Steven Bradford Culp (born December 3, 1955) is an American actor. Culp appeared in films Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993), James and the Giant Peach (1996), The Emperor's Club (2002), and most notably in the 2000 political thriller Thirteen Days playing Robert F. Kennedy.
On television, Culp had recurring roles as Clayton Webb in the CBS procedural JAG (1997–2004), and Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Jeff Haffley in the NBC political drama The West Wing (2003–2005). He also appeared as Rex Van de Kamp in the ABC comedy-drama series, Desperate Housewives.
He also appeared in How to Get Away with Murder as defense attorney Victor Leshner.
Early life and education Culp was born in La Jolla, California, the son of Mary Ann Joseph (born in Coshocton, Ohio), and Joseph Franklin Culp (born in Dallas). Both his father and stepfather were in the United States Navy. He attended First Colonial High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia. He graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1978 with a major in English literature and also studied at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom. He earned an M.F.A. from Brandeis University in 1981.
Career One of Culp's earliest roles was in Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday (1993) as Robert Campbell, a reporter looking into the Jason murders. He also played the father of the titular character in James and the Giant Peach. In 1995, Culp briefly starred on The Young and the Restless as Brian Hamilton. Culp is known for his recurring roles as CIA Agent Clayton Webb on JAG (1997–2004) and Major Hayes on Star Trek: Enterprise (2003–2004). His characters in both series were killed in the same week in the shows' season finales, although Culp’s character in JAG reappeared in the series’ subsequent season premiere. In 2003, Culp appeared in a few episodes of the second season of 24 as Secret Service agent Ted Simmons. He had a recurring role in the NBC series The West Wing as Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives Jeff Haffley from 2003 to 2005.
Culp portrayed Robert F. Kennedy twice, in the HBO movie Norma Jean & Marilyn (1996) and the film Thirteen Days (2000). He played Commander Martin Madden in Star Trek: Nemesis (2002), a character written to replace William Riker as first officer of the Enterprise. However, due to the film's length, Culp's scenes were included in several cut from the final film. His scenes as Madden can be seen in the Nemesis DVD deleted scenes. In the third season of Star Trek: Enterprise, Culp played the recurring character Major Hayes, commander of the Military Assault Command Operations detachment aboard Enterprise. He was in five episodes; "The Xindi", "The Shipment", "Harbinger", "Hatchery" and "Countdown", where Hayes was shot saving a fellow crew member. Other performances include playing the leading role of the photographer Richard Stewart in the English as a Second Language educational video series Family Album, U.S.A. He also had a role as antagonist Peter Drummond in the television movie How to Make a Monster, in which computer game programmers accidentally give life to a deadly AI and members of a software company attempt to beat the game to save their lives.
From 2004 to 2005, Culp played Rex Van de Kamp on the ABC comedy-drama series Desperate Housewives for one season. His character was killed at the end of the season, although Culp reprised his role several times in flashback sequences and as narrator in one season 3 episode. In 2007, he was a regular cast member in the ABC short-lived series Traveler as Special Agent in Charge Fred Chambers. The following years, Culp guest-starred on number of shows, including NCIS, The Closer, Criminal Minds, Body of Proof, How to Get Away with Murder, Dynasty, American Horror Story: 1984 and 9-1-1. He starred as Thomas Foran in the 2010 film The Chicago 8. Culp had a recurring roles as Dr. Darren Parker on Grey's Anatomy in 2012, and from 2013 to 2014 in the NBC series Revolution as Edward Truman."Interview with Steven Culp". myFanbase. Retrieved 2014-01-17. From 2015 to 2018, he had a recurring role in the Amazon prime crime drama Bosch.
Personal life He is married to Barbara Ayers, and they have two children together. He had two half-sisters, Shelly Grabinsky and Kathryn Harvey. On January 1, 2006, Kathryn was murdered in Richmond, Virginia, along with her husband, Bryan, and their two daughters, Stella and Ruby.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1989Gross AnatomyJerry Fanning Forrester1991Dead AgainParty Guest #11992Diego Rivera: I Paint What I SeeNelson Rockefeller1993Jason Goes to Hell: The Final FridayRobert CampbellFearlessEmergency Doctor1996James and the Giant PeachJames's father2000Nurse BettyFriendThirteen DaysRobert F. Kennedy2002Star Trek: NemesisCommander Martin MaddenDeleted SceneThe Emperor's ClubOlder Martin Blythe2004SpartanGaines2005The Sisters Harry GlassDeck the Halls Dr. Olsen2007Firehouse DogZachary Hayden2008From WithinPastor JoeLeaving BarstowMr. Johns2011The Chicago 8Tom Foran2014Captain America: The Winter SoldierCongressman Wenham2017The Last WordSam Serman2018CollusionsAgent Robinson
