Brett Cullen
Brett Cullen

Brett Cullen

Born: August 26, 1956 (69 years)
Houston, Texas, USA

Peter Brett Cullen (born August 26, 1956) is an American actor who has appeared in numerous motion pictures and television programs. Early in 2007, he was cast as the role of an estranged father to one of the American football players, Tim Riggins (played by actor Taylor Kitsch), in the NBC drama series Friday Night Lights. Cullen was born in Houston, Texas, the son of Lucien Hugh Cullen, an oil industry executive, and Catherine Cullen. He graduated from Madison High School in Houston in 1974. Cullen graduated from the University of Houston, giving 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, & Brent Spiner among others. Cullen and Dennis Quaid's close friendship to this day dates back to the 1970s and it is Cullen who introduced Dennis Quaid to his current wife, Kimberly Buffington at a dinner in Austin, Texas. Cullen played Dan Fixx in the 1980s CBS drama Falcon Crest for two seasons (1986–1988) and Marshal Sam Cain in the ABC western series The Young Riders for one season (1989–1990). 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 (1998–1999). On the series The West Wing Cullen played Ray Sullivan, a fictional governor of West Virginia and the Republican nominee for Vice President. His guest appearances on TV include: The Incredible Hulk, Tales from the Crypt, MAS*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, 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 has played two real-life astronauts, Jack Lousma in Apollo 13 (Brett is the CapCom at the time of the explosion; at that shift Lousma was the CapCom in real life) and David Scott in the HBO mini-series From the Earth to the Moon. His most recent appearance was in the role of Barton Blaze in the movie Ghost Rider. Other movie credits include Wyatt Earp (with Kevin Costner), Gambler V: Playing for Keeps (with Kenny Rogers and Bruce Boxleitner), Something to Talk About (with Julia Roberts and Dennis Quaid), The Replacements (with Gene Hackman), On Golden Pond (with Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer), Nancy Drew, and Gridiron Gang. He also played Bob Cleary in the 1983 mini-series The Thorn Birds. Cullen was recently cast in the up-coming femme comedy Monte Carlo alongside Selena Gomez, Andie MacDowell and Leighton Meester and is playing the role of Tom Eckert in the upcoming war film Red Dawn. On February 8, 2011, Brett 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. ​From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Movies as Actor (69)
The Breadwinner

