Jason Austin Wiles Bio
Jason Austin Wiles (born April 25, 1970) is an American actor, director, writer and producer whose work spans television and independent film. He is best known for his portrayal of Maurice ‘Bosco’ Boscorelli on the NBC drama Third Watch from 1999 to 2005 and for playing Colin Robbins on Beverly Hills, 90210 in the mid-1990s.
Early Life and Background
Jason Austin Wiles was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and raised in Lenexa, Kansas, where he attended Holy Trinity Catholic School. His upbringing in the Kansas City area included early exposure to local film productions that came through the region, which informed his interest in film and performance. Following high school he worked for the local Parks and Recreation department before pursuing opportunities in film and television.
Wiles began working on film sets in his hometown area in the early 1990s, serving on the crew for Mr. and Mrs. Bridge and later working on the Stephen King telefilm Sometimes They Come Back, where he also appeared as an extra. Those on-set experiences allowed him to form connections that led him to relocate to Los Angeles to pursue acting professionally. In Los Angeles he appeared in commercials and secured a lead in an after-school special, growing his audition and on-camera experience.
While building his early résumé, Wiles appeared in media outside traditional film and television, including a part in the Bon Jovi music video “Always” in 1994. That year he also secured his first leading role in the independent movie WindRunner, appearing alongside Margot Kidder and Russell Means, which marked his transition into credited acting roles. These early credits established him as a working actor on both regional and national projects and set the stage for his television breakthroughs.
Path to Celebrity
Wiles’s move to Los Angeles and steady work in commercials and small productions positioned him to land recurring television work, which proved crucial to his visibility. In 1995 he began the first of 32 appearances on the Fox drama Beverly Hills, 90210 as Colin Robbins, a recurring role that increased his recognition within the industry. That recurring television exposure led to further auditions and a widening range of opportunities across network dramas and independent films.
Throughout the late 1990s Wiles continued to balance television guest spots with film projects while developing skills behind the camera, including writing and directing. His early interest in filmmaking dated to his work on regional film sets, and he later returned to independent production as a writer and director after establishing himself as an actor. This dual focus on performance and filmmaking shaped his career choices and his involvement in creating original projects.
Wiles’s combination of television steadiness and independent film work helped him cultivate a professional identity that includes both onscreen roles and creative leadership offscreen. He built a profile as a character actor capable of supporting ensemble television casts while also originating and leading smaller film projects. Those parallel paths have defined his career trajectory through the 2000s and into later television appearances.
Jason Austin Wiles Career
Early Career (1990–1994)
Jason Wiles began pursuing film work in 1990, initially by working on location on regional productions such as Mr. and Mrs. Bridge and Sometimes They Come Back, where he gained practical set experience as both crew and an extra. After relocating to Los Angeles he booked commercial work and a lead role in an after-school special, which provided on-camera training and credits that supported subsequent auditions. His first significant film lead came in 1994 with the independent picture WindRunner, which paired him with established performers and marked his emergence as a credited actor.
During this period Wiles accumulated experience across formats, appearing in a notable music video and building a foundation of professional contacts that would carry into television. That combination of regional set work, commercial bookings and an independent film lead positioned him to move into recurring network television roles. The early 1990s therefore functioned as a practical apprenticeship that prepared him for higher-profile television work later in the decade.
Breakthrough (1995–1999)
Wiles’s recurring role as Colin Robbins on Beverly Hills, 90210 began in 1995 and comprised 32 appearances, a run that brought him broader industry attention and steady visibility on a major network drama. His work on Beverly Hills, 90210 demonstrated his ability to contribute to an ensemble cast and provided a platform from which he auditioned for larger roles. The recurring role in a high-profile series was a clear turning point in his transition from regional and independent work to mainstream television.
In 1999 Wiles secured the role of Maurice ‘Bosco’ Boscorelli on the NBC drama Third Watch, a part he played across the series’ entire six-season run from 1999 to 2005, appearing as a regular ensemble member throughout that period. His portrayal on Third Watch established him as a recognizable presence in network drama and allowed him to develop a sustained television character over multiple seasons. The stability and profile of that role opened doors to guest appearances on other series and to collaborations with fellow cast members on stage and in independent projects.
Concurrent with his television breakthrough, Wiles continued to work in film and to expand his creative responsibilities, moving into writing and directing following the completion of Third Watch. His transition into behind-the-camera roles was evident when he wrote and directed Lenexa, 1 Mile, released in 2006, and later wrote, directed and produced Play Dead, released in 2009. These projects reflect his sustained interest in independent filmmaking and in shaping material beyond acting.
Notable Works and Milestones
Jason Wiles’s most widely recognized television work remains Third Watch and Beverly Hills, 90210, while his independent films Lenexa, 1 Mile and Play Dead mark his development as a writer and director. He has maintained a steady presence as a guest actor on series including Commander in Chief, Army Wives, Criminal Minds and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and he appeared in the film Zodiac in 2007 and in the 2009 remake of The Stepfather. In 2015 he joined the main cast of the MTV series Scream as Sheriff Clark Hudson and continued to take guest roles on contemporary series such as The Rookie, illustrating an ongoing mix of television and film work.