Television Year Title Role Notes1982Another WorldTom Nelson 1 episode1983-1984One Life to LiveDaniel Wolek1988LincolnJohn HayMiniseries; 2 episodesThe Cosby ShowFather-to-Be 1 episode1989ABC Afterschool Special Episode: "Taking a Stand"A Man Called HawkCarter 1 episodeDuetMartin 1 episodeMurphy BrownBrad Stockton 1 episodeNewhartBrett 1 episodeHooperman Sleep Project Coordinator 1 episode1990L.A. Law Dr. Lettora 1 episodeFather Dowling Mysteries Bill Taylor Episode: "The Woman Scorned Mystery"1991Family Album, U.S.A. Richard Stewart1992Quicksand: No EscapeBartenderTV movieDream OnDan 1 episode1993Reasonable DoubtsPeter Maxwell2 episodesA Walton Thanksgiving ReunionJeff DulaneyTV movie1994Diagnosis: MurderCompany Man 1 episode1995Touched by an AngelDr. Rence Patterson 1 episodeSistersGraham Pressman 1 episodeDonor UnknownJoel EversTV movieThe Young and the RestlessBrian Hamilton2 episodes1996Baywatch NightsGarth Youngblood 1 episodeBeverly Hills, 90210Mr. Dreesen 1 episodeNorma Jean & Marilyn Robert F. Kennedy1997Dr. Quinn, Medicine WomanPeter Doyle 1 episodePacific PalisadesJudge 1 episodeMike Hammer, Private EyeFather James 1 episode1997–2004JAGClayton WebbRecurring role; 41 episodes1998Pensacola: Wings of GoldThomas Belafontaine 1 episodeProfiler 1 episodeChicago Hope Mr. Turner 1 episodeAny Day NowRandall Clemens 1 episode1999BrimstoneFrankie 1 episodeV.I.P.Financial Officer 1 episode1999–2004ERDave Spencer / Dr. Charles Cameron 5 episodes2000Ally McBealAttorney Dixon 2 episodesFamily LawMr. Petry 1 episodeProvidenceDr. Jordan Roberts 1 episodeMurder, She Wrote: A Story to Die For William Batsby2001How to Make a Monster DrummondBoston PublicMel Breen 1 episodePhillyDetective John O'Brien 2 episodes2002Crossing JordanDetective Rick Frazier 1 episode2002–2003 The PracticeAtty. Emmanuel Kupcheck / Hospital Atty. Alldredge 2 episodes2002Push, NevadaWell-Dressed Man 6 episodes200324Ted Simmons3 episodesMister SterlingSenator Ron Garland1 episode2003–2004Star Trek: EnterpriseMajor HayesRecurring role; 5 episodes2003–2005The West WingSpeaker of the House Jeff HaffleyRecurring role; 9 episodes2003 The Lyon's DenBrad Manning 1 episode2004CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationLieutenant Mendez 1 episode2004–2012Desperate HousewivesRex Van de KampSeries regular (season 1), guest star (seasons 2–3, 5, 7–8)SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series (2005–2006)2007Numb3rsDetective Graham Larson1 episodeTravelerSpecial Agent in Charge Fred Chambers8 episodesThe CloserLucas CordrySeason 3: Til Death Do Us Part, Parts I and IINCISCommander William Skinner1 episode: "Chimera"Stargate AtlantisHenry Wallace1 episode: "Miller's Crossing"Boston LegalA.D.A. Norman Wilson 1 episode: "Oral Contracts"2008MediumDarren Swenson 1 episodeCriminal MindsLawyer Lester Serling1 episode: "Tabula Rasa"2008–2009Saving GraceDetective Brad Gholston3 episodes2008The CleanerGary Smith1 episodeThe MentalistMorgan Tolliver 1 episodeEli StoneJim Cooper2 episodes2009PrivilegedElliot Davis2 episodesImpactPresident Edward Taylor2 episodesCold CaseEvan Price1 episodeCSI: MiamiJerry Mackey1 episode2010Ghost WhispererDave Walker/Glen Blessing1 episode: "Blessings in Disguise"Burn NoticeChristian Aikins1 episode: "Where There's Smoke"The DefendersSenator Clint Harper1 episode2011The Chicago CodeDennis Mahoney 2 episodesLaw & Order: Los AngelesBen Corrigan 1 episodePrime Suspect USARichard Milner1 episode2012Harry's LawMr. Kennedy1 episodeBody of ProofEric Greyson1 episodePerceptionJohn F. Kennedy1 episodeGrey's AnatomyDr. Darren Parker4 episodesLongmireJohnson Made1 episodeDrop Dead DivaBruce Forman1 episode2013RevolutionEdward TrumanKing & MaxwellMichael Wallace1 episode2015Scream QueensClark Ulrich1 episodeBoschD.A. Richard 'Rick' O'Shea19 episodesArrow Senator Joseph Cray 1 episodeZooClayton Burke3 episodes2016How to Get Away with MurderVictor LeshnerSeason 2, Episode 1Code BlackDesmond Leighton5 episodesLopezBryce Vandevent1 episode2017The Orville Willks1 episode2018Dynasty Tim Myers 1 episodeWaco Jeff Jamar2 episodesThe Last ShipPresident Joshua Reiss6 episodes2019 American Horror Story: 1984 John Thompson 1 episode: "Mr. Jingles" For the People Arthur Covington 1 episode Dear White People Douglas Emory1 episode20209-1-1Henry Wallace1 episodeDirty JohnBaxter 1 episode2021SEAL TeamJudge Bixby1 episode 2022–2023The ResidentGov. Mark Betz4 episodes 2022–2023The Rookie: FedsAgent Oliver Bailor2 episodes 2023True LiesDobkin1 episode2024TrackerScott Palmer1 episode2024–2025FBI: InternationalMartin Russo3 episodes2025Suits: LAJohn Jackson3 episodes
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