Robert Gossett

Robert Gossett (born March 3, 1954 ) is an American actor. He is best known for his role of Commander Russell Taylor on the TNT crime drama The Closer and on its successor series Major Crimes.

Career Gossett landed his first professional job after he graduated from high school in a production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. He went on to act in a Broadway production of August Wilson's Fences directed by Lloyd Richards, as well as Hal Scott's A Raisin in the Sun and Donald McKayle's The Last Minstrel Show. He also performed in the Negro Ensemble Company's productions of Manhattan Made Me, Sons & Fathers of Sons, A Soldier's Play and Colored People's Time. He has extensive television experience with guest-starring roles on Crossing Jordan, NYPD Blue, and Black Angel. In film, Gossett appeared in the Jeff Bridges/Tim Robbins film Arlington Road and the Sandra Bullock movie The Net.

On the October 18, 2021, episode of the ABC daytime drama General Hospital, Gossett made his debut as a mysterious man taking a special interest in former private eye and present club owner Curtis Ashford. This character was subsequently revealed to be Curtis' long lost dad, Marshall Ashford, a character with schizophrenia.

Personal life Gossett is a first cousin of actor Louis Gossett Jr.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1984 Over the Brooklyn Bridge Eddie 1992 Batman Returns TV Anchorman 1995 White Man's Burden John1995 The NetBen Phillips 1995 Phoenix Barker 1997 The Maker Partner 1999 Arlington Road FBI Agent Whit Carver 1999 Jimmy Zip Horace Metcalf 1999 The Living Witness Phil Jackson 2002 Devious Beings Damone 2005 The Inner Circle Leo 2009 Flying By Michael 2011 Tied to a Chair Detective Peter Farrell 2014 Revelation Road: The Black Rider The Shepherd 2018 How To Get Rid Of A Body (and still be friends) Mr. Morris

Television Year Title Role Notes 1987 The Cosby Show Stage Manager Episode: "Dance Mania" 1988 Heartbeat Dixon 2 episodes 1990 Quantum Leap Charles Griffin Episode: "Pool Hall Blues - September 4, 1954" 1992 Cheers Customer #3 Episode: "License to Hill" 1992 Hangin' with Mr. Cooper John Lee Episode: "Miracle in Oaktown" 1992 Silk Stalkings Lt. Hudson Main role 1993 NYPD Blue Lonnie Edwards Episode: "Oscar, Meyer, Wiener" 1995 Melrose Place Detective Smith Episode: "Two Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" 1995 Diagnosis Murder Dr. Max Frye Episode: "My Baby is Out of This World" 1996 Diagnosis Murder Jimmy Christopher Episode: "The Murder Trade" 1996 Second Noah Lyle Episode: "Dreamboat" 1996 Touched by an Angel Paul Stettling Episode: "The Journalist" 1997 Promised Land Robert Dixon 2 episodes 1997 Pacific Palisades Adam Winfield 4 episodes 1997 Alien Nation: The Udara Legacy Cummings TV film 1997 Beverly Hills, 90210 Detective Woods 4 episodes 1997 7th Heaven Doctor Episode: "Do Something" 1998 Sister, Sister Eddie Episode: "The Domino Effect" 1999 Working Executive Storyteller #1 Episode: "Romeo and Juliet" 1999 Charmed Mr. Franklin Episode: "Secrets and Guys" 2000 That's Life Photography Professor 2 episodes 2000 Dark Angel James McGinnis 4 episodes 2001 Judging Amy Dan Matson Episode: "Everybody Falls Down" 2001 Yes, Dear John Episode: "Mr. Fix It" 2001–2004 Passions Woody Stumper Recurring role 2002 Philly Malik Clay 2 episodes 2003 Dragnet Howard Sykes Episode: "The Big Ruckus" 2003 NYPD Blue Ken Gross Episode: "Only Schmucks Pay Income Tax" 2004 Crossing Jordan Jack Hayes Episode: "Most Likely" 2005-2012 The Closer Commander Russell Taylor Main role 2005 Bones Mr. Taylor Episode: "The Man in the Wall" 2007 The Young and the Restless Incident Commander 3 episodes 2008 ER Dr. Everett Daniels 2 episodes 2010 The Sarah Silverman Program Judge Willie Joe Blackwell Episode: "A Slip Slope" 2012-2017 Major Crimes Assistant Chief Russell Taylor Main role 2016 Chicago Med Reggie Dixon Episode: "Inherent Bias" 2018 The Oath Charles Ryder Recurring role 2018 Greenleaf District Attorney Price 3 episodes 2019 The Enemy Within Thomas Heffron 3 episodes 2021–present General Hospital Marshall Ashford

Awards and nominations NAACP Theater Award for Best Performance by a Male, Indigo Blues (1993) Dramalogue Best Actor Award, Indigo Blues (1993) LA Weekly Theater Award, Washington Square Moves (1995) Dramalogue Best Actor Award, Washington Square Moves (1995) Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Performance in a Drama Series, General Hospital (2022) Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, General Hospital (2023) Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, General Hospital (2024)