Rick Cosnett
Richard James "Rick" Cosnett (born 6 April 1983) is a Zimbabwean-Australian actor recognized for his recurring roles as the scientist Wes Maxfield in the supernatural series The Vampire Diaries (2013–2014) and as detective Eddie Thawne, who develops into the villain Reverse-Flash, in the superhero series The Flash (2014–2017).[1][2][3] Born in Chegutu, Zimbabwe, where he spent his early years on a family farm involved in community theater, Cosnett relocated to Australia during his youth and obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from Queensland University of Technology.[4][1] He subsequently moved to the United States to advance his professional opportunities in film and television.[4] Cosnett has appeared in additional projects such as the thriller film Skybound (2017) and the FBI drama Quantico (2018), alongside producing credits in independent works.[1][3] His performances often highlight characters entangled in moral dilemmas within genre-driven narratives, contributing to his presence in American network television during the mid-2010s.[1]Early life and education
Upbringing in Zimbabwe and family background
Richard James Cosnett was born on April 6, 1983, in Chegutu, Zimbabwe, where he spent his early years raised on a family farm.[5][6] His parents actively participated in local community musical theater near their farm, with his father frequently performing lead roles and his mother taking supporting parts, often involving dance.[7][5] This familial engagement introduced Cosnett to performing arts from a young age and cultivated his initial interest in acting.[5][6] Cosnett's childhood on the farm involved typical rural activities such as horseback riding, alongside encounters with Zimbabwean wildlife, including being bitten by a shrew and chased by a warthog; he later described the experience as fortunate for providing a unique perspective on life.[7] The family departed Zimbabwe around 2000 amid the country's fast-track land reform program, relocating to Queensland, Australia, when Cosnett was 17 years old.[7]Relocation to Australia and formal training
Cosnett, born in Zimbabwe on April 6, 1983, grew up on a family farm there until approximately 2000, when land reforms prompted his family's relocation to Queensland, Australia.[7] The move occurred when he was about 17 years old, initially settling in Toowoomba before he relocated to Brisbane for higher education.[8][6] In Australia, Cosnett pursued formal acting training immediately after high school, enrolling at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane to earn a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Acting.[6][9] The program provided structured instruction in performance techniques, theater production, and related disciplines, aligning with his early interest in acting developed through school drama activities in Zimbabwe.[10] Upon graduating, he briefly worked various jobs in Sydney, including in shopping centers, while seeking theater opportunities to apply his training.[7] This period marked the transition from academic preparation to professional pursuits in Australian theater and television.[11]Acting career
Early theater and television work
Cosnett commenced his professional acting career in theater following his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting from Queensland University of Technology. He performed in various Australian stage productions during this initial phase, honing his skills before shifting focus to screen work.[12] His television debut occurred in 2004 with the Australian docudrama series Forensic Investigators, where he portrayed Mal Henshall, a character involved in dramatizations of real-life criminal investigations, appearing in three episodes.[13] The series examined notable Australian murder cases through reenactments and interviews.[14] In 2005, Cosnett guest-starred in the soap opera headLand as Brad Partridge across three episodes. Set in a fictional Sydney hospital, the program followed interconnected storylines among medical staff and patients.[13] These early roles marked his entry into Australian television, building on his theater foundation prior to international opportunities.[15]Breakthrough in American television
Cosnett's breakthrough in American television occurred with his casting as Central City Police Department detective Eddie Thawne in the CW superhero series The Flash, which premiered on October 7, 2014.[16] In the role, he portrayed Barry Allen's partner and the love interest of Iris West, contributing to the show's early success as part of the Arrowverse franchise with 33 episodes across multiple seasons from 2014 to 2023.[1] The character, introduced as a principled officer entangled in the world of metahumans and time travel, allowed Cosnett to showcase dramatic range, particularly in arcs involving personal sacrifice and moral dilemmas.[16] Prior to The Flash, Cosnett had appeared in a recurring capacity as scientist Wes Maxfield on The Vampire Diaries starting in 2013, but the prominence of Eddie Thawne as a series regular in season 1 marked his transition to a lead supporting role in a high-profile U.S. production.[1] This opportunity followed his relocation to Los Angeles and auditions that capitalized on his theater background from Australia, positioning him amid rising interest in comic book adaptations.[10] The series' immediate ratings success, averaging over 4 million viewers per episode in its debut season, elevated Cosnett's visibility and opened doors to subsequent American projects.[17] Eddie Thawne's storyline culminated in a self-sacrificial act in the season 1 finale on May 19, 2015, erasing his timeline to thwart the villain Reverse-Flash, which underscored Cosnett's ability to anchor emotional stakes in genre storytelling.[18] Despite the character's apparent exit, Cosnett reprised variations of Thawne, including as Cobalt Blue in later seasons, demonstrating the role's enduring impact on his career trajectory within U.S. network television.[1] This breakthrough distinguished him from earlier Australian television work, such as in Headland (2005), by establishing a sustained presence in the competitive American market.[19]Notable recurring and guest roles
