Titus Welliver was born on March 12, 1962, in New Haven, Connecticut, to a family of artists. His father, Neil Welliver, was a renowned landscape painter, and his mother, Norma Cripps, was a fashion illustrator. Titus was raised in Philadelphia and New York City, surrounded by poets and painters, which he credits for his creativity.
Initially, Titus wanted to follow in his father's footsteps and become a painter, but he later decided to pursue a career in acting. He moved to New York in 1980 to hone his craft, enrolling in classes at the HB Acting Studios and attending New York University. To support himself, Titus worked various jobs, including bartending and construction work.
Titus's first paid acting job was in Navy Seals (1990),followed by roles in JFK (1991) and The Doors (1991). He continued to work in live theatre, appearing in productions of Riff Raff, American Buffalo, Naked at the Coast, and Shakespeare's Henry IV Parts I and II. Throughout the 1990s, he guest-starred on numerous TV shows, including Matlock, L.A. Law, The X-Files, and The Commish, and appeared in several TV movies.
In the 2000s, Titus secured recurring roles on Brooklyn South, NYPD Blue, Big Apple, and That's Life. He also had starring roles on Deadwood, playing Silas Adams, and in the second season of That's Life, alongside Paul Sorvino and Ellen Burstyn. After Deadwood ended, Titus mostly appeared in guest roles on TV shows, including Law & Order, Jericho, and NCIS, as well as in movies like Gone Baby Gone, The Town, and Argo.
Titus has also had recurring roles on Lost, Sons of Anarchy, The Good Wife, and Bosch, where he played LAPD Homicide Detective Harry Bosch. He has appeared in numerous other TV shows, including CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Touch, The Last Ship, Suits, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., as well as in movies like Man on a Ledge, Promised Land, and Transformers: Age of Extinction.
In addition to his acting career, Titus is also an accomplished landscape painter, following in his father's footsteps. He has had shows in Maine, California, and Connecticut, showcasing his artwork.