Gaius Charles graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in drama, and later studied at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts in Sydney, Australia. During his time as a student he appeared in several college productions, including the play Spunk, credited as Carnegie Mellon's first production with an all-black cast.
In 2006, Charles received his major break, appearing as Smash Williams on the NBC series Friday Night Lights. He stayed with the show as a regular until the end of the second season, and was a recurring in the early part of the third. He later focused his energies on regional theater productions, before appearing in films such as The Messenger, Toe to Toe and Salt.