The Breadwinner

as Walter Wilcox

May 29, 2026

Kill Code

Kill Code

as Sawyer

Apr 16, 2026

Safe House

Safe House

as Marshall

Oct 30, 2025

The Long Game

The Long Game

as Judge Milton Cox

Apr 12, 2024

Meat Loaf - A Celebration Of Life

Meat Loaf - A Celebration Of Life

as Self

Sep 20, 2022

It Snows All the Time

It Snows All the Time

as Paul

Jul 29, 2022

American Carnage

American Carnage

as Harper Finn

Jul 15, 2022

Reminiscence

Reminiscence

as Walter Sylvan

Aug 18, 2021

The Turkey Bowl

The Turkey Bowl

as Ed

Nov 15, 2019

Joker

Joker

as Thomas Wayne

Oct 1, 2019

White Lie

White Lie

as Steve

Oct 17, 2018

The Riot Act

The Riot Act

as Dr. Willard Pearrow

Sep 14, 2018

River Guard

River Guard

as Chuck Flynn

Jul 1, 2016

The Shallows

The Shallows

as Father

Jun 24, 2016

The Last Rescue

The Last Rescue

as Captain Beckett

Apr 21, 2015

Meat Loaf: In and Out of Hell

Meat Loaf: In and Out of Hell

as Self - Friend

Jan 9, 2015

42

42

as Clay Hopper

Apr 12, 2013

The Guilt Trip

The Guilt Trip

as Ben

Dec 19, 2012

The Dark Knight Rises

The Dark Knight Rises

as Congressman

Jul 17, 2012

Red Dawn

Red Dawn

as Sgt. Tom Eckert

Mar 15, 2012

Beneath the Darkness

Beneath the Darkness

as Sgt. Nickerson

Jan 6, 2012

Puncture

Puncture

as Nathaniel Price

Sep 23, 2011

The Space Between

The Space Between

as Used Car Salesman

Sep 11, 2011

Monte Carlo

Monte Carlo

as Robert

Jul 1, 2011

Skateland

Skateland

as David Wheeler

May 13, 2011

The Runaways

The Runaways

as Donald Currie

Mar 19, 2010

Reunion

Reunion

as Jake

Mar 6, 2009

The Burning Plain

The Burning Plain

as Robert

Nov 7, 2008

Brothel

Brothel

as Avery

Feb 27, 2008

The Life Before Her Eyes

The Life Before Her Eyes

as Paul McFee

Sep 8, 2007

Ghost Rider

Ghost Rider

as Barton Blaze

Jan 15, 2007

Gridiron Gang

Gridiron Gang

as Frank Torrance

Sep 15, 2006

Pixel Perfect

Pixel Perfect

as Xander

Nov 13, 2004

Suburban Madness

Suburban Madness

as David Harris

Oct 4, 2004

NTSB: The Crash of Flight 323

NTSB: The Crash of Flight 323

as Hub Weber

Mar 21, 2004

Deceit

Deceit

as Sam Penny

Mar 15, 2004

Life on Liberty Street

Life on Liberty Street

as Dr. Jake Mitchell

Jan 1, 2004

Learning Curves

Learning Curves

as Brad, Sr.

Aug 2, 2003

National Security

National Security

as Heston

Jan 17, 2003

Nancy Drew

Nancy Drew

as Carson Drew

Dec 15, 2002

On Golden Pond

On Golden Pond

as Charlie Martin

Apr 29, 2001

The Replacements

The Replacements

as Eddie Martel

Aug 11, 2000

The Expendables

The Expendables

as Deacon

Apr 25, 2000

The Hired Heart

The Hired Heart

as Bryan

Oct 13, 1997

Perfect Body

Perfect Body

as Coach David Blair

Sep 8, 1997

The Killing Jar

The Killing Jar

as Michael Sanford

May 27, 1997

Levitation

Levitation

as James

Apr 1, 1997

Shattered Mind

Shattered Mind

as Sean

May 27, 1996

The Omen

The Omen

as Jack Mann

Sep 8, 1995

Something to Talk About

Something to Talk About

as Jamie Johnson

Aug 4, 1995

Apollo 13

Apollo 13

as CAPCOM 1

Jun 30, 1995

The Gambler: Playing for Keeps

The Gambler: Playing for Keeps

as Sundance Kid

Oct 2, 1994

Wyatt Earp

Wyatt Earp

as Saddle Tramp

Jun 24, 1994

A Kiss Goodnight

A Kiss Goodnight

as Carl Jasper

Jun 1, 1994

Keys

Keys

as Police Chief Sam Wasser

Jan 1, 1994

Prehysteria!

Prehysteria!

