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Reggie Hayes - Actor Reggie Hayes has appeared in several TV shows, including Criminal Minds, Will and Grace and Party of Five. He is best known for his role as William Dent on Girlfriends and now plays an Alabama gangster on Let's Stay Together. (Photo: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Othello - As a young actor in Chicago, Reggie Hayes performed in several of Shakespeare's plays including Othello, one of the first inter-racial romance stories. (Photo: Narayana Press)

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Sexiest Men Alive - Although his character on Girlfriends is more nerd than heartthrob, in 2007 Reggie Hayes was named one of  People magazine's Sexiest Men Alive.  (Photo: UPN /Landov)

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A Raisin in the Sun - Another play that Reggie performed in was the epic African-American tale A Raisin in the Sun, written by Chicago writer Lorraine Hansberry. (Photo: Random House)

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Illinois State University - Reggie Hayes studied theater at Illinois State University, graduating in 1991. In 2004 the University rewarded him with an Outstanding Young Alumni Award. (Photo: Illinois State University)

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NAACP Image Award - Reggie Hayes won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his role as William Dent on the hit series Girlfriends. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for NAACP)

Photo By Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for NAACP

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Girlfriends - Reggie Hayes' most defining role was William Bent ,a lawyer and best friend of Joan Clayton. Hayes was the sole male in the group of Girlfriends and his character had a relationship with two of the leads.  (Photo: UPN)

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Reggie Hayes on BET - Reggie Hayes appeared at the first two BET Comedy Awards and also was a guest on 106 & Park in 2005. He also wrote an episode for the Cinemax show Femme Fatales. (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

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Chicago's Own - Actor Reggie Hayes was born and raised in Chicago and attended Northwestern Military Academy, where he graduated in 1987. In 2011 he was given the Notable Men of the Academy from his old school. (Photo: Michael Germana / SSI Photo /Landov)

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Being John Malkovich - In the Spike Jonze abstract science-fiction comedy Being John Malkovich, Regge Evans played Don in his first big-screen role. (Photo: Propaganda Films)