DENNIS HAYSBERT, REGINA TAYLOR, SCOTT FOLEY, ROBERT PATRICK, AUDREY MARIE ANDERSON, MAX MARTINI, ABBY BRAMMELL, MICHAEL IRBY AND DEMORE BARNES STAR IN "THE UNIT," A NEW DRAMA SERIES PREMIERING TUESDAY, MARCH 7 ON THE CBS TELEVISION NETWORK

"First Responders" -- Dennis Haysbert, Regina Taylor, Scott Foley, Robert Patrick, Audrey Marie Anderson, Max Martini, Abby Brammell, Michael Irby and Demore Barnes star in THE UNIT, a new action drama series that follows a covert team of special forces operatives as they risk their lives on undercover missions around the globe, while their wives maintain the homefront, protecting their husbands' secrets. The series will premiere Tuesday, March 7 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

Davis Guggenheim directed the premiere episode from a script written by one of the show's executive producers and creator, David Mamet. The series was inspired by the book "Inside Delta Force" written by Command Sergeant Major, USA (ret.) Eric L. Haney, the series' technical advisor, producer and writer.

Jonas Blane (Haysbert) leads the unit on missions out in the field and is responsible for taking elite new recruit Bob Brown (Foley) under his wing. The Unit includes Jonas, Colonel Tom Ryan (Ryan), Mack Gerhardt (Martini), Charles Grey (Irby), Hector Williams (Barnes) and Bob Brown, all highly skilled soldiers, whose ability to rely on each other in life threatening situations creates their unique brotherhood. Jonas's wife, Molly (Taylor), is the base matriarch who comforts and counsels the Unit's wives as they cope with the fear and uncertainty they experience when their husbands leave home. Molly and Tiffy Gerhardt (Brammell), a wife hiding her own dark secrets, help Bob's pregnant wife, Kim (Anderson), acclimate to the stress of her new secret life.

In the premiere episode, newcomer Bob Brown joins Jonas' team as they set out to rescue a hijacked plane filled with European businessmen. Meanwhile, the Unit wives help Bob's wife Kim get acclimated to "unit life" as she struggles with the level of control the Unit has over her personal life. Even though there seems to be a lack of privacy, there are still secrets in the Unit that need to be kept private.

Dennis Haysbert is best known to television audiences for his portrayal of President David Palmer on the series "24," for which he received his first Golden Globe nomination. He also appeared in the series "Now and Again," on the Network. Haysbert is currently shooting the feature film "Breach" opposite Ryan Phillppe, Chris Cooper and Laura Linney. His other feature film credits include "Jarhead," "Far From Heaven," "Love and Basketball," "Absolute Power," "Love Field," "Major League," "Heat," "Random Hearts," "What's Cooking," "Waiting to Exhale," "The Thirteenth Floor," "Navy Seals," "Suture" and "Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas," as the voice of Kale. Haysbert's acting career began when he won his first television role on the Emmy Award-winning episode of "Lou Grant," in which Jesse Jackson guest starred. He is very active in the fight against AIDS and in 2000, he was the spokesperson for the Harlem Health Expo "Break the Silence" and is the spokesperson for the National Leadership Commission on AIDS, as well as The Western Center on Law and Poverty.

Regina Taylor is best known to television audiences for her role as Lilly Harper in the series "I'll Fly Away," for which she won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress in a TV Series, an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series and two Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. She made her professional acting debut on CBS in the movie "Crisis at Central High." Her other television credits include the series "The Education of Max Bickford," on the Network, and "Feds" as well as television movies "In From the Night," "Cora Unashamed," "Strange Justice," "The Third Twin" "Hostile Waters," "Children of the Dust," "I'll Fly Away: Then and Now," "Howard Beach: Making a Case for Murder," "Concealed Enemies," "Crisis at Central High" and "Nurse." Taylor's feature film credits include "The Negotiator," "Courage Under Fire," "A Family Thing," "The Keeper," "Clockers," "Losing Isaiah," "Jersey Girl" and "Lean on Me." She was the first Black woman to play William Shakespeare's Juliet in Broadway's "Romeo and Juliet." Her other theater credits include "As You Like It," "Macbeth," "Machinal," "A Map of The World," "The Illusion" and "Jar the Floor." In addition, she won the L.A. Dramalogue Award for her performance in "The Tempest" on the west coast. Her credits as playwright include "Oo-Bla-Dee," for which she won the American Critics' Association new play award, "Drowning Crow," (her adaptation of Chekhov's THE SEAGULL, which was produced on Broadway by Manhattan Theatre Club in its inaugural season at the Biltmore Theatre and starred Alfre Woodard), "A Night in Tunisia," "Escape from Paradise," "Watermelon Rinds," and "Inside the Belly of the Beast." Taylor's critically acclaimed "Crowns" was this past year's most performed musical in the country. Her latest play "The Dreams of Sarah Breedlove" will be produced at Chicago's Goodman Theatre in June 2006. Taylor is a member and Artistic Associate of the Goodman Theater.

