Owain Sebastian Yeoman is a Welsh actor, best known for playing CBI Agent Wayne Rigsby in the CBS series The Mentalist. His additional credits include The Nine, Kitchen Confidential, Turn (as Benedict Arnold), Generation Kill, and Emergence.
Owain Yeoman | |
|---|---|
| Born | Owain Sebastian Yeoman 2 July 1978 Chepstow, Wales |
| Alma mater | Brasenose College, Oxford Royal Academy of Dramatic Art |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2004 – present |
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 |
Early life
editYeoman was born and raised in Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales, where his parents, Michael and Hilary, still live.[1] He attended Wantage CofE Primary School before attending school at Wyedean School in Sedbury, Gloucestershire, where he showed a keen interest in English language, English literature and was involved in the school's amateur dramatics productions.
He studied English literature at Oxford University as a member of Brasenose College, and graduated BA, which matured into an MA. In those years he was a member of the OUDS and Oxford Revue. He had planned to continue doctoral studies but was not able to secure a grant.[2] Instead he worked for a time at a bank in Canary Wharf, London before enrolling at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art to study acting.[3][4]
Career
editYeoman made his film debut as Lysander in the Oscar nominated film Troy. He also had a small part in Broken Lizard's film, Beerfest, and made a guest appearance on an episode of Midsomer Murders entitled "Dead in the Water". He played Sgt. Eric Kocher in the HBO miniseries, Generation Kill (2008). He played the major villain, a T-888 model cyborg Terminator named "Cromartie", in the pilot episode of Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. The role was taken over by Garret Dillahunt in the rest of the series.
Yeoman played Wayne Rigsby in The Mentalist.[5] He starred in every episode to the sixth season, alongside Simon Baker, Robin Tunney, Amanda Righetti and Tim Kang. He also starred in ChromeSkull: Laid to Rest 2.[6] In 2013, it was confirmed that Yeoman and Righetti were leaving The Mentalist after the sixth season.[7] He guest-starred in episodes 10 and 11 of Extant in 2014.
Yeoman also had a small role in the American drama American Sniper, his first major breakthrough on the big screen. From 2015 to 2017, he portrayed General Benedict Arnold in seasons 2-4 of the TV series Turn: Washington's Spies. Yeoman portrayed Vartox on the pilot of DC Comics TV series Supergirl.[8]
Personal life
editYeoman was married to actress Lucy Davis from December 2006 to October 2011. His first wedding took place at St Paul's Cathedral, London. Davis and Yeoman were permitted to marry there as her father, Robert (better known by his stage name Jasper Carrott), had been awarded an OBE in the New Year's Honours in 2002.[9][10] On 7 September 2013, Yeoman married jewellery designer Gigi Yallouz at a private estate in Malibu, California.[11][12] They have two daughters named Ever Belle and Phoenix.
Yeoman is a vegetarian and was photographed for PETA's vegetarianism campaign.[13]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Troy | Lysander | |
| 2006 | Beerfest | Aussie Sailor #1 | |
| 2007 | A Recipe for Comedy | Himself | Video Documentary Short |
| 2009 | The Mentalist: Evidence of a Hit Series | Video Short | |
| 2011 | Chromeskull: Laid to Rest 2 | King | |
| 2012 | AbsolutSin | Man | Short |
| 2014 | American Sniper | Ranger One | |
| 2016 | The Belko Experiment | Terry Winter | |
| 2020 | Brahms: The Boy II | Sean | |
| 2021 | SAS: Red Notice | Olly | |
| 2022 | Save the Cinema | David Evans |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Midsomer Murders | Henry Charlton | 1 episode |
| Commando Nanny | Miles Ross | N/A | |
| 2005–2006 | Kitchen Confidential | Steven Daedalus | Main role, 13 episodes |
| 2006–2007 | The Nine | Lucas Dalton | |
| 2007 | Traveling in Packs | Ken | Television movie |
| 2008 | Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles | Cromartie (T-888) | Episode: "Pilot" |
| Generation Kill | Sgt. Eric Kocher | 7 episodes | |
| 2008–2015 | The Mentalist | Wayne Rigsby | Main role, 132 episodes |
| 2008–2009; 2013 | Entertainment Tonight | Himself | 4 episodes |
| 2009 | Britannia Awards | Television special | |
| Loose Women | 1 episode | ||
| 2010 | Live from Studio Five | 1 episode | |
| 24th Annual Genesis Awards | Television special | ||
| 2011 | 25th Annual Genesis Awards | ||
| The Cleveland Show | Narrator (Voice) | 1 episode | |
| 2012 | 26th Annual Genesis Awards | Himself | Television special |
| 2013 | Hell's Kitchen | 1 episode | |
| 2014 | Extant | Dr. Mason | 3 episodes |
| 2015 | Supergirl | Vartox | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2015–2017 | Turn: Washington Spies | Benedict Arnold | Main role, 29 episodes |
| 2016 | Elementary | Julius Kent | 1 episode |
| 2017 | The Blacklist | Greyson Blaise | 1 episode |
| 2019–2020 | Emergence | Benny Gallagher | Main role, 13 episodes |
| 2023 | True Lies | Pieter Voss | Episode: "Separate Pairs" |
| 2024 | CSI: Vegas | Truman Thomas | Episode: "It Was Automation" |
References
edit- ^ "Owain Yeoman's American tale". Western Mail. 16 May 2009.
- ^ "The Mentalist star Owain Yeoman: I once got locked in a fridge naked". Metro. 20 June 2011. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
- ^ RADA Profile Archived 11 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Fame is all in the name for Owain". BBC. 18 June 2009.
- ^ "Owain Yeoman". BBC Radio Wales. 17 June 2009.
- ^ "Owain Yeoman Signs Up for ChromeSkull: Laid to Rest 2 - Dread Central". dreadcentral.com. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ^ "'The Mentalist' Season 6: Amanda Righetti and Owain Yeoman set to leave - Zap2it | News & Features". blog.zap2it.com. Archived from the original on 25 November 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
- ^ Supergirl's new trailer shows Owain Yeoman's nasty side as he becomes villain Vartox at WalesOnline, 21 July 2015
- ^ "BBC NEWS - Entertainment - Office star marries at St Paul's". bbc.co.uk. 9 December 2006.
- ^ "WalesOnline: News, sport, weather and events from across Wales". walesonline.
- ^ "Owain Yeoman Gets Married". 5 October 2013.
- ^ Rizzo, Monica. "Owain yeoman Marries Gigi Yallouz". People Magazine. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ^ walesonline Administrator (31 May 2009). "Actor Owain Yeoman in vegetarian campaign". walesonline.