Cylk Cozart

Multi-talented Knoxville, Tennessee native Cylk Cozart could have likely "gone pro" in a number of high-profile fields: His original dream was to play professional basketball, but a foot injury forced the athlete to close that chapter of his story. However, the resilient Cozart simply moved on to another path, pursuing a career as a model in Miami. In 1983, he transitioned into acting, appearing first with a side role in the baseball comedy "Blue Skies Again." Upon moving to New York City, Cozart started taking the dramatic arts seriously, studying under the legendary Robert Redford at the Sundance Institute and appearing in a handful of plays. While supporting himself financially with modeling gigs (including spots for GQ and Vogue), Cozart continued to build his resume, taking on a variety of one-off TV gigs and big-screen side roles. His breakthrough came in 1992, landing a key supporting part in the hit Ron Shelton comedy "White Men Can't Jump" (which also allowed him to demonstrate his basketball skills). Throughout the decade, Cozart's tough physique and chiseled features seemed to grace every other prominent TV show in some capacity--he landed one-off spots on popular shows like "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "Walker: Texas Ranger," and "Diagnosis Murder." And late in the decade, he supported big names on the big-screen, landing supporting roles in the Mel Gibson-starring crime-drama "Conspiracy Theory" and the romantic comedy "Three to Tango." In the 2000s, Cozart landed roles in two high-profile action-thrillers: 2006's "16 Blocks" and 2008's "Eagle Eye."