approaches his work with a craftsman's focus, choosing projects—from indie films to Broadway stages—that prioritize substance over stardom, making him one of television's most reliably authentic and affecting presences.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Josh was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Josh Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Josh's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- He received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor for his role as Will Gardner on 'The Good Wife'.
- He starred as Dan Rydell in Aaron Sorkin's critically acclaimed television series 'Sports Night'.
- He made his feature film debut in the classic coming-of-age drama 'Dead Poets Society' alongside Robin Williams.
Did You Know?
He is a passionate fan of the Baltimore Orioles and often incorporates baseball into his roles and public appearances.
He directed an episode of 'The Good Wife' in 2013.
He is an avid painter and has exhibited his artwork.
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