Editing J. August Richards

{{short description|American actor}}
{{BLP sources|date=March 2008}}
{{Infobox person
| name          = J. August Richards
| image         = J._August_Richards_2012.jpg
| imagesize     = 240px
| caption       = J. August Richards at the August 31, 2012 [[DragonCon]]
| birth_date    = {{birth date and age|1973|8|28}}
| birth_place   = [[Washington, D.C.]], U.S.
| birth_name = Jaime Augusto Richards III
| death_date    =
| death_place   =
| other_names   =
| years_active  =1988&ndash;present
| occupation    = Actor
| spouse        =
| website       =
}}
'''Jaime Augusto Richards III'''<ref name="filmreference">{{cite web|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/71/J-August-Richards.html|title=J. August Richards Biography (1973-)|publisher=filmreference.com|access-date=August 18, 2009}}</ref><ref name="EW">{{cite web|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2000/09/26/angels-new-actor-discusses-life-set|title=''Angel'''s new actor discusses life on the set
 |publisher=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|author=Bonin, Liane|author-link=Liane Bonin|date=2000-09-26|access-date=August 18, 2009}}</ref> (born August 28, 1973),<ref name=filmreference/> commonly known as '''J. August Richards''', is an American actor. He is best known for his portrayal of [[Charles Gunn (Angel)|Charles Gunn]] on [[The WB]] television series ''[[Angel (1999 TV series)|Angel]]'' and [[Mike Peterson (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Mike Peterson / Deathlok]] on ''[[Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.]]''

==Early life==
Richards is of [[Afro-Panamanians|Afro-Panamanian]] descent.<ref name=EW/><ref name="tnt">{{cite web|url=http://www.tnt.tv/series/raisingthebar/display/?contentId=40867 |title=Raising the Bar: J. August Richards |publisher=[[TNT (U.S. TV network)|TNT]] |access-date=August 18, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090219104536/http://www.tnt.tv/series/raisingthebar/display/?contentId=40867 |archive-date=February 19, 2009 }}</ref> He grew up in [[Bladensburg, Maryland]].<ref name=tnt/> Richards attended the Visual and Performing Arts program at Suitland High School in [[Suitland, Maryland]] and graduated in 1991. He attended the [[USC School of Dramatic Arts]] on a scholarship.<ref name=tnt/>

==Career==
{{expand section|date=May 2022|2014-present unaccounted for}}
Richards's acting career began when he was spotted by a casting director. This resulted in him getting a guest star role on ''[[The Cosby Show]]'' as Vanessa's boyfriend Roy in the [[List of The Cosby Show episodes#Season 5 (1988–89)|season 5]] episode "Out of Brooklyn". Other guest appearances would come later on shows such as ''[[The Practice]]'', ''[[Chicago Hope]]'', ''[[Any Day Now (TV series)|Any Day Now]]'', and ''[[Nash Bridges]]''. Playing a rapping bike messenger who believes he is an alien abductee, it was the role of Taj Mahal in the [[Mark Taper Forum]] production of [[Tina Landau]]'s play ''Space'' that first brought recognition.

[[File:J August Richards Amy Acker Kerry fundraiser 1.jpg|thumb|Richards with [[Amy Acker]] at a 2004 [[John Kerry]] fund raiser.]]
Richards has appeared in feature films ''[[Why Do Fools Fall in Love (film)|Why Do Fools Fall in Love]]'' and ''[[Good Burger]]''. He starred in the television movies ''[[Critical Assembly (film)|Critical Assembly]]'' and ''Mutiny'', and appeared as singer [[Richard Street]] in the [[NBC]] miniseries ''[[The Temptations (TV miniseries)|The Temptations]]''. Richards has also guest-starred on ''[[The West Wing]]'' and ''[[The 4400]]''.

