Phillip P. Keene
Phillip Keene | |
|---|---|
| Born | Philip P. Keene September 5, 1966 |
| Citizenship | American |
| Alma mater | University of California |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2002–present |
| Known for | Buzz Watson in The Closer and Major Crimes |
| Notable work | The Closer, Major Crimes, Sherlock & Daughter |
| Spouse | |
| Awards | Screen Actors Guild Award nomination (2008–2010) |
Phillip P. Keene (born September 5, 1966) is an American actor. He is mostly known for playing Buzz Watson on the TV series The Closer and its spinoff, Major Crimes. He is fluent in Spanish[1] and German.[2]
Early life and education
Keene was born in Los Angeles, California.[3] He worked from an early age and between 1987 and 1991 was a flight attendant for Pan American World Airways.[4] Keene later studied history and art history at the University of California.[3] He also has a pilot's license.[5]
Career
Keene made his feature film debut in Role of a Lifetime (2002).[5] Two years later, in 2004, he "received his first acting role in a small part on The D.A.."[2] The show was an ABC legal drama television series.
From 2005 to 2012, Keene became known for portraying Buzz Watson, the LAPD civilian surveillance coordinator, in the TNT Series The Closer, an American police procedural television series co‑created by James Duff.[5][6] In 2008, during the run of The Closer, he appeared in the short film The Truth Is Underrated, directed by Stacey K. Black.[7]
Between 2012 and 2018, Keene continued his role as Buzz Watson in Major Crimes, a TNT Series spin‑off of The Closer. The series ran for six seasons with 105 episodes and ended in January 2018.[8] He also took part in the 2013 feature film I Am Death.[9] In 2018, Keene "returned to the big screen as the male lead of the anticipated MarVista Entertainment thriller Deadly Shores, opposite Carly Schroeder."[10]
In 2019, Keene appeared in the thriller Her Secret Family Killer, directed by Lisa France.[11] Subsequently, in 2025, Keene played Paul Anderson, Clara's father and the newly‑appointed American ambassador to the United Kingdom, in Sherlock & Daughter, an American mystery television series created by Brendan Foley and based on the Sherlock Holmes stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, with James Duff as showrunner.[12]
Personal life
Keene is married to James Duff, creator of The Closer and Major Crimes, his partner since 1993.[13][14]
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Role of a Lifetime | Bartender | Film |
| 2004 | The D.A. | Reporter #2 | Episode: The People vs. Sergius Kovinsky |
| 2005–2012 | The Closer | Buzz Watson | Recurring role: seasons 1-3 Main role: seasons 4-7 109 episodes |
| 2008 | The Truth Is Underrated | Jonah | Short Film[7] |
| 2012–2018 | Major Crimes | Buzz Watson | Main role, 105 episodes |
| 2013 | I Am Death | Greg Meyers | Feature film[9] |
| 2018 | Deadly Shores | Robert Palmer | Main role - Lifetime Movie[10] |
| 2019 | Her Secret Family Killer | Cliff | Thriller film[11] |
| 2025 | Sherlock & Daughter | Paul Anderson | Recurring |
Nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Title of work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series[2] | The Closer | Nominated |
| 2009 | Nominated | |||
| 2010 | Nominated |
References
- ↑ "A conversation with Phillip P. Keene from TNT's 'Major Crimes' (Includes interview)". www.digitaljournal.com. Archived from the original on 2014-04-13.
- 1 2 3 "Phillip P. Keene Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- 1 2 "Phillip Keene Shares Backstory of Exemplary Career Savvy". Felix Magazine. 30 December 2014. Archived from the original on 9 December 2025. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- ↑ Thomas, Annita (2023-07-17). "Pan Am flight attendants had the most glamorous jobs in the sky. Here's what happened when the airline vanished". CNN. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
- 1 2 3 "TNT Drama - The Closer: Phillip Keene". Archived from the original on 2014-03-01. Retrieved 2012-07-18.
- ↑ "TNT Orders New Seasons of Three Hit Series: The Closer, Rizzoli & Isles and Leverage" (Press release). Turner Newsroom. July 30, 2010. Archived from the original on August 2, 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
- 1 2 "Q&A with Major Crimes Director Stacey K. Black". Mystery Playground. August 15, 2016. Archived from the original on 17 December 2025. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- ↑ Petski, Denise (October 3, 2017). "'Major Crimes' To End After Season 6 On TNT". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 11 December 2025. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- 1 2 Pedersen, Erik (March 8, 2017). "Zero Gravity Management Signs 'Major Crimes' & 'The Closer' Veterans Phillip P. Keene & Robert Gossett". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- 1 2 Petski, Denise (July 27, 2018). "Phillip Keene Signs With LINK Entertainment; APA Inks Jessica Green". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- 1 2 "Her Secret Family Killer Cast and Crew". TV Guide. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- ↑ Norman, Dalton; Bruce, Amanda (July 7, 2025). "Sherlock & Daughter: Release Date, Cast, Story, Trailer & Everything We Know". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on 1 November 2025. Retrieved 22 June 2026.
- ↑ Hernandez, Greg. ""Major Crimes" cast member Phillip Keene marries". Greg In Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 29, 2016. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
- ↑ "A Chat with Out Actor Phillip P. Keene of The Closer" Archived 2016-09-02 at the Wayback Machine. Los Angeles Daily News blog; interviewed by Greg Hernandez. October 22, 2008.