Kevin Alejandro (Detective Nate Moretta)

Kevin Alejandro has become one of Hollywood’s standout new faces.  In addition to his work on SOUTHLAND, he stars in the HBO series True Blood, returning for its fourth season in 2011.  He also has a recurring role on NBC’s Parenthood.

Alejandro recently starred in the CBS drama Shark, alongside James Woods.  He is also known from ABC’s hit series Ugly Betty.  He was also a series regular in the FOX drama Drive and Showtime’s Sleeper Cell: American Terror.

Alejandro’s additional television credits include recurring roles on Weeds and the FX original series Sons of Anarchy, as well as guest starring roles on Heroes, Burn Notice, The Mentalist, Law and Order: SVU, Big Love, CSI:  Miami, 24, Alias, Without a Trace and CSI: NY, among many others.

Michael Cudlitz (Officer John Cooper)

Hailing from the East Coast, Michael Cudlitz graduated from the California Institute of the Arts Theatre program and has established himself as a versatile and prolific character actor in both television and film.  Although his first love is the stage, Cudlitz found early success working in front of the camera.

Cudlitz has appeared in more than 20 films, including A River Runs Through It, Grosse Point Blank, and The Negotiator.  A few of his notable television credits include roles on Standoff, Lost, Prison Break, Six Feet Under, Nip/Tuck, 24 and all three CSI series and the Emmy-winning HBO miniseries Band of Brothers.

Michael’s most recent film credits include the sci-fi thriller Surrogates, with Bruce Willis; and Tenure, a comedy with Luke Wilson.   Michael will next be seen in the psychological-thriller The Grief Tourist with Melanie Griffith, a film in which Michael also served as producer.

Cudlitz currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife and twin boys.

Jenny Gago (Detective Josie Ochoa)

Jenny Gago is one of Hollywood’s most versatile and respected Latina actresses.  Her powerful portrayal of the matriarch Maria Sanchez in Gregory Nava’s hit film My Family was critically accla… read moreimed.  Gago has starred in many feature films, including Coach Carter, The Tie That Binds, Bound by Honor, Under Fire and Nurse Betty.  She was honored with the Golden Eagle Award for her performance as Garduna in the film Old Gringo.

Gago’s television films include Grand Avenue, Nowhere to Hide and Sweet 15.  She has also had regular roles on such series as DEA, Dangerous Minds, Alien Nation and Freddie.  Gago was a member of the esteemed cast of the Golden Globe-nominated miniseries American Family on PBS.  Some of her more recent guest-starring roles include Crossing Jordan, 24, The West Wing, The Agency, Alias, Jack& Bobby, Without a Trace and Lost.

After earning her degree in theater arts from UCLA, Gago was then personally awarded a scholarship by Lee Strasberg to attend his Institute.  In addition to honors from such prestigious organizations as the Association for the Advancement of Mexican Americans, the Image Awards, the National Councilof La Raza, the TELACU Education Foundation, The Hispanic Women’s Networkof Texas, the BRAVO Awards and the Alma Awards, Gago has also received awards from the County of Los Angeles and El Centro.  The U.S. House of Representatives recently acknowledged her for “her talents and portrayal of Latino characters in the film and television industry, as well as her dedication and drive to pursue nontraditional roles to pave the way for other Latinos.”

Gago’s passion is her 13-year-old son, Sean. She loves family, friends, music and dancing (especially salsa).  She volunteers regularly in schools to support the importance of education.

Shawn Hatosy (Detective Sammy Bryant)

One of the most versatile actors of his generation, Shawn Hatosy continues to expand upon his already impressive resume by starring in a succession of buzz-worthy projects.  He most recently appeared such films as Public Enemies, The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call – New Orleans and Factory Girl.  In addition to his work on SOUTHLAND, Hatosy has a recurring role on the series Dexter.

Hatosy has more than two dozen feature film credits, including John Q, Alpha Dog, The Faculty, Anywhere But Here, In & Out, The Cooler, Outside Providence and Simpatico.  His television work includes starring as John McCain in A&E’s Faith of My Fathers.  He also starred in Frank Pierson’s Golden Globe-nominated Showtime drama Soldier’s Girl and the Emmy-nominated Witness Protection for HBO.  His many guest appearances include such series as Numb3rs, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, Law & Order, Homicide: Life on the Streets, My Name is Earl, Felicity and Six Feet Under.

Hatosy is equally adept at performing in front of a live audience.  In his most recent stage credit, he landed the coveted role opposite Al Pacino in Lyle Kessler’s Orphans at the Greenway Court Theatre in Los Angeles.  Hatosy also received accolades for his stage debut as the title role in the La Jolla Playhouse production of The Collected Works of Billy the Kid. Off-Broadway, he starred opposite Anna Paquin in the Paul Weitz comedy Roulette.

Originally from Frederick, Md., Hatosy currently resides in Los Angeles.

C. Thomas Howell (Officer Dewet Dudek aka Bill Dewey)

The son of a professional bullrider-turned-stuntman, C. Thomas Howell started working in the film industry at the age of 7.  In 1981, he was cast as Tyler in Steven Spielberg’s E.T. The Extra Terrestrial.  Shortly thereafter, he nabbed the lead in Francis Ford Coppola’s classic The Outsiders, which made him a household name virtually overnight.

