
Brett Cullen
Known for Acting · 140 credits
- Born
- 1956-08-26 (age 69)
- Place of birth
- Houston, Texas, USA
- Also known as
- Peter Brett Cullen · Μπρέτρ Κάλλεν · 布萊特-考倫 · 布莱特·考伦 · برت کالن
Biography
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.
Known For
TV Shows (72)

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999
as Judge Leonard Andrews

NCIS
2003
as Todd Gelfand

Criminal Minds
2005
as Preacher Justin Mills

The Mentalist
2008
as Dane Kurtik

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
2000
as John Nolan

The Blacklist
2013
as The Stranger / Ilya Koslov

CSI: Miami
2002
as Michael Boland

Castle
2009
as Christian Dahl

Desperate Housewives
2004
as Detective Burnett

Marshals
2026
as Harry Gifford

Lost
2004
as Goodwin Stanhope

FBI
2018
as Curtis Grange

Person of Interest
2011
as Nathan Ingram

Monk
2002
as James Duffy

The West Wing
1999
as Ray Sullivan

Without a Trace
2002
as Greg Pritchard

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
1993
as Deral

Falcon Crest
1981
as Dan Fixx

Private Practice
2007
as Allan

True Detective
2014
as Gerald Kindt

Diagnosis: Murder
1993
as Tim Rutland

Ghost Whisperer
2005
as Jack Applewhite

Cold Case
2003
as Rob Deamer (2003)

M*A*S*H
1972
as McKegney

White Collar
2009
as Agent Patterson

Burn Notice
2007
as Lawrence Henderson

Narcos
2015
as Arthur Crosby

Revenge
2011
as Jimmy Brennan

Justified
2010
as Greg Davis

Body of Proof
2011
as Captain Perkins

Matlock
1986
as Kevin Gilliam

Damages
2007
as Wayne Sutry

Ugly Betty
2006
as Ted LeBeau

The Outer Limits
1995
as Dr. James Martin

The Incredible Hulk
1977

Walker, Texas Ranger
1993
as Pete Drayton

Tales from the Crypt
1989
as Ronnie Price

The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents
1985
as Cooper

Friday Night Lights
2006
as Walt Riggins

Under the Dome
2013
as Don Barbara

BEEF
2023
as Kenny

Arli$$
1996
as Ryan Mason III

Truth Be Told
2019
as Owen Cave

Celebrity Ghost Stories
2009
as Self

Family Law
1999
as Dan Fortano

Behind the Music
1997
as Self

Ally McBeal
1997
as Professor James Dawson

From the Earth to the Moon
1998
as Dave Scott

Devious Maids
2013
as Michael Stappord

Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty
2022
as Bill Sharman

V
1984
as Robert

Once and Again
1999

Freddy's Nightmares
1988
as Carl

Suddenly Susan
1996
as Adam

The Young Riders
1989
as Marshal Sam Cain

Stalker
2014
as Will Hayes

Make It or Break It
2009
as Mark Keeler

The Thorn Birds
1983
as Bob Cleary

Pepper Dennis
2006
as Jack Bell

Three Rivers
2009
Movies (68)

The Dark Knight Rises
2012
as Congressman

Joker
2019
as Thomas Wayne

Ghost Rider
2007
as Barton Blaze

Apollo 13
1995
as CAPCOM 1

The Shallows
2016
as Father

Safe House
2025
as Marshall

Wyatt Earp
1994
as Saddle Tramp

Kill Code
2026
as Sawyer

Gridiron Gang
2006
as Frank Torrance

Red Dawn
2012
as Sgt. Tom Eckert

42
2013
as Clay Hopper

Monte Carlo
2011
as Robert

Reminiscence
2021
as Walter Sylvan

The Replacements
2000
as Eddie Martel

National Security
2003
as Heston

The Guilt Trip
2012
as Ben

American Carnage
2022
as Harper Finn

Something to Talk About
1995
as Jamie Johnson

Puncture
2011
as Nathaniel Price

The Burning Plain
2008
as Robert

The Life Before Her Eyes
2007
as Paul McFee

The Runaways
2010
as Donald Currie

The Sitter
1991
as Jeff Harper

The Long Game
2024
as Judge Milton Cox

Pixel Perfect
2004
as Xander

Beneath the Darkness
2012
as Sgt. Nickerson

Leaving Normal
1992
as Kurt

Stewardess School
1986
as Philo Henderson

The Image
1990
as Malcolm Dundee

Suburban Madness
2004
as David Harris

Skateland
2011
as David Wheeler

NTSB: The Crash of Flight 323
2004
as Hub Weber

The Space Between
2011
as Used Car Salesman

Single Bars, Single Women
1984
as Duane

Prehysteria!
1993
as Frank

Complex of Fear
1993
as Ed Wylie

Mother of the Bride
1993
as Dennis Becker

In a Stranger's Hand
1991
as Peter Harmon

Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story
1986
as Billy

The Last Rescue
2015
as Captain Beckett

The Turkey Bowl
2019
as Ed

Perfect Body
1997
as Coach David Blair

Where Sleeping Dogs Lie
1991
as John Whitney

Levitation
1997
as James

Nancy Drew
2002
as Carson Drew

The Killing Jar
1997
as Michael Sanford

On Golden Pond
2001
as Charlie Martin

By the Sword
1991
as Gallagher

Deceit
2004
as Sam Penny

Reunion
2009
as Jake

The Riot Act
2018
as Dr. Willard Pearrow

Meat Loaf - A Celebration Of Life
2022
as Self

A Kiss Goodnight
1994
as Carl Jasper

Keys
1994
as Police Chief Sam Wasser

The Gambler: Playing for Keeps
1994
as Sundance Kid
Learning Curves
2003
as Brad, Sr.

Shattered Mind
1996
as Sean

Life on Liberty Street
2004
as Dr. Jake Mitchell

The Omen
1995
as Jack Mann

The Expendables
2000
as Deacon

Brothel
2008
as Avery

Meat Loaf: In and Out of Hell
2015
as Self - Friend

Midas Valley
1985
as Brad Turner

The Hired Heart
1997
as Bryan

White Lie
2018
as Steve

River Guard
2016
as Chuck Flynn

Dead Solid Perfect
1988
as Donny Smithern

It Snows All the Time
2022
as Paul
About Brett Cullen
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, g… With 140 credits spanning from 1972 to 2026, Brett Cullen has appeared in 68 films and 72 TV shows.
Fans searching for Brett Cullen movies, Brett Cullen filmography, or the latest projects starring Brett Cullen can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Brett Cullen Movies
- The Dark Knight Rises (2012) — as Congressman
- Joker (2019) — as Thomas Wayne
- Ghost Rider (2007) — as Barton Blaze
- Apollo 13 (1995) — as CAPCOM 1
- The Shallows (2016) — as Father
Where to Watch Brett Cullen Films
Most Brett Cullen movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Brett Cullen, check our movies catalogue and browse page.