Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in the Maryland suburb of Bladensburg, actor Charles Gunn discovered his passion for acting at an early age and enrolled in a performing arts high school where he appeared in several plays a year. Demonstrating academic confidence and determination to pursue his acting aspirations in Los Angeles, Richards applied to only one college, the University of Southern California (USC),and was not only accepted but also won numerous scholarships and grants to study theater.
After graduating from USC, Richards began working steadily in film, television, and theater, earning recognition and rave reviews for his portrayal of a rapping bike messenger who believes he is an alien abductee in the Mark Taper Forum's production of "Space." He then gained popularity among fans of the TV series "Angel" during its first season, playing the role of Charles Gunn, a rogue and street-savvy vampire hunter. In season five, his character was transformed into a "take-no-prisoners" lawyer at the evil law firm Wolfram and Hart.
In the TV series "Conviction," Richards returned to the "letter of the law" in his role as Billy Desmond, an ambitious and brilliant assistant district attorney who never loses. On the big screen, he has appeared in the feature films "Why Do Fools Fall in Love?" and "Good Burger," and has also starred in the television movies "Critical Assembly," "The Temptations," and "Mutiny." Richards has also made guest appearances on various TV shows, including "The Practice," "Chicago Hope," "The Cosby Show," and "Any Day Now."
Last summer, Richards won critical notices for his performance in Kenneth Lonergan's "Lobby Hero" at the prestigious Old Globe Theatre.
