Josh Randall

A dark-haired and handsome actor who made his breakthrough with a regular role as a young doctor on the NBC series "Ed" (2000-04), Josh Randall got his start in San Francisco theater productions and made significant entries in independent film, both in front of and behind the camera.

While pursuing an English degree and playing basketball at San Francisco State University, Randall was introduced to acting by a fellow student and playwright who drafted the junior to take part in his production "Sound Barriers." This led to a career change for the young man, who went on to act on stage in San Francisco and Los Angeles in plays including "Benchmarks," "A Lesson in Obedience" and "Barefoot in the Park."

Screen work followed, and Randall brought to productions his behind-the-scenes talents as well as his magnetic screen presence. He played a cop in the 1997 Cinemax-premiered independent feature "The Last Time I Committed Suicide" and also worked on the film as a grip.

Randall appeared in the direct-to-video drama "Somebody Is Waiting" (1996) starring Gabriel Byrne and worked as a grip on a segment of the Nickelodeon TV series "Shaquille O'Neal's Sports Theater."

In 1997, he was the unit production manager as well as co-star of the black comedy "The Party Crashers," playing The Bruise, an accomplice to a cash-strapped screenwriter who endeavors to hold up an A-list party for quick financial gain. In 2000, Randall appeared in an episode of the popular supernatural spin-off "Angel," playing a bartender.

His next television role was in "Ed," a quirky hour-long comedy that cast him as a new father and young doctor, trying to maintain a happy home life with his neurotic wife Nancy (Jana Marie Hupp) while dealing with his inordinately cantankerous practice partner Dr Jerome (Martin Chatinover).

A capable if browbeaten professional in the office and a hopelessly juvenile jokester when paired with his titular best friend (Tom Cavanagh), Randall's character was a perfect fit for the actor, who brought depth as well as disarming charm to his portrayal.