Earmarked as one of the most promising young actors of the 1980s, Howell’s career soon skyrocketed with roles in films such as the Cold War invasion drama Red Dawn, the classic psychological thriller The Hitcher and the hilarious but controversial college farce Soul Man.  Since then, Howell has been in consistent demand with filmmakers for the last 25 years, appearing in favorites such as That Night, Gettysburg, Gods and Generals and Hidalgo.

Behind the camera, Howell has directed such films as The Big Fall, Pure Danger and Hourglass, the latter he also co-wrote with longtime friend Darren Dalton.  In addition to his film and television career, Howell is an accomplished team roper and spends as much time as possible with his wife Sylvie and their three children.

Regina King (Detective Lydia Adams)

Thanks to roles in a number of prominent films, Regina King’s distinguished talents have not gone unnoticed by Hollywood. In addition to her work on SOUTHLAND, the skilled actress was recently seen as the female lead role opposite Forest Whitaker in the comedy feature Our Family Wedding. Before that, she starred in the Lifetime original movie Living Proof, executive-produced by Renée Zellweger and starring opposite Harry Connick, Jr.  She had previously starred in Paramount Vantage’s comedy Year of the Dog, opposite Molly Shannon, Laura Dern, Peter Sarsgaard and John C. Reilly, and the Screen Gems’ holiday-film This Christmas, opposite Mekhi Phifer and Loretta Devine.

King also starred in the comedy Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous and voiced the character Kreela in the animated film Ant Bully.  Prior to that, she appeared in the Oscar^®-nominated film Ray.  King’s other feature credits include A Cinderella Story, Daddy Day Care and Legally Blonde 2: Red, White and Blonde.

Born and raised in Los Angeles, King made her television debut on the hit sitcom 227.  After five seasons, she made the leap to the silver screen with a role in Boyz n the Hood and later starred in Poetic Justice and Higher Learning.  King has always been consistent in showing her dynamic range, bouncing effortlessly from dramatic material to comedic performances, as proven in the hit film Friday and A Thin Line Between Love and Hate.

But if there was a definite turning point in her career, it came in 1997 with her memorable role as Cuba Gooding Jr.’s wife, Marci, in the blockbuster film Jerry Maguire. This led to starring roles in How Stella Got Her Groove Back, the hit action-thriller Enemy of the State, the family-adventure Mighty Joe Young, and the comedy Down to Earth.

King found her way back to the small screen in 2000 with a role in the acclaimed If These Walls Could Talk 2 and the comedy Leap of Faith.  She currently provided the voices of Huey and Riley on the animated series The Boondocks.  King currently lives in Los Angeles with her son.

Michael McGrady (Detective Daniel “Sal” Salinger)

Michael McGrady has appeared in numerous roles on television and film, including a series regular role opposite Taye Diggs in Day Break and recurring parts in 24, CSI: Miami and The Riches.  His countless guest appearances include TNT’s Leverage, Prison Break, The Mentalist, Big Love and Bones.  His film credits include The Deep End of the Ocean, The Thin Red Line, The Babe and Wyatt Earp.

Married to fitness trainer Ilka, whom he met while filming on location in Germany, McGrady is the proud father of three children and coaches his son’s soccer, football and baseball teams.  He is also an accomplished fine artist whose work is currently represented in several galleries across the country.

Ben McKenzie (Officer Ben Sherman)

Ben McKenzie was born and raised in Texas.  Following his graduation from the University of Virginia, where he was a foreign affairs and economics major, he moved to New York to pursue acting.

While in New York, McKenzie appeared off-Broadway in Life is a Dream at the Soho Rep.  Additionally, he performed in numerous productions at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, including Street Scene and The Blue Bird, as well as the University of Virginia in Measure for Measure and Zoo Story.  He later moved to Los Angeles, where he landed the lead role on The O.C.

In addition to starring in the critically acclaimed independent ensemble drama Junebug, McKenzie has also starred opposite Al Pacino in the thriller 88 Minutes and received praise for his solo turn in the independent film Johnny Got His Gun, based on a novel by Dalton Trumbo.  McKenzie recently starred in The Glass Menagerie at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles.

Tom Everett Scott (Detective Russell Clarke)

Tom Everett Scott’s numerous television credits include roles on such series as TNT’s Saved, Law & Order, Cashmere Mafia, Philly, The Street and Grace Under Fire.  He was also featured in the television movie Surrender, Dorothy, opposite Diane Keaton and Chris Pine.

On the big screen, Scott’s breakout role came in 1996, when he got the lead as drummer Guy Patterson in Tom Hanks’s That Thing You Do! From there, he went on to appear in various films, including Dead Man on Campus, Boiler Room and Because I Said So, opposite Mandy Moore.  Scott was most recently seen in Race to Witch Mountain, opposite Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

In addition to television and film, Scott has starred on Broadway in The Little Dog Laughed and in the off-Broadway play Touch.  He also appeared at the L.A. Ahmanson Theatre stage production of Dead End in 2005.

Scott was raised in East Bridgewater, Mass.  Following his graduation from Syracuse University, where he was a drama major, he moved to New York City to pursue acting.  With three friends, he founded the aTheaterco theater company.

Currently, Scott lives with his wife and two children in Los Angeles.

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Cast biographies provided courtesy of TNT Public Relations.