Michael Jace, conflicted cop on ‘The Shield,’ suspected of killing wife

Michael Jace didn’t have a prominent role in FX’s gritty police drama “The Shield, but his character stood out.

Jace brought a low-key intensity and charisma to his role as rookie LAPD Officer Julien Lowe, whose religious convictions clashed with his feelings of homosexuality, which he attempted to suppress.

In the second episode of the first season, Julien is persuaded to participate by his fellow officers in a initiation ritual called “The B&B,” in which he was taken to a bar for pitchers of beer, followed by a sexual encounter with a prostitute. His character eventually rose through the ranks to detective.

Jace was arrested early Tuesday in connection with the shooting death of his wife April at their Hyde Park home. The couple’s two sons, reported to be under 10 years old, were home at the time and were unharmed.

Jace is being held in lieu of $1-millon bail in the shooting death.

Police said April Jace, 40, was found shot to death about 8:30 p.m. Monday. She and her children had arrived home shortly before the shooting, they said.

Among Jace’s other credits are “Gridiron Gang” with the Rock, “Cradle to the Grave” with Jet Li and DMX, “The Replacements” with Keanu Reeves, “Boogie Nights” with Mark Wahlberg and Tim Burton’s “Planet of the Apes.” He played basketball great Michael Jordan in Fox Family’s “The Michael Jordan Story.”

Jace was clearly a favorite with the “The Shield” cast, particularly Michael Chiklis. “The camera loves you, Mikey,” Chiklis said on the DVD commentary of the series’ Season 3 episode, “Bottom Bitch.” Chiklis and producers also praised the actor for his chemistry with Catherine Dent, who played Lowe’s partner, Officer Danielle “Danny” Sofer.

Responded Jace: “Catherine and I have developed a relationship as Julien starts to grow. When I came in, Julian was a man without a team. He starts to see how important it is to have relationships.”

The actor also praised the show’s ability to showcase multi-dimensional characters who carry out their professional duties while dealing with personal demons.

“All the characters are flawed,” Jace said. “The writers are aware that the characters all have their strengths. ... We see them on both sides, running with their flaws and running with their strengths, being human beings and figuring things out.”