You know how some actors just fit a role so perfectly it’s hard to imagine anyone else ever standing in those boots? That is basically the situation with Robert Taylor. If you’ve spent any time at all watching the neo-Western crime drama Longmire, you’ve seen him—the tall, stoic, slightly weathered guy with the moral compass of a saint and the grit of a mountain range.
But here is the thing: Robert Taylor isn't actually from Wyoming. He’s not even from the United States.
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Honestly, it catches a lot of people off guard to find out that the man who played Walt Longmire is a through-and-breath Australian. He was born in Melbourne. He spent years working on oil rigs and in mines before he ever picked up a script. That rugged, world-weary energy he brings to Absaroka County? It’s not just acting. It’s a guy who has lived a real, sometimes dangerous, life.
The Man Who Played Walt Longmire: Robert Taylor’s Journey
Finding the right person to play Walt Longmire was a massive headache for the producers. They needed someone who looked like they could handle a Winchester but also someone who could convey a deep, aching grief without saying a word.
They looked at a lot of American actors. Some were too "Hollywood handsome." Others didn't have that internal stillness the character requires. Then, a self-tape arrived from Australia.
From the Indian Ocean to the High Plains
Robert Taylor’s backstory is kinda wild. Long before he was a TV sheriff, he was working as a miner and a bouncer. At 21, he was out on an oil rig in the Indian Ocean when his ship collided with another and sank. He escaped on a lifeboat with a broken arm and some smashed ribs.
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It was actually while he was recovering in a hospital bed that he saw an ad for auditions at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. He decided to give it a shot.
- Early Career: He started out in Aussie soaps like Home and Away.
- The Matrix: You might actually recognize him as Agent Jones. He's the one who gets told "Dodge this" by Trinity before getting blasted.
- International Roles: He popped up in Vertical Limit and even played a priest in the Irish drama Ballykissangel.
But Longmire was different. When he finally flew to Los Angeles for the in-person audition, he reportedly left the producers in tears. He just was Walt.
Why Robert Taylor Was the Perfect Walt Longmire
There is a big difference between the Walt in Craig Johnson's novels and the Walt on the screen. In the books, Walt is a bit more of a "giant"—he's described as a former USC offensive lineman, built like a refrigerator. He’s also a lot more talkative and has a pretty dry, witty sense of humor.
The TV version is different. The producers wanted a man who was "vertical in a horizontal landscape." Robert Taylor brought a specific kind of stillness to the role. He’s about 6'3", so he has the physical presence, but it’s his eyes that do the heavy lifting.
The Chemistry of the Cast
You can't talk about who played Walt Longmire without mentioning the people he played against. The show's success wasn't just on Taylor's shoulders; it was the friction between him and the rest of the crew:
- Katee Sackhoff as Vic Moretti: The foul-mouthed, fast-talking deputy from Philly was the perfect foil to Walt’s slow-moving Wyoming traditionalism.
- Lou Diamond Phillips as Henry Standing Bear: This is one of the best friendships on television. Period. Their bond felt ancient and unbreakable.
- Cassidy Freeman as Cady Longmire: She gave Walt something to lose, adding that layer of protective fatherhood that grounded his more "lawman" instincts.
Robert Taylor has said in interviews that he loved the character because Walt is a "dinosaur." He’s a guy who doesn't use a cell phone, who values his word, and who is fundamentally lonely. That’s a hard thing to play without becoming a cliché, but Taylor pulled it off for six seasons.
What Happened After Longmire Ended?
When the show wrapped up in 2017 after moving from A&E to Netflix, fans were devastated. There were (and still are) constant rumors about a revival or a movie. But Robert Taylor didn't just disappear into the woods.
He’s stayed busy, often leaning back into his Australian roots or taking on roles that require that same "tough guy with a soul" energy.
Recent Projects
If you’ve missed seeing him on your screen, you should check out The Newsreader, where he plays a veteran news anchor. It’s a totally different vibe from the cowboy hat and tan jacket.
More recently, he’s back in the spotlight with the Netflix series Territory. It’s basically "Australian Yellowstone," and he plays the patriarch of a massive cattle station. He’s also been cast as Jackson Gibbs (Leroy Jethro Gibbs' father) in the prequel series NCIS: Origins. It seems like he’s cornered the market on playing formidable father figures, and honestly, we aren't complaining.
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The Legacy of the Character
People still ask "who played Walt Longmire" because the performance has staying power. It’s one of those rare instances where an actor from the other side of the world managed to capture the soul of the American West better than most locals could.
Taylor is incredibly devoted to the fan base. He regularly shows up for "Longmire Days" in Buffalo, Wyoming—the real-life inspiration for the fictional Durant. He’s even turned down other paying acting jobs just to make sure he could be there for the fans. That says a lot about the man.
How to Dive Deeper into the Longmire World
If you’ve finished the series and you’re feeling that Walt-shaped hole in your life, here is what you should do:
- Read the books by Craig Johnson. There are over 20 of them now. They give you a much deeper look into Walt’s internal thoughts and his encyclopedic knowledge of literature and history.
- Watch Territory on Netflix. It’s the closest thing to a "Walt Longmire in Australia" fix you’re going to get.
- Follow the NCIS: Origins news. Seeing Taylor take on the role of Jackson Gibbs is going to be a treat for anyone who appreciates his stoic acting style.
Robert Taylor didn't just play a character; he created an icon. Whether he’s hunting down killers in the Big Horn Mountains or managing a cattle empire in the Northern Territory, he remains one of the most compelling actors of his generation.
If you're looking to revisit his best work, start by re-watching the Longmire pilot. Pay attention to the way he carries himself before he even speaks a word. That is the craft of a man who knows exactly who Walt Longmire is.
To get the most out of your Longmire experience, try comparing the first book, The Cold Dish, to the first episode of the series. You'll see exactly where Taylor took the author's vision and added his own rugged, Australian-born DNA to the mix.