Roberts was born in St. Louis, Missouri and graduated from DePaul University Theater School with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting. He is best known for his roles as Sean Taylor in Drumline and Forrest Gates in the fourth season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He is also known among Smallville fans as playing the role of Nam-Ek, and D.L. Hawkins on the NBC sci-fi drama Heroes.