Scott Foley is best known for his role as Noel Crane in the television series "Felicity." His other television credits include the movies "Forever Love," "Someone To Love Me: A Moment of Truth Movie," "Crowned and Dangerous," and guest appearances on the series "House," "Jack & Bobby" and "Scrubs." His feature film credits include "Below," "Rennie's Landing" and "Scream 3."

Robert Patrick was most recently seen starring opposite Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny Cash's father in the feature film "Walk the Line." He is best known for his performance as the "T-1000" in "Terminator 2: Judgement Day. His other feature film credits include "Ladder 49," "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle," "Spy Kids," "All The Pretty Horses," "The Faculty," "From Dusk Til Dawn 2: Texas Blood," "Copland," "Eye See You," "A Texas Funeral," "Rosewood," "Striptease," "Fire In The Sky," "Double Dragon: The Movie," "Decoy," "The Last Gasp," "Hong Kong '97," and the independent film "The Only Thrill." Patrick's upcoming feature films include "Firewall," and "The Marine," both scheduled to be released in 2006. His television credits include the series "The X-Files," "The Sopranos," "The Outer Limits," the television movie "Bad Apple" and the mini-series "Elvis," on the Network.

Audrey Marie Anderson's television credits include the series "Still Life," "Going To California" and recurring roles in "Once and Again" and "Providence." She appeared as a guest star in the series "Without A Trace," on the Network, and "Pt. Pleasant" and starred in the television movie "A Painted House," also on the Network. Anderson's feature film credits include "Drop Dead Sexy," "Moonlight Mile," "Larceny" and "The Badge."

Max Martini is best known for role as Corporal Henderson in "Saving Private Ryan." His other feature film credits include "Contact," "The Great Raid," "Backroads," "Tail Lights Fade," "Desert Son," "Cement," "Conversations in Limbo," "Pictures of Baby Jane Doe," "Repossessed" and "Paramedics." Martini's television credits include the series "Breaking News," "Level 9," "Harsh Realm" and "These Arms of Mine." He has made guest appearances on the series "Numb3rs," "CSI: Miami," "Without A Trace" and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Nash Bridges" and "Walker, Texas Ranger" all on the Network as well as "24," "The Division," "DaVinci's Inquest," "Mysterious Ways," "The Outer Limits," "The Pretender," "Profiler" and "The Hunger." His television movie credits include "Silver Bells," on the Network, "Caught in the Act," "Try to Remember," "Another Day," "Love Lessons," "Mutiny," "Vendetta: Secrets of a Mafia Bride," "Vendetta," "Hero in the Family," "The Glitter Dome" and "Bret Maverick."

Abby Brammell's television credits include the movie "Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman" and recurring roles in "Six Feet Under" and "The Shield." Her recurring roles and guest appearances include, "Star Trek: Enterprise," "Push, Nevada," and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," on the Network. Brammell attended Carnegie Mellon's School of Drama and appeared in the North American premier of Christopher Hampton's play "The Talking Cure," at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles.

Michael Irby's television credits include the series "Line Of Fire" and "Haunted." His additional television credits include a recurring role on "M.D.s" and guest appearances on "CSI: Miami," on the Network, "Law & Order," "Wonderland" and "F/X: The Series." His feature film credits include "Flight Plan," "Isla Bella," "Klepto," "The Last Castle," "Pinero," "Mourning Glory" and "Silent Prey." Irby's theater credits include "Corpus Christi," "Struck" and "Ines de Castro."

Demore Barnes' acting career began when he landed a role in the Canadian sketch comedy show "Squawk Box." His television credits include the Canadian series "The Associates," for which he won the Black Film Award for Best Performance in a dramatic series and two Gemini Award nominations for Best Lead Actor in a dramatic series. His other television credits include the Canadian children's show "Street Cents" and movies "White Lies," "Second String" and "Blackout." Barnes appeared in the feature film "Steal This Movie."

THE UNIT is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television. David Mamet ("Glengarry Glen Ross") is the series creator. Mamet and Shawn Ryan ("The Shield") are the executive producers.

Jonas Blane: Dennis Haysbert
Molly Blane: Regina Taylor
Col. Tom Ryan: Robert Patrick
Kim Brown: Audrey Marie Anderson
Mack Gerhardt: Max Martini
Tiffy Gerhardt: Abby Brammell
Charles Grey: Michael Irby
Hector Williams: Demore Barnes
Bob Brown: Scott Foley
Ron Cheals: Michael O'Neill
Ruthie Cheals: Mary McCann
Dr. Farris: Matt Malloy
Marge: Valerie Landsburg
FBI Man: Adam Lieberman
National Guard Commander: Brian Palermo
Lissy Gerhardt: Danielle Hanratty
Serena Brown: Alyssa Shafer
Kayla: Kavita Patil
Pilot: Finn Curtin
Afghan Commander: Sayed Badreya
Afghan Driver: Hamid Razi
Terrorist: Said Faraj
News Reporter: Lonnie Lardner
Standup Reporter: Angela Martinez
Caf� Proprietor: Ali Dean
Tech #1: Casey Stengel
Johnny: Eben Kostbar
Transpo. Captain: Ronnie Steadman
Sanders: Jess King
Hijacker: Ray Siegle

RATING: To Be Announced