Biography
After graduating from Yale drama school in 1988, bookish actor Joshua Malina was cast in
Aaron Sorkin's Broadway production of A Few Good Men and began a collaboration that would span decades. Malina had his first film role in the 1993 Hollywood adaptation of Sorkin's play and also appeared in the Sorkin-penned romantic drama
The American President. A few small roles followed -- notably a part in 1998's
Bulworth and a multiple-episode stint on HBO's
The Larry Sanders Show -- before Sorkin came calling again in 1998, casting Malina as one of the leads in the critically acclaimed ensemble show
Sports Night.
Despite awards and a loyal cult-following,
Sports Night was canceled after only two seasons. Meanwhile, another Sorkin-produced prime-time drama quickly became a hit with both critics and audiences. Though Malina wasn't part of the cast of
The West Wing when it premiered in 1999, he joined up in 2002 to fill the void left by the departing
Rob Lowe. Malina remained with
The West Wing throughout its run, which ended in 2006, but wasted no time before landing another TV gig. In 2007, he was cast alongside former
Alias star
Michael Vartan in the ABC corporate drama
Big Shots. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide