Brett Cullen

Brett Cullen
Cullen in 2020
Born	Peter Brett Cullen (1956-08-26) August 26, 1956 Houston, Texas, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Houston
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1979–present
Spouse	Michele Little ​ (m. 1988)​
Children	1
Website	brettcullen.com

Peter Brett Cullen (born August 26, 1956) is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as Dan Fixx in Falcon Crest (1986–1988), Sam Cain in The Young Riders (1989–1990), Governor Ray Sullivan in The West Wing (2005–2006), Goodwin Stanhope in Lost (2005–2008), Mark Keeler in Make It or Break It (2009–2012), Nathan Ingram in Person of Interest, and Michael Stappord in Devious Maids (2013–2015).

Early life

Cullen was born August 26, 1956, in Houston, Texas, the son of Catherine and Lucien Hugh Cullen, an oil industry executive and part of one of the most famous and wealthiest oil families in the oil-rich history of Texas. He graduated from Madison High School in Houston in 1974, subsequently attending the University of Houston from which he graduated in 1979. His alma mater awarded him a Distinguished Alumni Award in April 2012.

Cullen has given great credit to his highly acclaimed acting mentor and University of Houston professor, Cecil Pickett, who also mentored such Houston-born actors as Dennis Quaid, Randy Quaid, and Brent Spiner. Cullen and Dennis Quaid's close friendship, which continues to this day, dates back to the 1970s; it is Cullen who introduced Dennis Quaid to his former wife, Kimberly Buffington, at a dinner in Austin, Texas.

Career

Cullen played Dan Fixx in the 1980s CBS drama Falcon Crest for two seasons (1986–88) and Sam Cain in the ABC western series The Young Riders for one season (1989–90). In 1980, he appeared as the second Gideon Chisholm in the last nine episodes of the CBS western miniseries The Chisholms. In the four earlier episodes, the Gideon Chisholm role was played by Brian Kerwin. Cullen was the lead actor as Ned Logan in the short-lived Legacy, which lasted for just one season (1998–99). On the series The West Wing Cullen played Ray Sullivan, a fictional former U.S. attorney, state attorney general, and governor of West Virginia and the Republican nominee for vice president.

His guest appearances on TV include: The Incredible Hulk, Tales from the Crypt, M*A*S*H, V, Matlock, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Ally McBeal, Walker, Texas Ranger, Once and Again, Without a Trace, Cold Case, The Mountain, Monk, CSI: Miami, NCIS, Desperate Housewives, Pepper Dennis, Criminal Minds, Lost, Ghost Whisperer, Private Practice, Ugly Betty, and Friday Night Lights. In 2009, he had a recurring role in the ABC Family television series Make It or Break It.

He played one of the CAPCOMs in Apollo 13 and real-life astronaut David Scott in the HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon.

Later work

In 1994, Cullen played a small role in Kevin Costner's Wyatt Earp. Subsequent film roles included Jamie Johnson in Something to Talk About, aspiring composer/hired escort Bryan in The Hired Heart 1997, the spoiled quarterback Eddie Martel in The Replacements (2000), Charlie Martin in the TV film version of On Golden Pond, Nancy's father Carson Drew in the TV film Nancy Drew, and Barton Blaze (father of Johnny Blaze / Ghost Rider) in the 2007 film Ghost Rider.

In 2011, he played stepfather to Selena Gomez's character in the romantic comedy Monte Carlo, and in 2012, appeared as a congressman in the Batman film The Dark Knight Rises. He also played Tom Eckert, father of protagonists Jed and Matt, in the remake of Red Dawn (a role played in the original 1984 film by Harry Dean Stanton).

Cullen has found steady work in numerous television roles for many years. In addition to guest-starring roles in dozens of series, in 1983 he played Bob Cleary in the miniseries The Thorn Birds. In 1997, he was cast as Adam in a three-episode story arc on Suddenly Susan called "Love and Divorce American Style". The following year, he played love interest Luke Barton in the short-lived series The Simple Life opposite Judith Light. Later in 1998, the UPN television network gave him the starring role of family patriarch Ned Logan in the post-Civil War drama Legacy, which lasted 18 episodes before cancellation.

After 2000, he played small recurring roles in ABC's Once and Again, the low-rated series The Mountain, and as a detective in two episodes of Desperate Housewives. Cullen was awarded a meatier part on The West Wing in 2005–06, when he played West Virginia governor and vice presidential candidate Ray Sullivan. Later in 2006, he played a recurring role on Pepper Dennis, which was cancelled after its first season as well. He played a short-lived love interest of Vanessa Williams' Wilhelmina Slater on Ugly Betty in early 2007, and followed that up with a story arc as dad Walt Riggins on Friday Night Lights. Cullen had recurring roles in the series Lost, Damages, and The Gates between 2007 and 2010.

From 2011–16, Cullen played the flashback character Nathan Ingram on the hit series Person of Interest. He also plays Mark Keeler, father of Olympic gymnast hopefuls Payson and Becca Keeler, on the ABC Family series Make It or Break It.

On February 8, 2011, Cullen was named the official spokesman for Houston Works which helps Houston residents with job training and placement, scholarships, consulting, technical initiatives focusing on science, technology, engineering and mathematics and summer job programs along with Youth Summits.

In 2013, Cullen was cast in the television series Devious Maids, and in 2014 Cullen had recurring roles on the television series Revenge, Criminal Minds, and Under the Dome. He also starred in the film The Last Rescue.

In 2019, Cullen played Thomas Wayne in the film Joker.

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1986	Stewardess School	Philo Henderson
1991	By the Sword	Danny Gallagher
	Where Sleeping Dogs Lie	John Whitney
1992	Leaving Normal	Kurt
1993	Prehysteria!	Frank Taylor
1994	Wyatt Earp	Saddle Tramp
1995	Apollo 13	CAPCOM 1
	Something to Talk About	Jamie Johnson
1997	The Killing Jar	Michael Sanford
	Levitation	James
2000	The Replacements	Eddie Martel
2003	National Security	Heston
	Learning Curves	Brad Sr.
2006	Gridiron Gang	Frank Torrance
2007	Ghost Rider	Barton Blaze
	The Life Before Her Eyes	Paul McFee
2008	Brothel	Avery
	The Burning Plain	Robert
2009	Killing Dinner	Michael Dinner
	Reunion	Jake
2010	Crooked Lane	Ben
	The Runaways	Don Currie
2011	Puncture	Nathaniel Price
	Monte Carlo	Robert Kelly
	Beneath the Darkness	Sergeant Phil Nickerson
2012	The Dark Knight Rises	Congressman Byron Gilley
	Living in the Age of Surveillance	Nathan Ingram	Short film; related to Person of Interest
	Red Dawn	Sergeant Tom Eckert
	The Guilt Trip	Ben Graw
2013	42	Clay Hopper
2015	The Last Rescue	Captain Beckett	Straight-to-DVD film
2016	The Shallows	Mr. Adams
2018	The Riot Act	Dr. Willard Pearrow
	Marriage: Impossible (Kedba Bidaa)	Steve
2019	The Turkey Bowl	Ed Hodges
	Joker	Thomas Wayne
2021	Reminiscence	Walter Sylvan
2022	American Carnage	Harper
	It Snows All the Time	Paul
2023	The Long Game	Judge Milton Cox

