# Owain Yeoman
**Owain Yeoman** (Owain Sebastian Yeoman, born 1978) is a Welsh actor best known for playing California Bureau of Investigation agent Wayne Rigsby on the CBS series *The Mentalist* from 2008 to 2015, and later General Benedict Arnold on *TURN: Washington's Spies*.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1978, Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales[1](https://mn2s.com/booking-agency/talent-roster/owain-yeoman/) |
| Training | English degree, Brasenose College, Oxford; RADA BA in Acting, graduated 2003 as the Henry Marshall Shield winner[2](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2011128621) • [3](https://www.rada.ac.uk/profiles/owain-yeoman/) |
| Signature role | CBI detective Wayne Rigsby on *The Mentalist*, 2008–2015, 132 episodes[1](https://mn2s.com/booking-agency/talent-roster/owain-yeoman/) |
| Other series leads | Benedict Arnold in *TURN: Washington's Spies* (2015–2017, 30 episodes); Benny Gallagher in *Emergence* (2019–2020, 13 episodes)[1](https://mn2s.com/booking-agency/talent-roster/owain-yeoman/) |
| Film | Lysander in *Troy* (2004), his first audition; a role in Clint Eastwood's *American Sniper* (2014)[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1466859/) • [5](https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/the-revolutionary-war/spying-and-espionage/turn-washingtons-spies/qa-with-owain-yeoman) |
| Recognition | Named one of BAFTA's "Brits to Watch" in 2012[6](https://showmanproductions.com/about) |
| Height | 1.93 m[7](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-128361/biographie/) |
## Early life and education
Yeoman was born in 1978 in Chepstow, Monmouthshire, Wales[1](https://mn2s.com/booking-agency/talent-roster/owain-yeoman/). The Library of Congress authority record for him cites sources giving his birth date as 1978 in Wales[2](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2011128621). IMDb identifies his parents as Michael and Hilary Yeoman, with one sister, Ailsa[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1466859/).
He took an honors degree in English at Brasenose College, Oxford, from 1996 to 1999[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1466859/). Before acting he worked as a banker in [Canary Wharf](https://www.edgepedia.org/canary-wharf), a job he described to the BBC as funding his drama training, calling himself "probably the world's worst banker"[8](http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/southeastwales/low/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8105000/8105855.stm). He then trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, graduating from the BA in Acting course in 2003 with the distinction of the Henry Marshall Shield[3](https://www.rada.ac.uk/profiles/owain-yeoman/) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1466859/). AlloCiné reports that he was an accomplished sportsman who represented Wales in hockey[7](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-128361/biographie/).
## Career beginnings
His first professional audition was for the Warner Bros epic *[Troy](https://www.edgepedia.org/troy-film)* (2004), in which director [Wolfgang Petersen](https://www.edgepedia.org/wolfgang-petersen) cast him as Lysander, Captain of the Trojan army[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1466859/). In his own account, he "landed in a part in the movie Troy on my very first audition", which brought him to California[5](https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/the-revolutionary-war/spying-and-espionage/turn-washingtons-spies/qa-with-owain-yeoman). He relocated to Los Angeles in 2004[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1466859/).
Back in Britain he had appeared in stage productions of the Shakespeare plays *Othello* and *As You Like It*, and in an episode of *Midsomer Murders*[8](http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/southeastwales/low/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8105000/8105855.stm). IMDb counts him a veteran of over a dozen West End stage plays and two Edinburgh festivals[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1466859/). His early American television work included series-regular roles in *Kitchen Confidential* and *The Nine*[6](https://showmanproductions.com/about).
## The Mentalist and major television roles
**Wayne Rigsby.** Yeoman's most recognized television role came as CBI detective Wayne Rigsby in the CBS series *The Mentalist*, in which he starred for over six years, from 2008 to 2015, across 132 episodes[1](https://mn2s.com/booking-agency/talent-roster/owain-yeoman/). At the time of the BBC profile he was working on the show nine months a year[8](http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/southeastwales/low/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8105000/8105855.stm). The series won the Monte Carlo Golden Nymph award as the most watched television show in the world in 2012[6](https://showmanproductions.com/about). AlloCiné reports that he played the role for six seasons[7](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-128361/biographie/), while the agency profile gives the run as 2008–2015 across 132 episodes[1](https://mn2s.com/booking-agency/talent-roster/owain-yeoman/).
**Other series work.** In 2008 he played Sgt. Eric Kocher in HBO's award-winning biopic miniseries *Generation Kill*, and the T-888 main terminator in the pilot of *Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles*[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1466859/). AlloCiné credits him as Dr Mason in *Extant* (2015) and as the supervillain Vartox (Vernon O'Valeron) in *Supergirl*[7](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-128361/biographie/). From 2015 to 2017 he played General Benedict Arnold in *TURN: Washington's Spies*, 30 episodes[1](https://mn2s.com/booking-agency/talent-roster/owain-yeoman/). Of that part he said, "All of these roads have led me to Benedict Arnold, and I am enjoying every minute of it"[5](https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/the-revolutionary-war/spying-and-espionage/turn-washingtons-spies/qa-with-owain-yeoman). He then held a main role as Benny Gallagher in *Emergence* (2019–2020) for 13 episodes[1](https://mn2s.com/booking-agency/talent-roster/owain-yeoman/). Guest roles include *Elementary* (2016), *The Blacklist* (2017), and *CSI: Vegas* (2024)[1](https://mn2s.com/booking-agency/talent-roster/owain-yeoman/).