Richards gained a recurring role beginning in the [[Angel (season 1)|first season]] of ''[[Angel (1999 TV series)|Angel]]'' as [[Charles Gunn (Angel)|Charles Gunn]], a street-wise [[vampire (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)|vampire]] hunter. He was promoted to a regular at the start of the second season, and remained a member of the cast throughout the rest of the show's run.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/the-cast-of-angel-10-years-later/|title=The cast of Angel: 10 Years Later|website=Den of Geek|last=Dobbs|first=Sarah|date=March 5, 2014|access-date=May 13, 2022}}</ref>

Richards has so far been featured in four series as an [[lawyer|attorney]]:&nbsp;Beginning in the first episode of [[Angel (season 5)|season five]] of ''Angel'', "[[Conviction (Angel)|Conviction]]," Gunn becomes a lawyer after having his brain upgraded with a comprehensive knowledge of the law (both human and dæmonic) by the international and interdimensional law firm [[List of Angel characters#Wolfram & Hart|Wolfram & Hart]].&nbsp;In 2006, Richards joined the cast of [[NBC]]'s ''[[Law & Order]]'' spin-off ''[[Conviction (2006 TV series)|Conviction]]'' as Billy Desmond, an undefeated [[New York City]] Assistant [[District Attorney]] with political aspirations.<ref name="LawyerShow" /> He has also been featured in [[CBS]]'s ''[[CSI: Miami]]'' as the [[Florida|Floridian]] attorney Bob Villa, and portrayed attorney Marcus McGrath in the [[TNT (American TV network)|TNT]] series ''[[Raising the Bar (2008 TV series)|Raising the Bar]]'' until its cancellation.<ref name="LawyerShow">{{cite web|url=https://www.creators.com/read/hollywood-exclusive/10/16/a-more-confident-relaxed-j-august-richards-in-notorious|title=A More Confident, Relaxed J. August Richards in 'Notorious'|website=Creators|last=Smith|first=Stacy Jenel|date=October 4, 2016|access-date=April 23, 2018}}</ref>

Richards portrayed a young [[Richard Webber]] in two ''[[Grey's Anatomy]]'' episodes: "[[The Time Warp (Grey's Anatomy)|The Time Warp]]" in season six, and "Only Mama Knows" in season eleven.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/582708/major-grey-s-anatomy-role-recast-find-out-who-s-in-and-who-s-out-this-season|title=Major Grey's Anatomy Role Recast! Find Out Who's In and Who's Out This Season|website=E Online|last=Bucksbaum|first=Sydney|date=September 25, 2014|access-date=April 23, 2018}}</ref> He also appeared in an episode of ''[[The Mentalist]]''.&nbsp;Richards had played the part of Damon in "[[Just Say Yes (Sliders)|Just Say Yes]]", a 1998 episode of the science fiction television series ''[[Sliders (TV series)|Sliders]]''.&nbsp;Richards also guest-starred in an episode of [[Syfy]]'s ''[[Warehouse 13]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvequals.com/2011/08/18/warehouse-13-past-imperfect-season-3-episode-7-photos-with-j-august-richards/|title=WAREHOUSE 13 "Past Imperfect" Season 3 Episode 7 Photos With J. August Richards|website=TV Equals|last=Ngwije|first=Americ|date=August 18, 2011|access-date=April 22, 2018|archive-date=October 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028154440/https://www.tvequals.com/2011/08/18/warehouse-13-past-imperfect-season-3-episode-7-photos-with-j-august-richards/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On April 5, 2013, [[TVLine]] confirmed that Richards had been given an unspecified role in [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]'s ''[[Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.]]''<ref name="Apr2013Richards">{{Cite web |url=http://tvline.com/2013/04/05/shield-tv-show-cast-j-august-richards/ |title=New ''S.H.I.E.L.D.'' mystery: Joss Whedon casts ''Angel'' alum in pilot — but as who?! |last=Ausiello |first=Michael |author-link=Michael Ausiello |work=[[TVLine]] |date=April 5, 2013 |access-date=April 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130408004211/http://tvline.com/2013/04/05/shield-tv-show-cast-j-august-richards/ |archive-date=April 8, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>&nbsp; The character was later revealed to be a character named Mike Peterson, a human being with implants for injections of super-serum (similar to those of [[Captain America]]) known as [[Deathlok]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nerdist.com/interview-j-august-richards-talks-agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-and-becoming-deathlok/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423172216/https://nerdist.com/interview-j-august-richards-talks-agents-of-s-h-i-e-l-d-and-becoming-deathlok/|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 23, 2018|title=Interview: J. August Richards Talks Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Becoming Deathlok|website=Nerdist|last=Ratcliffe|first=Amy|date=April 4, 2014|access-date=April 23, 2018}}</ref>

