Josh Stewart

Growing up in a rural part of West Virginia with schoolteachers as parents, Josh Stewart never dreamed of an acting career as a possibility. It wasn't until he moved to Los Angeles, and began appearing in bit parts on TV shows, that Stewart really began to think he could make acting his profession. In the years since, Josh Stewart has appeared in countless television shows and movies, including a recurring spot on CBS's "Criminal Minds" (2005- ), as well as a supporting role in the final film in director Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy "The Dark Knight Rises" (2012). On the rise as of the early 2010s, this small town kid from West Virginia is quickly establishing himself as one of Hollywood's hottest young actors.

Born in Diana, WV, Stewart landed roles in plays in and around his hometown throughout his teens. He attended West Virginia University after high school, eventually earning a marketing degree, but the acting bug never quite left him. After a brief stint in New York, Stewart moved to Los Angeles, and began appearing in plays alongside such notable stars as Brooke Shields. Before long, Stewart nabbed parts in commercials for Levi's 501 Jeans, while also picking up extra work on shows like the WB's "Dawson's Creek" (1998-2003). His big break came in 2004 when he was cast as Officer Brendan Finney in NBC's dramatic action series, "Third Watch" (1999-2005). However, the show was cancelled after Stewart's first season, leaving him out of work.

Fortunately for Stewart, he quickly landed a spot on the FX series, "Dirt" (2007-08); as washed-up actor Holt McLaren, Stewart earned legions of new fans. However, production on the show halted after the 2007 writer's strike, and "Dirt" was cancelled after only its second season. Undeterred, Stewart was soon cast in a recurring role as Detective William LaMontagne on the crime procedural "Criminal Minds" (CBS, 2005- ), while also appearing in such big budget action films as "Law Abiding Citizen" (2009), opposite Gerard Butler, and "The Dark Knight Rises" (2012), opposite Tom Hardy. Also in 2012, Stewart reprised his role as the newly released ex-convict Arkin in "The Collection," the follow-up to the 2009 horror film, "The Collector." Fans of the AMC series "The Walking Dead" (2010- ) will also recognize Josh Stewart for his work in a webseries spin-off of the TV show, titled "The Walking Dead: Cold Storage" (2012- ). The series appeared on AMC's website in October 2012, with Stewart playing the protagonist in all four webisodes.