Boston Legal

Background:

Actor Mark Valley first came to the attention of the American public playing journalist Jack Deveraux on the NBC daytime soap opera “Days of Our Lives” (1994-1997). After memorable recurring roles on ABC's “Once and Again” (2000-2001) and “ER” (2000-2003) as well as a regular role in “Pasadena” (2001-2002), the handsome performer was cast in the breakout role of tough, no-nonsense New York detective Eddie Arlette on the prime time series “Keen Eddie” (2003-2004). He picked up a Teen Choice nomination for his work on the show. However, Valley is probably best known to TV audiences for playing attorney Brad Chase on the hit series “Boston Legal” (2004-2007), from which he netted three SAG nominations.

“From James Spader I’m learning what to take seriously, from William Shatner I’m learning what not to take seriously and from Candice Bergen, I’m learning the wisdom to know the difference.” Mark Valley

The graduate of West Point Academy has also acted in several movies, including John Schlesinger's “The Innocent” (1993), Edward Zwick's “The Siege” (1998), John Schlesinger's “The Next Best Thing” (2000) and “Jericho” (2000).

Valley has a daughter named Sherri Ann Valley with his former girlfriend. He was once romantically linked to Katherine Kendall. Valley enjoys outdoor activities like mountain biking, hiking and climbing. He owns a cat named Cairo.

Soldier

Childhood and Family:

Mark Thomas Valley was born on December 24, 1964, in Ogdensburg, New York, to Martha and Michael Valley. He has three younger sisters named Marnie, Jennifer and Lynn.

Mark showed an interest in acting as a high school student, but put his dreams on the back burner when he was accepted to the United States military academy West Point. He graduated with a degree in mathematics in 1987 and was then sent to Germany. During his five year stay, he had the opportunity to put his training into action when he joined Operation Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia. Upon returning to Berlin, he caught the attention of an agent who persuaded him to try acting. After leaving the military, Mark studied acting at the Berlin based Etage School of Arts and started to get small roles in German television.

Mark is the father of a daughter named Sherri Ann Valley. She currently lives with her mother, who was a former girlfriend of Mark.

Days of Our Lives

Career:

Although he was attracted to acting in high school, Mark Valley did not pursue it professionally until he completed his military service. Spotted by a talent agent while in Berlin, he began appearing on German television and on stage and after adding some credits to his resume, headed back to the United States to further launch his new career.

As a struggling actor in New York City, Valley supported himself working in commercials. In 1993, he made his feature acting debut in a bit part in the John Schlesinger directed “The Innocent,” which starred Anthony Hopkins and Isabella Rossellini. The thriller, however, was not released until 1995. Still in 1993, Valley broke into American television with his role as a priest named Pete on the NBC daytime drama “Another World.” He moved to prime time the following year with the syndicated TV film “Vanishing Son IV,” a drama costarring Russell Wong and Chi Moui Lo.

Valley's first big break arrived in 1994 when he joined the cast of the long running NBC soap opera “Days of Our Lives.” As attractive journalist Jack Deveraux, he became the fourth actor to play the character but soon charmed audiences with his acting. Valley remained with the show until 1997.

Valley went on to have a noted supporting role as Robert F. Kennedy in the TNT biopic “George Wallace,” starring Gary Sinise in the titular role, and a small part in the comedy film “Breast Men” (both 1997), which starred David Schwimmer. His subsequent film credits include the comedy “Some Girl” (1998, starred Marissa Ribisi and Juliette Lewis), the Edward Zwick action thriller “The Siege” (1998, opposite Denzel Washington, Annette Bening and Bruce Willis) and the John Schlesinger directed “The Next Best Thing” (2000, starred Madonna). He also played the title role in the 2000 western “Jericho” and supported Tom Selleck and Laura Linney in the made-for-TV movie “Running Mates” (2000).

Returning to series TV, Valley took on the recurring roles of Marin Hinkle's love interest, Will Gluck, on the ABC drama “Once and Again” (2000-2001) and the ex-husband of Maura Tierney, Richard Lockhart, on the hit medical drama “ER” (2000-2003). While working on both shows, he was cast as ill-natured Robert Greeley on the highly praised, but short-lived, Fox series “Pasadena” (2001-2002). He then guest starred in such popular shows as “Diagnosis Murder,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” and “Spin City.” On stage, he wrote a one man show called “Walls, Wars and Whiskey” (2001), which was about his experiences in the military.

2003 saw Valley graduate to a leading role when he was cast as New York City police detective Eddie Arlette on the prime time series “Keen Eddie.” He was nominated for a Teen Choice for Choice TV Breakout Star - Male for his work on the show, which unfortunately only lasted 13 episodes. Actress Sienna Miller also starred in the series.

After the cancellation of the series, Valley played the recurring role of Warren Lytell on “The 4440” (2004), but it was his next gig that put the actor back in the limelight. Cast as attorney Brad Chase on the David E. Kelley created dramatic series “Boston Legal,” Valley held his own against big names James Spader and William Shatner and jointly netted three Screen Actors Guild nominations in the category of Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2006, 2007 and 2008).

In 2006, Valley also branched out to another series by portraying Reese Callahan on the short lived comedy “Emily's Reasons Why Not,” opposite Heather Graham. He then signed on to appear in the documentary “Nanking,” which was about the 1937 massacre of the Chinese city. The next year, he appeared with Krista Allen in the TV pilot “Business Class,” supported Eva Mendes and David Krumholtz in the comedy “Live,” and lent his voice to the animated film “Shrek the Third.” In November 2007, Valley appeared as Jake Keegan in an episode of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.” He was then seen as Brad Davis in a 2008 episode of the CBS new drama series “Swingtown.” He currently plays John Scott on the sci-fi series “Fringe” (2008).

Awards:
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