Also in 2013, Richards created his own sci-fi web series called ''The Hypnotist''.<ref name="IndieWire">{{Cite web|url=https://shadowandact.com/j-august-richards-launches-new-sci-fi-web-series-the-hypnotist-starring-lisagay-hamilton |title=J. August Richards Launches New Sci-Fi Web Series 'The Hypnotist' Starring LisaGay Hamilton|last=Obenson|first=Tambay A.|work=[[Indiewire]]|date=4 June 2013|access-date=13 May 2022}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Richards publicly [[came out]] as [[Gay men|gay]] in April 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pride.com/comingout/2020/4/20/angel-star-j-august-richards-just-came-out-gay|title=Angel Star J. August Richards Just Came Out As Gay|website=Pride|last=Henderson|first=Taylor|date=April 20, 2020|access-date=April 20, 2020}}</ref> On September 1, 2023, Richards married his partner, model Joshua Gbor. <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.etonline.com/agents-of-shield-star-j-august-richards-marries-joshua-gbor-the-most-magical-night-of-our-lives|title='Agents of SHIELD' Star J. August Richards Marries Joshua Gbor: 'The Most Magical Night of Our Lives'}}</ref>

==Filmography==
[[File:J August Richards Tampa SlayerCon 2004 1.jpg|thumb|right|Richards in 2004]]