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1980	The Chisholms	Gideon Chisholm	Main role, 9 episodes (Note: replaced Brian Kerwin from the preceding miniseries)
1981	The Incredible Hulk	Joe Dunning	Episode: "The Phenom"
1982	M*A*S*H	Private Thomas Anthony McKegney	Episode: "Blood and Guts"
1983	The Thorn Birds	Bob Cleary	Television miniseries
1984	Eureka Stockade	Charles Ross	Television miniseries
	Single Bars, Single Women	Duane	Television film
1985	V: The Series	Robert	Episode: "The Littlest Dragon"
	Midas Valley	Brad Turner	Television film
1986	Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story	Billy	Television film
1986–1988	Falcon Crest	Dan Fixx	Main role (seasons 6–8); 53 episodes
1987	I'll Take Manhattan	Dennis Brady	Television miniseries
1988	Dead Solid Perfect	Donny Smithern	HBO television film
1989	Freddy's Nightmares	Carl	Episode: "Cabin Fever"
	Alfred Hitchcock Presents	Cooper	Episode: "Night Creatures"
	Tales from the Crypt	Ronnie Price	Episode: "Only Sin Deep"
1989–1990	The Young Riders	Sam Cain	Main role (season 1); 24 episodes
1990	The Image	Malcolm Dundee	HBO television film
1991	The Sitter	Jeff Harper	Television film
	...And Then She Was Gone	Peter Harmon	Television film
1992	Another Round	Roy	Television film
	Grapevine	Ken	Episode: "The Allison and Ken Story"
1993	Complex of Fear	Ed Wylie	Television film
	Mother of the Bride	Dennis Becker	Television film
1994	A Kiss Goodnight	Carl Jasper	Television film
	Keys	Police Chief Sam Wasser	Television film
	Diagnosis: Murder	Tim Rutland	Episode: "The Restless Remains"
	Matlock	Kevin Gilliam	Episode: "The Temptation"
	Gambler V: Playing for Keeps	The Sundance Kid	Television film
	Family Album	George Waterson (uncredited)	Television miniseries
	Star Trek: Deep Space Nine	Deral	Episode: "Meridian"
1995	The Omen	Jack	Failed TV pilot
1996	Shattered Mind	Sean	Television film
1997	Orleans	Clade Charbonnet	Main role; 8 episodes
	Something Borrowed, Something Blue	Pete	Television film
	Suddenly Susan	Adam	3 episodes
	Arliss	Ryan Mason III	Episode: "Kirby Carlisle, Trouble-Shooter"
	Perfect Body	Coach David Blair	Television film
	Ally McBeal	Professor James Dawson	Episode: "The Affair"
	The Hired Heart	Bryan	Television film
1998	From the Earth to the Moon	Dave Scott	Television miniseries; 3 episodes
	The Outer Limits	Dr. James Martin	Episode: "Final Exam"
	The Simple Life	Luke Barton	Main role; 7 episodes
	Legacy	Ned Logan	Main role; 18 episodes
2000	The Expendables	Deacon	USA Network television film
2001	Walker, Texas Ranger	Pete Drayton	Episode: "Justice for All"
	Once and Again	Bob Dimanjik	Episodes: "Armageddon" and "Won't Someone Please Help George Bailey Tonight"
	On Golden Pond	Charlie Martin	CBS television film
	Family Law	Dan Fortano	Episode: "Irreparable Harm"
2002	Without a Trace	Greg Pritchard / Peter Raymond	Episode: "Midnight Sun"
	Nancy Drew	Carson Drew	ABC television film
2003	Cold Case	Rob Deamer (2003)	Episode: "Gleen"
2004	Pixel Perfect	Xander	Disney Channel Original Movie
	Deceit	Sam Penny	Lifetime television film
	NTSB: The Crash of Flight 323	Hub Weber	ABC television film
	Life on Liberty Street	Dr. Jake Mitchell	Television film
	Suburban Madness	David Harris	CBS television film
	The Mountain	John "Whit" Whitman	Recurring role; 4 episodes
2004–2005	Desperate Housewives	Detective Burnett	Episodes: "Suspicious Minds" and "Children Will Listen"
2005–2006	The West Wing	Governor Ray Sullivan R-WV	Recurring role; 5 episodes
2005	Monk	James Duffy	Episode: "Mr. Monk and Little Monk"
	CSI: Miami	Michael Boland	Episode: "48 Hours to Life"
2005–2008	Lost	Goodwin Stanhope	Recurring role; 5 episodes
2006	Faceless	John Robson	FOX television film
	Pepper Dennis	Jack	Recurring role; 5 episodes
	NCIS	Captain Todd Gelfand	Episodes: "Hiatus: Part 1" and "Hiatus: Part 2"
	Ghost Whisperer	Jack Applewhite	Episode: "Melinda's First Ghost"
2006–2007	Ugly Betty	Ted LeBeau	3 episodes
2007	Friday Night Lights	Walt Riggins	4 episodes
	Burn Notice	Lawrence Henderson	Episode: "Wanted Man"
	Private Practice	Allan	Episode: "In Which Addison Finds a Showerhead"
2008	The Mentalist	Dane Kurtik	Episode: "Red Tide"
2009–2012	Make It or Break It	Mark Keeler	Recurring role; 18 episodes
2009	Damages	Wayne Sutry	Recurring role; 6 episodes
	Three Rivers	Carson	Episode: "Ryan's First Day"
2010	The Gates	Frank Buckley	Recurring role; 6 episodes
	Lone Star	Cooper Thomas	Episode: "Reverse"
	90210	Mr. Sullivan	Episode: "Holiday Madness"
2011	Hallelujah	Sheriff Bob Clement	Television film
	Castle	Christian Dahl	Episode: "Poof, You're Dead"
	Body of Proof	Captain Perkins	Episode: "Shades of Blue"
2011–2016	Person of Interest	Nathan Ingram	Recurring role; 9 episodes
2012	White Collar	Agent Patterson	Episodes: "Diminishing Returns" and "Parting Shots"
2013–2015	Devious Maids	Michael Stappord	Series regular (seasons 1 & 3); 18 episodes
2014	Revenge	Jimmy Brennan	Episodes: "Hatred" and "Payback"
	Criminal Minds	Preacher Justin Mills	Episodes: "Angels" and "Demons"
2014–2015	Under the Dome	Don Barbara	Recurring role; 6 episodes
2015	Point of Honor	Ralston Rhodes	Amazon.com television film
	Stalker	Mayor Hayes	Episode: "Secrets and Lies"
	CSI: Crime Scene Investigation	John Nolan	Episode: "Under My Skin"
2016–2017	Narcos	Ambassador Arthur Crosby	Recurring role; 15 episodes
2017	Queen of the South	Cole Van Awken	Recurring role; 7 episodes
2019	True Detective	Gerald Kindt	Recurring role; 3 episodes
2019–2021	The Blacklist	The Stranger / Ilya Koslov / Frank Bloom	Recurring role; 3 episodes
2019–2020	Truth Be Told	Owen Cave	7 episodes
2020	Big Dogs	Captain McKeutchen	Main role; 8 episodes
2022	FBI	Curtis Grange	Episode: "Protective Details"
2022–2023	Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty	Bill Sharman	Main role; 17 episodes
2024	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	Judge Leonard Andrews	Episode: "Excavation"

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result	Ref.
1998	Soap Opera Digest Awards	Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role – Primetime	Falcon Crest	Nominated
2019	LA February Awards	Best Actor	The Riot Act	Won
		Best Ensemble Cast		Won

External links

• Brett Cullen at IMDb
• https://brettcullen.com/