Cosnett portrayed Dr. Wes Maxfield in The Vampire Diaries, a recurring role spanning 12 episodes from 2013 to 2014, where the character served as a scientist conducting experiments on vampires and augmenting human abilities with Ripper virus research. In The Flash, he played Detective Eddie Thawne in 33 episodes across multiple seasons from 2014 to 2023, initially as a series regular in the first season as Iris West's love interest and Barry Allen's colleague, before returning for a recurring arc in season 8 as a reimagined version aiding the team against multiversal threats, including portrayals of Cobalt Blue and Dr. Malcolm Gilmore.[17] He appeared as Elias Harper in Quantico, a recurring character in 9 episodes during the 2015–2016 seasons, depicted as a fellow FBI recruit entangled in conspiracy plots. In 2024, Cosnett took on the recurring role of Julian Enes, a charismatic cruise director, in season 7 of 9-1-1, contributing to the season's cruise ship disaster storyline.[20] That same year, he guest-starred as Sergeant Tom Sanka in 5 episodes of Palm Royale, portraying a military figure in the 1960s Palm Beach social satire. Additionally, he recurred as Corey, the head of housekeeping on a luxury liner, in 7 episodes of Doctor Odyssey. Among his guest appearances, Cosnett played Victor Crowne in an episode of Castle in 2016 and Sean Parks in an episode of NCIS in 2018, both involving investigative procedural elements.[1]Transition to producing and recent projects
In recent years, Cosnett has expanded his career beyond acting into producing, with a focus on projects connected to his Zimbabwean heritage. As of 2024, he is producing an untitled Zimbabwean film intended to "change lives and perceptions through film," reflecting his interest in deconstructing narratives from his birthplace.[21] [11] This shift coincides with continued acting work in television and independent film following the conclusion of The Flash in May 2023. In 2023, Cosnett starred as Roger in the LGBTQ+-themed romantic drama Shoulder Dance, directed by Jay Arnold, which explores blurred lines between friendship and romance; the film was acquired by Breaking Glass Pictures and released on November 21, 2023, after launching at the Cannes Market.[22] [23] On television, Cosnett portrayed Corey, the head of housekeeping on the cruise ship Odyssey, in the Hulu series Doctor Odyssey, which premiered in 2024 and features him in multiple episodes addressing onboard emergencies and personal dramas amid the ship's luxury setting.[1] [24] He also appeared as Tom Sanka in Palm Royale on Apple TV+ in 2024, a period drama set in 1960s Palm Beach society.[13] Additional recent credits include the role of Oliver Whitlock in the 2024 holiday film The Holiday Exchange.[13] Looking ahead, Cosnett is set to voice a character in the video game Doom: The Dark Ages, slated for release in 2025, marking his entry into voice work for major gaming titles.[1] These endeavors demonstrate a diversification from recurring television roles to independent producing and varied media formats.Film roles and other media
Feature films
Cosnett's feature film appearances have been sporadic and mostly in supporting capacities, reflecting a career emphasis on television. His earliest credited roles include minor parts in independent Australian productions, such as The Terrorist (2008), where he played Dave, a low-budget thriller that received limited distribution. Similarly, in The Neighbour (2009), he portrayed an unnamed character in a suspense short that bordered on feature length but lacked theatrical release. Later efforts include Skybound (2017), a sci-fi thriller directed by Alex Brutsman, in which Cosnett played Matt, a passenger grappling with survival amid an airborne crisis triggered by an earthquake; the film holds a 4.1/10 rating on IMDb from over 5,700 user votes and was released directly to video.[25] In 2022, he appeared as Stephen Collins in Paul Schrader's Master Gardener, a drama starring Joel Edgerton as a horticulturist confronting his past, with Cosnett in a brief supporting role; the film premiered at the Venice Film Festival and earned a 71% approval on Rotten Tomatoes.[26] [27] Most recently, Cosnett starred as Roger in Shoulder Dance (2023), a romantic drama directed by Jay Arnold exploring relationships among friends over a weekend reunion, co-starring Matt Dallas; it received distribution through Breaking Glass Pictures and a 5.8/10 IMDb rating.[22] These roles demonstrate Cosnett's versatility in genre pieces but limited prominence in major cinematic releases.[15]| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | The Terrorist | Dave | N/A | Independent thriller; limited release. |
| 2017 | Skybound | Matt | Alex Brutsman | Survival thriller; direct-to-video.[25] |
| 2022 | Master Gardener | Stephen Collins | Paul Schrader | Drama; festival premiere.[26] |
| 2023 | Shoulder Dance | Roger | Jay Arnold | Romantic drama; indie distribution.[22] |