Eads attended Belton High School in Belton, Texas. Eads graduated from Texas Tech University (1989) with a degree in marketing.[1] In college, he was a member of the Phi Delta Thetafraternity.[2] Prior to beginning an acting career, Eads worked as a copy machine salesman, as well as selling first aid and safety supplies for Cintas.
Career
Eads drove to Los Angeles, California in a pickup truck borrowed from his stepfather, to pursue his acting career. Eads got his big break on the prime time soap opera Savannah, in which he played the conniving Travis Peterson and later Travis's twin brother, Nick Corelli.[3][4]
Parallel to CSI, Eads worked on made-for-television films, such as 2003's Monte Walsh and 2004's Evel Knievel.
In August 2013, prior to CSI's 14th season, Eads reportedly took a leave of absence after having an altercation with a writer from the show over what was described as "creative issues".[5] On November 25, 2014, it was announced that Eads would be leaving the show, which in any event was not renewed for the following season; he only missed the series finale television movie, Immortality.[6]
From 2016 to 2019, Eads starred as Jack Dalton in CBS's reboot series MacGyver. In 2018, while the series' third season was filming, Eads asked to be released from his contract so he could spend more time with his young daughter who resides in Los Angeles, as MacGyver is filmed in Atlanta. Producers ultimately agreed with Eads being written out of the show but left open the opportunity for him to return as a guest star in the future. However, his character was ultimately killed off. The February 1, 2019 episode "Father + Bride + Betrayal" was his last on MacGyver.[7]
In other media
In March 2009, Eads was voted as one of TV Guide's Sexiest Male Actors in the TV Guide's "Sexiest Stars" issue. The "Sexiest Stars" issue voted The Mentalist's Simon Baker as the Sexiest Male Actor. Eads was not discouraged by this, however, and said that he was very appreciative of his fans calling him "sexy". "It’s sweet and kind. It makes me want to work harder for them. It makes me want to be sexier."