===Film===
{| class="wikitable"
|-  style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
! Year
! Film
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1995
| ''[[Higher Learning]]''
| Partygoer 
| 
|-
| 1997
| ''[[Good Burger]]''
| Griffen
| 
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Why Do Fools Fall in Love (film)|Why Do Fools Fall in Love]]''
| Sherman
|
|-
| 2006
| ''Paved with Good Intentions''
| Travis Balden
| 
|-
| 2016
| ''If Congress Was Your Co-Worker''
| Steve
| Short
|-
| 2020
| ''[[Pearl (2020 film)|Pearl]]''
| Isaac Robbins
| 
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable"
|-  style="background:#b0c4de; text-align:center;"
! Year
! Show
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1988
| ''[[The Cosby Show]]''
| Roy
| Episode: "Out of Brooklyn"
|-
| 1993
| ''[[Family Matters]]''
| Guy at Mall #2
| Episode: "Scenes From a Mall"
|-
|rowspan="2"| 1995
| ''[[Tom Clancy's Op Center (film)|OP Center]]''
| FBI Van Tech
| Miniseries
|-
| ''[[Space: Above and Beyond]]''
| Lt. Thomas
| Episode: "The River of Stars"
|-
| 1996
| ''[[Diagnosis Murder]]''
| Troy Sommers
| Episode: "The Pressure to Murder"
|-
|rowspan=3| 1997
| ''[[JAG (TV series)|JAG]]''
| Seaman Bernard
| Episode: "Rendezvous"
|-
| ''[[Good News (TV series)|Good News]]''
| John Braxton
| Episode: "Try a Little Tenderness"
|-
| ''[[Players (1997 TV series)|Players]]''
| Sam Bodie
| Episode: "Contact Sport"
|-
|rowspan=5| 1998
| ''[[Awesome Adventures]]''
| Himself/host
| Documentary series
|-
| ''[[Chicago Hope]]''
| Eric Lane
| Episode: "Bridge over Troubled Waters"
|-
| ''[[Clueless (TV series)|Clueless]]''
| Stewey
| Episode: "Friends"
|-
| ''[[Sliders (TV series)|Sliders]]''
| Damon
| Episode: "[[Just Say Yes (Sliders)|Just Say Yes]]"
|-
| ''[[The Temptations (TV miniseries)|The Temptations]]''
| Richard Street
| 2 episodes
|-
|rowspan=4| 1999
| ''[[Mutiny (1999 film)|Mutiny]]''
| Reece Johnson
| TV movie
|-
| ''[[The Practice]]''
| Michael Anderson
| Episode: "Do Unto Others"
|-
| ''[[The West Wing]]''
| Bill
| Episode: "[[Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc (The West Wing)|Post Hoc, Ergo Propter Hoc]]"
|-
| ''[[Nash Bridges]]''
| Ernie Vesper
| Episode: "Rip Off"
|-
|rowspan=4| 2000
| ''[[Moesha]]''
| Sean
| Episode: "Family Affair"
|-
| ''[[Undressed]]''
| Bryce
| Recurring cast (season 2)
|-
| ''[[Any Day Now (TV series)|Any Day Now]]''
| Billy
| Episode: "It's a Good Thing I'm Not Black"
|-
| ''[[Running Mates (2000 film)|Running Mates]]''
| Randall's Aide
| TV movie
|-
| 2000–04
| ''[[Angel (1999 TV series)|Angel]]''
| [[Charles Gunn (Angel)|Charles Gunn]]
| Recurring cast (season 1), main cast (season 2-5)
|-
| 2002
| ''[[Critical Assembly (film)|Critical Assembly]]''
| Allan Marshall
| TV movie
|-
| 2004
| ''[[CSI: Miami]]''
| S.A. Bob Villa
| Episode: "Hell Night"
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2006
| ''[[Conviction (2006 TV series)|Conviction]]''
| A.D.A. Billy Desmond
| Main cast
|-
| ''[[The 4400]]''
| John Shaffner
| Episode: "The Starzl Mutation"
|-
| 2008–09
| ''[[Raising the Bar (2008 TV series)|Raising the Bar]]''
| Marcus McGrath
| Main cast
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2010
| ''[[Grey's Anatomy]]''
| Young Richard Webber
| Episode: "The Time Warp"
|-
| ''[[The Defenders (2010 TV series)|The Defenders]]''
| ADA Bracken
| Episode: "Nevada v. Carter" & "Nevada v. Killa Diz" 
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2011
| ''[[The Mentalist]]''
| Dr. Vernon Watson
| Episode: "Bloodstream"
|-
| ''[[Warehouse 13]]''
| Zach Adanto
| Episode: "Past Imperfect"
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2013
| ''[[Emily Owens, M.D.]]''
| George Morgan
| Episode: "Emily... and the Leap"
|-
| ''[[Arrow (TV series)|Arrow]]''
| Mr. Blank
| Episode: "Home Invasion"
|-
| 2013–18
| ''[[Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.]]''
| [[Mike Peterson (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Mike Peterson / Deathlok]]
| Recurring cast (season 1-2), guest (season 5)
|-
| rowspan="2" | 2014
| ''[[The Lottery (TV series)|The Lottery]]''
| Deputy Secretary of State Nathan Mitchell
| Recurring cast
|-
| ''[[Grey's Anatomy]]''
| Young Richard Webber
| Episode: "Only Mama Knows"
|-
| 2014–16
| ''[[Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce]]''
| Ford
| Recurring cast (season 1-2) 
|-
| 2016
| ''[[Notorious (2016 TV series)|Notorious]]''
| Bradley Gregorian
| Main cast
|-
| 2017–18
| ''[[Kevin (Probably) Saves the World]]''
| Deputy Nathan Purcell
| Main cast
|-
| 2018
| ''Giants''
| Andrew
| Episode: "What Kind of Man Are You?"
|-
| 2020
| ''[[Council of Dads (TV series)|Council of Dads]]''
| Dr. Oliver Post
| Main cast
|-
| 2021
| ''[[Generation (TV series)|Generation]]''
| Joe
| Recurring cast
|-
| 2022
| ''[[Vampire Academy (TV series)|Vampire Academy]]''
| [[List of Vampire Academy characters#Victor Dashkov|Victor Dashkov]]
| Recurring cast
|-
|2022
|[[The Rookie (TV series)|''The Rookie'']]
|Lind
|Episode: "The Reckoning"
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* {{IMDb name|id=0724124|name=J. August Richards}}
* {{YouTube|u=jaugustrichards|J. August Richards}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Richards, J. August}}
[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Male actors from Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American people of Panamanian descent]]
[[Category:Hispanic and Latino American actors]]
[[Category:People from Bladensburg, Maryland]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:USC School of Dramatic Arts alumni]]
[[Category:American gay actors]]
[[Category:LGBTQ people from Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:LGBTQ people from Maryland]]
[[Category:LGBTQ Hispanic and Latino American people]]
[[Category:African-American LGBTQ people]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American male actors]]