Despite his good looks and athletic frame, this up-and-comer often plays the bad guy, with villainous turns on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Smallville. Even his breakout Heroes role was tinged with ambiguity: Although he was a loving father blessed with the ability to walk through walls, he was also a jail-breaking criminal. After studying acting at Chicago's DePaul University, Roberts stayed in the Windy City to hone his skills on some of its finest stages, including the Steppenwolf Theatre Company and the Goodman Theatre. In the mid-'90s, he began landing TV guest spots and small film parts, including his recurring role as an enemy of the title character on Buffy's fourth season. 2002 was an important year for Roberts: He gained 20 pounds to play legendary boxer Joe Louis in the TV biopic Joe and Max, and played the nemesis of the protagonist in the marching band movie Drumline. But Heroes introduced Roberts' talents to a whole new audience.
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