While many make a beeline for the stage from the time they're walking on two feet, James Lesure took a slightly more varied path. He studied at the Air Force Academy before going on to the University of Southern California, where he earned a B.F.A. in theater. He then traveled abroad, where he not only participated in stage productions of everything from Broadway musicals to Shakespeare, but also pursued his dream of being an amateur boxer. Settling back in the States, Lesure began making the rounds on TV, making small appearances on shows like NYPD Blue and Seinfeld. Then, in 2004, Lesure was cast as a member of an elite surveillance team on the hit series Las Vegas. Audiences loved his charming screen presence, and he stayed with the series for multiple seasons.