Michael Cudlitz (born December 29, 1964) is an American actor and director known for portraying John Cooper in the NBC/TNT drama series Southland (2009–2013) for which he won the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2013, Sergeant Denver "Bull" Randleman in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers (2001), and Sergeant Abraham Ford in the AMC horror series The Walking Dead (2014–2018).
Early life Cudlitz was born on on Long Island, New York, and raised in Lakewood Township, New Jersey. He is a 1982 graduate of Lakewood High School. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the California Institute of the Arts, from which he graduated in 1990.
Career
Until he landed the role in Band of Brothers, Cudlitz worked in TV and film production in the art department of various shows including as a set carpenter. Cudlitz was a construction coordinator on Beverly Hills, 90210.
His first acting role was in the 1989 film Crystal Ball, playing Scottie. Other roles were Tony Miller on Beverly Hills, 90210 and Tad Overton on Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story, and in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, the second seasons of 24, Lost, FOX series Standoff, and Prison Break. He was also in the movie A River Runs Through It. He guest starred on Over There. He played Bob Destepello in the 1997 film Grosse Pointe Blank. He also played a 30-second role as a bartender in the movie Forces of Nature in 1999.
His breakout role came in 2001 with his portrayal of Sgt. Denver "Bull" Randleman in the World War II miniseries, Band of Brothers. Cudlitz starred on the critically acclaimed, five-season television drama Southland as patrol officer John Cooper, a 20-year veteran and training officer. It was picked up by TNT, who aired the remaining episodes of its first season, bringing it back for a total of five seasons. The character struggled with chronic back pain, addiction to pain medication, and ethical issues relating to his partners. Prior to the start of shooting for the show, Cudlitz had a large mole removed from his right upper lip, which had previously been a signature feature of his appearance. The show was cancelled in 2013. Cudlitz won the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role in 2013.
In 2009, Cudlitz appeared in the science fiction film Surrogates as Colonel Brendon. In 2013, Cudlitz played opposite Melanie Griffith in the movie, Dark Tourist.
From February 2014 to October 2016, he appeared in the AMC TV show The Walking Dead as Sergeant Abraham Ford, a character from the comic series of the same name. His first appearance was in the tenth episode of Season 4, an episode entitled "Inmates". Cudlitz's character was killed off in the premiere episode of the show's seventh season entitled "The Day Will Come When You Won't Be". Cudlitz quickly became a fan favorite, with fans noting his quirky and comedic sayings combined with his upfront approach.
From 2023 to 2024, Cudlitz played the DC Comics character Lex Luthor in the CW superhero drama television series Superman & Lois, based on the DC Comics characters Superman and Lois Lane.
Voice work Cudlitz voiced Sgt. Glenn "Hawk" Hawkins in the video game Call of Duty 2: Big Red One. He provided additional voice work for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare.
Awards 2013: Critics Choice Awards, Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, Southland 2013: Entertainment Industries Council PRISM Awards, Southland (episode: "Legacy")
Personal life He is married to Rachael Cudlitz. They have two children. They met while students at CalArts.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role 1992 A River Runs Through It Chub1993 Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story Tad Overton The Liars' Club Jimbo1996 Savage Spillane Follow the Bitch Ty D3: The Mighty Ducks Cole 1997 Grosse Pointe Blank Bob Destepello 1998 The Negotiator Palermo1999 Forces of Nature Bartender Live Virgin Bob2000 A Question of Faith James Lured Innocence Harry Kravitz 2003 Welcome to the Neighborhood George 2006 Running Scared Sal 'Gummy Bear' Franzone2008 Sex Drive Rick Tenure Tim2009 Crossing Over San Pedro ICE Processing Agent Surrogates Colonel Brendan Stolen Jonas2011 Satin Kip Tanner Inside Out Detective Calgrove 2012 Rogue River Sheriff Boyd; also associate producer2013 Dark Tourist Jim; also Producer Pawn Shop Chronicles Ben Cesar Chavez Sheriff Smith 2017 The Trustee Timothy Waits 2018 Driven Morgan Hetrick 2019 Five Women in the End PJ Weller 2020 Return To Hardwick Self (voice narration) 2023 Beautiful Disaster Jim Maddox
Television (miniseries, TV movies, shorts) Year Title Role notes 1989 Crystal Ball Scottie Short 1996 Last Exit to Earth HardesterTV movie 1998 Thirst Andy 1999 Small Change Gary Short 2001 Band of Brothers Sgt. Denver "Bull" Randleman Miniseries 10 episodes 2002 Live from Baghdad Tom MurphyTV movie 2004 Homeland Security Agent Tango 12 2008 Danny Fricke Praeger 2011 Silent Witness Sam Robb
