James LeGros

Biography: Leading and character actor James LeGros has gained most of his fame by appearing in such independent films as Point Break (1991) and Living in Oblivion (1995). Interested in acting since high school, the Minnesota native gained initial experience in local productions. Following college, LeGros earned an apprenticeship with the South Coast Repertory in California and then moved to Los Angeles. He made his television debut appearing opposite Danny DeVito in the made-for-cable movie The Ratings Game (1984) and from there he worked steadily as a television guest star on such series as Simon and Simon and Knight Rider. LeGros made his feature film debut in Solar Babies (1986); three years later, his career received a major boost when he co-starred in Gus Van Sant's acclaimed Drugstore Cowboy. He subsequently carved out a niche for himself in a wide variety of independent and mainstream films. Other notable projects during the early to mid-'90s included The Rapture (1991), CameronLeading and character actor James LeGros has gained most of his fame by appearing in such independent films as Point Break (1991) and Living in Oblivion (1995). Interested in acting since high school, the Minnesota native gained initial experience in local productions. Following college, LeGros earned an apprenticeship with the South Coast Repertory in California and then moved to Los Angeles. He made his television debut appearing opposite Danny DeVito in the made-for-cable movie The Ratings Game (1984) and from there he worked steadily as a television guest star on such series as Simon and Simon and Knight Rider. LeGros made his feature film debut in Solar Babies (1986); three years later, his career received a major boost when he co-starred in Gus Van Sant's acclaimed Drugstore Cowboy. He subsequently carved out a niche for himself in a wide variety of independent and mainstream films. Other notable projects during the early to mid-'90s included The Rapture (1991), Cameron Crowe's Singles (1992), My New Gun (1992), and Todd Haynes' Safe (1995). LeGros did particularly fine work for Tom Di Cillo in Living in Oblivion (1995), playing an obnoxious, narcissistic movie star reportedly modeled after Brad Pitt, an actor to whom LeGros is frequently compared thanks to his chiseled blonde looks. Unlike Pitt, LeGros has continued to do his strongest work in independent films, appearing in such efforts as Wishful Thinking (1997), The Myth of Fingerprints (1997), L.A. Without a Map (1998), and Jump, the last of which was shown at the 1999 Los Angeles Independent Film Festival.… Expand