Actor Cole Kenneth Hauser was born on March 22, 1975 in Santa Barbara, California to a family of artists. His mother founded the production company Warner Sisters, and his father was actor Wings Hauser. His parents divorced when he was two years old, but his father took him in for a year and taught him about auditioning. He initially delved into sports for most of his early life, but a good friend of his lured him into acting classes. The two of them applied for a renowned summer camp in New England and Hauser got his big break as the lead in the stage play Dark of the Moon. This led him to drop out of high school at 16, and pursue an acting career.
Going through several unsuccessful auditions, Cole Hauser finally got his break and first appeared on television as Jack Connors on School Ties in 1992. In 1993, he played Benny O'Donnell in Dazed and Confused, and Rocky Jackson in A Matter of Justice. The next year, he was cast in Skins, as well as on Higher Learning. He continued his success with All Over Me, and teamed up with his School Ties co-star Ben Affleck in the acclaimed film Good Will Hunting in 1997. Later on, Hauser was seen in Scotch and Milk, and played William J. Johns in 2000’s Pitch Black. Also that year, he got a part in A Shot at Glory, and portrayed Staff Sgt. Cota in Tigerland. He was next seen in Hart’s War, played Ray in White Oleander, and portrayed James ‘Red’ Atkins on Tears of the Sun in 2003. He followed this up with a role in 2 Fast 2 Furious before he landed the role of Steve Curtis on several episodes of ER. In 2004, Hauser was seen on Paparazzi, and subsequently on The Cave, Dirty and Damages. Two years later, he appeared in the romantic comedy The Break-Up, and obtained a part in the Canadian movie The Stone Angel alongside Ellen Burstyn. From 2007 to 2008, he played Trevor Cobb on FOX’s K-Ville, and had roles in Tortured, The Family That Preys, and Like Dandelion Dust.
(Photo courtesy of FOX)