as Frank

Jun 30, 1993

Mother of the Bride

Mother of the Bride

as Dennis Becker

Feb 27, 1993

Complex of Fear

Complex of Fear

as Ed Wylie

Jan 12, 1993

Leaving Normal

Leaving Normal

as Kurt

Apr 29, 1992

Where Sleeping Dogs Lie

Where Sleeping Dogs Lie

as John Whitney

Nov 13, 1991

By the Sword

By the Sword

as Gallagher

Oct 7, 1991

In a Stranger's Hand

In a Stranger's Hand

as Peter Harmon

Sep 29, 1991

The Sitter

The Sitter

as Jeff Harper

Jun 10, 1991

The Image

The Image

as Malcolm Dundee

Jan 27, 1990

Dead Solid Perfect

Dead Solid Perfect

as Donny Smithern

Dec 18, 1988

Stewardess School

Stewardess School

as Philo Henderson

Aug 1, 1986

Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story

Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story

as Billy

May 19, 1986

Midas Valley

Midas Valley

as Brad Turner

Jun 27, 1985

Single Bars, Single Women

Single Bars, Single Women

as Duane

Oct 14, 1984

TV Shows as Actor (72)
Marshals

Marshals

as Harry Gifford

Mar 1, 2026

BEEF

BEEF

as Kenny

Apr 6, 2023

Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty

Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty

as Bill Sharman

Mar 6, 2022

Big Dogs

Big Dogs

as Captain McKeutchen

Jul 1, 2020

Truth Be Told

Truth Be Told

as Owen Cave

Dec 6, 2019

FBI

FBI

as Curtis Grange

Sep 25, 2018

Narcos

Narcos

as Arthur Crosby

Aug 28, 2015

Point of Honor

Point of Honor

as Ralston Rhodes

Jan 15, 2015

Stalker

Stalker

as Will Hayes

Oct 1, 2014

True Detective

True Detective

as Gerald Kindt

Jan 12, 2014

The Blacklist

The Blacklist

as The Stranger, Ilya Koslov

Sep 23, 2013

Under the Dome

Under the Dome

as Don Barbara

Jun 24, 2013

Devious Maids

Devious Maids

as Michael Stappord

Jun 23, 2013

Person of Interest

Person of Interest

as Nathan Ingram

Sep 22, 2011

Revenge

Revenge

as Jimmy Brennan

Sep 21, 2011

Body of Proof

Body of Proof

as Captain Perkins

Mar 29, 2011

Lone Star

Lone Star

as Cooper Thomas

Sep 20, 2010

The Gates

The Gates

as Frank Buckley

Jun 20, 2010

Justified

Justified

as Greg Davis

Mar 16, 2010

White Collar

White Collar

as Agent Patterson

Oct 23, 2009

Three Rivers

Three Rivers

Oct 4, 2009

Celebrity Ghost Stories

Celebrity Ghost Stories

as Self

Oct 3, 2009

Make It or Break It

Make It or Break It

as Mark Keeler

Jun 22, 2009

Castle

Castle

as Christian Dahl

Mar 9, 2009

The Mentalist

The Mentalist

as Dane Kurtik

Sep 23, 2008

Private Practice

Private Practice

as Allan

Sep 26, 2007

Damages

Damages

as Wayne Sutry

Jul 24, 2007

Burn Notice

Burn Notice

as Lawrence Henderson

Jun 28, 2007

Friday Night Lights

Friday Night Lights

as Walt Riggins

Oct 3, 2006

Ugly Betty

Ugly Betty

as Ted LeBeau

Sep 28, 2006

Pepper Dennis

Pepper Dennis

as Jack Bell

Apr 4, 2006

Ghost Whisperer

Ghost Whisperer

as Jack Applewhite

Sep 23, 2005

Criminal Minds

Criminal Minds

as Preacher Justin Mills

Sep 22, 2005

Desperate Housewives

Desperate Housewives

as Detective Burnett

Oct 3, 2004

Lost

Lost

as Goodwin Stanhope

Sep 22, 2004

The Mountain

The Mountain

Sep 22, 2004

Cold Case

Cold Case

as Rob Deamer (2003)

Sep 28, 2003

NCIS

NCIS

as Todd Gelfand

Sep 23, 2003

Without a Trace

Without a Trace

as Greg Pritchard

Sep 26, 2002

CSI: Miami

CSI: Miami

as Michael Boland

Sep 23, 2002

Monk

Monk

as James Duffy

Jul 12, 2002

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

as John Nolan

Oct 6, 2000

The West Wing

The West Wing

as Ray Sullivan

Sep 22, 1999

Once and Again

Once and Again

Sep 21, 1999

Family Law

Family Law

as Dan Fortano

Sep 20, 1999

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

as Judge Leonard Andrews

Sep 20, 1999

Legacy

Legacy

Oct 9, 1998

The Simple Life

The Simple Life

as Luke Barton

Jun 3, 1998

From the Earth to the Moon

From the Earth to the Moon

as Dave Scott

Apr 5, 1998

Ally McBeal

Ally McBeal

as Professor James Dawson

Sep 8, 1997

Behind the Music

Behind the Music

as Self

Aug 17, 1997

Orleans

Orleans

as Clade Charbonnet

Jan 8, 1997

Suddenly Susan

Suddenly Susan

as Adam

Sep 19, 1996

Arli$$

Arli$$

as Ryan Mason III

Aug 10, 1996

The Outer Limits

The Outer Limits

as Dr. James Martin

Mar 26, 1995

Diagnosis: Murder

Diagnosis: Murder

as Tim Rutland

Oct 29, 1993

Walker, Texas Ranger

Walker, Texas Ranger

as Pete Drayton

Apr 21, 1993

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

as Deral

Jan 3, 1993

Grapevine

Grapevine

as Ken

Jun 16, 1992

The Young Riders

The Young Riders

as Marshal Sam Cain

Sep 20, 1989

Tales from the Crypt

Tales from the Crypt

as Ronnie Price

Jun 10, 1989

Freddy's Nightmares

Freddy's Nightmares

as Carl

Oct 9, 1988

I'll Take Manhattan

I'll Take Manhattan

as Dennis Brady

Mar 1, 1987

Matlock

Matlock

as Kevin Gilliam

Mar 3, 1986

The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents

The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents

as Cooper

Sep 29, 1985

V

V

as Robert

Oct 26, 1984

Eureka Stockade

Eureka Stockade

as Charles Ross

Mar 27, 1984

The Thorn Birds

The Thorn Birds

as Bob Cleary

Mar 27, 1983

Falcon Crest

Falcon Crest

as Dan Fixx

Dec 4, 1981

The Chisholms

The Chisholms

as Gideon Chisholm

Mar 29, 1979

The Incredible Hulk

The Incredible Hulk

Nov 4, 1977

M*A*S*H

M*A*S*H

as McKegney

Sep 17, 1972