J. August Richards

J August Richards is best known for his portrayal of vampire hunter Charles Gunn on the WB television series Angel and Mike Peterson/Deathlok in Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

In 2014, he soared to new heights: Richards kicked off the year with a recurring role on ABC’s hit action series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. as the iconic Marvel character Deathlok; returned to ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy; and ended the year with another recurring role, as a gay, married father of two on Bravo’s first scripted series, Girlfriend’s Guide to Divorce.

Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in the Maryland suburb of Bladensburg, Richards discovered his love for acting at an early age. He enrolled in a performing arts high school and appeared in several plays a year. Determined to move to Los Angeles to become an actor, he applied to only one college: the University of Southern California. He was not only accepted, but he also won numerous scholarships and grants to study theater.

After graduation, Richards began working steadily in film, television and theater. He first won recognition and rave reviews for his role in the production of Space at the Mark Taper Forum, playing a rapping bike messenger who believes he is an alien abductee. Richards also received accolades for his performance in the Old Globe Theatre’s production of Kenneth Lonergan’s Lobby Hero.

On the big screen, Richards appeared in the feature films Why Do Fools Fall In Love, Good Burger and Paved With Good Intentions. He also starred in the television movies Critical Assembly, The Temptations and Mutiny.

Richards wrote and directed the buzzworthy short film Privacy Policy, which he describes as Enemy of the State meets The Sixth Sense. The short played in film festivals to major acclaim. He has also written and directed the upcoming Web series The Hypnotist, which he describes as a “psychological fiction.”

In his free time, Richards enjoys doing volunteer work for homeless organizations in downtown Los Angeles. An avid traveler, he visits his parents’ native country of Panama, as well as other regions of Central America, Europe and Australia.