Owain Sebastian Yeoman (born 2 July 1978) 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.
Early life Yeoman was born and raised in Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales, where his parents, Michael and Hilary, still live. 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. 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 alongside acclaimed method actor Pieter Lawman.RADA Profile
Career Yeoman 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. 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. In 2013, it was confirmed that Yeoman and Righetti were leaving The Mentalist after the sixth season. 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.Supergirl's new trailer shows Owain Yeoman's nasty side as he becomes villain Vartox at WalesOnline, 21 July 2015
Personal life
Yeoman was married to actress Lucy Davis from December 2006 to October 2011; the 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. On 7 September 2013, Yeoman married jewellery designer Gigi Yallouz at a private estate in Malibu, California, UE.
Yeoman is a vegetarian and was photographed for PETA's vegetarianism campaign.
Filmography Film YearTitleRoleNotes2004TroyLysander2006BeerfestAussie Sailor #12007A Recipe for ComedyHimselfVideo Documentary Short2009The Mentalist: Evidence of a Hit SeriesVideo Short2011Chromeskull: Laid to Rest 2King2012AbsolutSinManShort2014American SniperRanger One2016The Belko ExperimentTerry Winter2020Brahms: The Boy IISean2021SAS: Red NoticeOlly2022Save the CinemaDavid Evans
Television YearTitleRoleNotes2004Midsomer MurdersHenry Charlton1 episodeCommando NannyMiles RossN/A2005–2006Kitchen ConfidentialSteven DaedalusMain role, 13 episodes2006–2007The NineLucas Dalton2007Traveling in PacksKenTelevision movie2008Terminator: The Sarah Connor ChroniclesCromartie (T-888) Episode: "Pilot"Generation KillSgt. Eric Kocher7 episodes2008–2015The MentalistWayne RigsbyMain role, 132 episodes2008–2009; 2013Entertainment TonightHimself4 episodes2009Britannia AwardsTelevision specialLoose Women1 episode2010Live from Studio Five24th Annual Genesis AwardsTelevision special201125th Annual Genesis AwardsThe Cleveland ShowNarrator (Voice)1 episode201226th Annual Genesis AwardsHimselfTelevision special2013Hell's Kitchen1 episode2014ExtantDr. Mason3 episodes2015SupergirlVartox Episode: "Pilot"2015–2017Turn: Washington SpiesBenedict ArnoldMain role, 29 episodes2016ElementaryJulius Kent1 episode2017The BlacklistGreyson BlaiseEpisode: "Greyson Blaise (No.37)"2019–2020EmergenceBenny GallagherMain role, 13 episodes2023True LiesPieter VossEpisode: "Separate Pairs"2024CSI: VegasTruman ThomasEpisode: "It Was Automation"2025Bosch: LegacyJimmy McKeeEpisode: "Dig Down"TrackerNicholasEpisode: "Memories"2026MatlockRon Henson Jr.Episode: "Tail Lights"
References
External links
Agency profile