Playing the glory-hungry "Bosco," Jason Wiles takes on the role of a hot-headed New York cop on "Third Watch."

"Bosco's attitude gets him in trouble," says Wiles, "but he's the guy you'd want there in a crisis because he gets the job done." He adds that he sees "a little Bosco" in himself as well: "I'm generally very laid back, but when I'm pushed, it comes out."

Wiles, who is from Lenexa, Kansas, says he always wanted to be an actor, and got his start as an extra and stand-in. At 19, after playing a non-speaking part in the Paul Newman-Joanne Woodward drama "Mr. and Mrs. Bridge," Wiles moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting full-time. After a year of struggling, he landed some commercial work and made his television acting debut in a role on an After-School Special, "Big Boys Don't Cry."

Wiles has appeared in the films "Higher Learning," for director John Singleton, as well as Robert Rodriguez's "Road Racers." He was also seen in the critically acclaimed movie "Kicking and Screaming."

Television audiences have seen him on "Beverly Hills, 90210" and as a series regular on "To Have and To Hold" and in numerous made-for-television movies.

Wiles and his wife divide their time between Los Angeles and New York. His birthday is April 25.