Television Year Title Role Notes 1990 Hull High Schwartz Episodes: "Episode #1.2", "Episode #1.6"1991 21 Jump Street Dennis Richards Episode: "Bad Day at Blackburn" L.A. Law Passerby Episode: "Do the Spike Thing"1992 Step by Step Ed Episode: "Home Alone" Life Goes On Ernie Episode: "The Wall" 1991–1992 Growing Pains Chuck Episodes: "There Must Be a Pony", "The Call of the Wild" 1992–1993 Beverly Hills, 90210 Tony Miller 11 episodes 1993 Against the Grain Bud Hardeman Episodes: "Pilot", "The Buck Stops... There"1994 Lifestories: Families in Crisis Walton Episode: "A Body to Die For: The Aaron Henry Story" Picket Fences White Teenager #1 Episode: "Elective Conduct" The Marshal Gary Lowell Episode: "Kissing Cousins"1996 ER Injured Firefighter Lang Episode: "The Healers" Pacific Blue Brett Andrews Episode: "The Enemy Within" Renegade Patch / Beau Episodes: "High Rollers", "The Dollhouse"1997 JAG Sergeant Tesla Episode: "Force Recon" Leaving L.A. Joey Reno Episode: "The Black Widower" Party of Five Schuyler Episode: "4.2: Past Imperfect"1998 Touched by an Angel Landau Episode: "God and Country" NYPD Blue Joshua Episode: "Prostrate Before the Law"1999 Home Improvement Kyle Episode: "Whitewater" Buffy the Vampire Slayer Bob Episode: "The Zeppo" Chicago Hope Episode: "And Baby Makes 10" Good vs Evil The Wiz Episode: "Men Are from Mars, Women Are Evil" Snoops Michael Keppler Episode: "Constitution" Love & Money Joe Episodes: "Everybody Doesn't Love Eamon", "Puff the Magic Sister"2001 Walker, Texas Ranger State Trooper Episode: "Unsafe Speed" Six Feet Under Dennis, Crossroads Leader Episode: "Crossroads" The Mind of the Married Man Contractor Episodes: "Just Thinking of You", "When We Were Nice" Philly Joe Episode: "Live and Leg Die" 2001 & 2009 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Officer William Spencer / Josh Barston 2 episodes: "And Then There Were None" as Officer William Spencer, "The Grave Shift" 2002 The Practice Russell Hampton Episode: "The Test" Family Law Darren Carson Episode: "Big Brother" Push, Nevada Episode: "Jim's Domain" Fastlane Det. Ray Cornwright Episode: "Girls Own Juice" MDs Elkin Episode: "R.I.P." 2002–2003 24 Rick Phillips 3 episodes: "Day 2: 2:00 p.m.–3:00 p.m.", "Day 2: 3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m.", "Day 2: 4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m."2004 JAG Corporal Hal Strange Episode: "Take It Like a Man" Nip/Tuck Brody Episode: "Joel Gideon"2005 Las Vegas Brian Carlton Venturi - the Kidnapper Episode: "When You Got to Go, You Got to Go" Medical Investigation Lt. Troy Adams Episode: "Mousetrap" CSI: Miami 'Mac' MacKern Episode: "Nothing to Lose" 2004 & 2005 Without a Trace Mark CaseyFreddy Katen 2 episodes: "The Line", "John Michaels" 2005 Line of Fire Jury Member Episode: "This Land Is Your Land" Over There Colonel Ryan Episode: "The Prisoner" The Dead Zone Herb Smith Episode: "Babble On" Prison Break Corrections Officer Robert 'Bob' Hudson 2 episodes: "Riots, Drills and the Devil: Part 1", "Riots, Drills and the Devil: Part 2" Wanted Dep. Reed Episode: "Lips Are Lips" Sleeper Cell LAPD Detective Walt Moss Episode: "Intramural"2006 Close to Home Dan Johnson Episode: "Escape" CSI: NY Vern Dox Episode: "Super Men" 2004 & 2006 Dr. Vegas Glen 2 episodes: "Lust for Life", "For Love or Money" 2006–2007 Standoff Frank Rogers 18 episodes2007 Bones Lucky Episode: "Death in the Saddle" Criminal Minds Francis Goehring Episode: "Identity" 2005 & 2008 Lost Big Mike Walton 2 episodes: "Collision", "The Beginning of the End" 2008 The Cleaner JWB Episode: "Pilot" 2007–2008 Life Mark Rawls 3 episodes: "Pilot: Merit Badge", "Fill It Up", "Did You Feel That?"2009 Knight Rider Lead Gunman Episode: "Exit Light, Enter Knight" Eleventh Hour Ben Finney Episode: "Minamata" Saving Grace Donald Gilmore Episode: "The Heart of a Cop" 2009–2013 Southland John Cooper 43 episodes Winner - Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series 2014–2018The Walking Dead Abraham Ford 30 episodes Recurring (season 4) Main cast (seasons 5–7) Special guest star (episode: "The First Day of the Rest of Your Life") Uncredited voice role (Episode: "What Comes After") 2019–2022 Director; 4 episodes (seasons 9–11) 2015 Ballers Dan Balsamo 2 episodes: "Head-On", "Gaslighting" 2016House of Lies Kohl Brother 2 Episodes: "Violent Agreement", "No Es Fácil" 2018 Young Sheldon NASA director Episode: "Gluons, Guacamole, and the Color Purple" 2018–2019 The Kids Are Alright Mike Cleary Main cast: 23 episodes 2020 The Walking Dead: World Beyond Director; 2 episodes 2021 Invincible Josef / Red Rush Episode: "It's About Time" Clarice Paul Krendler Main cast 2022 Bosch: Legacy Edge Episode: "Always/All Ways" 2023–2024 Superman & Lois Lex Luthor Guest (season 3)Main cast (season 4), 11 episodes; also director, episode: "Sharp Dressed Man"2026MarshalsRandall Clegg
Video games Year Title Voice role Notes2005 Call of Duty 2 Pvt. Braeburn Also provides voice work for NPC U.S. Rangers Call of Duty 2: Big Red One Sgt. Glenn "Hawk" Hawkins 2007 Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare Griffin, additional voices 2009 Red Faction Guerrilla Saul Marius Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Additional voices 2011 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Griffin, additional voices
Crew work Art department 1986–1988: Tales from the Darkside – carpenter (12 episodes) 1988: The Unnamable – carpenter 1989: W.B., Blue and the Bean – set construction 1989: C.H.U.D. II: Bud the C.H.U.D. – carpenter 1990–1993: Beverly Hills, 90210 – construction coordinator (65 episodes) 1996: Dunston Checks In – propmaker gang boss 1998: American History X – construction coordinator 2007: Nobel Son – propmaker
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