## Film work
Beyond *Troy*, his feature credits include *American Sniper* (2014), in which he appeared with [Bradley Cooper](https://www.edgepedia.org/bradley-cooper) in a cast assembled by [Clint Eastwood](https://www.edgepedia.org/clint-eastwood)[5](https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/the-revolutionary-war/spying-and-espionage/turn-washingtons-spies/qa-with-owain-yeoman) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1466859/); *Brahms: The Boy II* (2020); *[SAS: Red Notice](https://www.edgepedia.org/sas-red-notice)* (2021); *Save the Cinema* (2022)[1](https://mn2s.com/booking-agency/talent-roster/owain-yeoman/); and *True Lies*[9](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/owain-yeoman/credits/3030057199/).
## Recent work (2023–present)
[TV Guide](https://www.edgepedia.org/tv-guide) lists credits in *CSI: Vegas*, *True Lies*, *Matlock*, *Tracker*, *Bosch: Legacy*, *SAS: Red Notice*, *Brahms: The Boy 2*, *The Blacklist*, and *TURN: Washington's Spies*[9](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/owain-yeoman/credits/3030057199/). The agency profile places his *CSI: Vegas* appearance in 2024 and lists upcoming appearances in *Bosch: Legacy* (2025) and *Tracker* (2025)[1](https://mn2s.com/booking-agency/talent-roster/owain-yeoman/). His own profile describes expanding producing work: a scripted action comedy, an IP-optioned cable series, a feature film in partnership with an Oscar-winning writer, and several non-scripted projects[6](https://showmanproductions.com/about). A self-authored LinkedIn profile states he has been a producer with Showman Productions since January 2016 and founded District AiD, an education platform, in October 2025 in [Los Angeles County](https://www.edgepedia.org/los-angeles-county)[10](https://linkedin.com/in/owain-yeoman-660a412b3).
## By the numbers
The quantified shape of the career: 132 episodes of *The Mentalist* over more than six years (2008–2015), 30 episodes of *TURN: Washington's Spies* (2015–2017), and 13 episodes of *Emergence* (2019–2020)[1](https://mn2s.com/booking-agency/talent-roster/owain-yeoman/). Screen work spans 2004 to the present, beginning with *Troy*[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1466859/). He stands 1.93 m[7](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-128361/biographie/).
## Welsh identity and place among Welsh actors in Hollywood
The BBC's South East Wales profile introduced him as "the latest Welsh face to find success stateside" and placed him, alongside [Ioan Gruffudd](https://www.edgepedia.org/ioan-gruffudd) and [Matthew Rhys](https://www.edgepedia.org/matthew-rhys), in "the Welsh contingent taking Hollywood by storm"[8](http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/southeastwales/low/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8105000/8105855.stm). His career combined British roots with American television work: Shakespeare stage work and *Midsomer Murders* before Hollywood, and later films such as *Save the Cinema* (2022)[8](http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/southeastwales/low/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8105000/8105855.stm) • [1](https://mn2s.com/booking-agency/talent-roster/owain-yeoman/). His own professional profile continues to introduce him as "an internationally acclaimed Welsh actor"[6](https://showmanproductions.com/about).
## Personal life and recognition
At the time of the BBC profile he lived in Los Angeles with his wife, the actress [Lucy Davis](https://www.edgepedia.org/lucy-davis), daughter of the comedian [Jasper Carrott](https://www.edgepedia.org/jasper-carrott)[8](http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/southeastwales/low/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8105000/8105855.stm). He was named one of BAFTA's "Brits to Watch" in 2012 and was honored by BAFTA chair HRH Prince William[6](https://showmanproductions.com/about). His series *The Mentalist* received the Monte Carlo Golden Nymph distinction as the most watched television show in the world in 2012[6](https://showmanproductions.com/about).
## References
1. [Owain Yeoman | Booking Agent | MN2S](https://mn2s.com/booking-agency/talent-roster/owain-yeoman/)
2. [Yeoman, Owain, 1978- — LC Linked Data Service, Library of Congress](https://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2011128621)
3. [Owain Yeoman — RADA](https://www.rada.ac.uk/profiles/owain-yeoman/)
4. [Owain Yeoman - IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1466859/)
5. [Q&A with Owain Yeoman | George Washington's Mount Vernon](https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/the-revolutionary-war/spying-and-espionage/turn-washingtons-spies/qa-with-owain-yeoman)
6. [About | Showman Productions](https://showmanproductions.com/about)
7. [Owain Yeoman : Sa biographie - AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-128361/biographie/)
8. [BBC - South East Wales - Fame is all in the name for Owain](http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/southeastwales/low/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8105000/8105855.stm)
9. [Owain Yeoman List of Movies and TV Shows - TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/owain-yeoman/credits/3030057199/)
10. [Owain Yeoman - LinkedIn profile](https://linkedin.com/in/owain-yeoman-660a412b3)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › Welsh actors*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license