Great Character Actor: Jerry Hardin

I have always had a fond place in my heart for the working actor, writer, artist, musician--you know, not the BIG, FAMOUS, ON THE COVER OF PEOPLE celebrity, but the actor with the consistent, long-ranging career. For example, one of my all-time favorite actors is Gary Jones who played Sgt. Walter Harriman on Stargate SG-1. He had about 1-2 lines per episode (in one commentary, he mentions that he was reading a book when the camera started rolling, but it worked into the episode). See, that's the kind of career I would want in Hollywood--a good, fun job that earned me a decent income while letting me do a little bit of what I loved.

Jerry Hardin (1929 - ) is way at the top of my list. He has this raspy voice with a Southern accent. He plays villains, sweetie-pies, and odd-balls, all with charm and a dry manner. He was Deep Throat on X-Files (several episodes), the next-door farmer in Lois & Clark (one episode). Famously, he was Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) in Star Trek: TNG's "Time's Arrow" (in which Brent Spiner and Hardin steal practically every scene). I first became aware of him in Star Trek: TNG (then backtracked some of his earlier performances). He shows up in Scarecrow & Mrs. King, JAG,  The Golden Girls, Murder She Wrote, Star Trek: Voyager. Basically, if it has been on television, he's done it. (But not Columbo or Stargate SG-1 unfortunately.)

I think I like him best in X-Files (it's hard to choose!). As Deep Throat, he employs his special brand of ultra-dryness more than in his other roles--in which he acts more riled and clueless (but always, always, always charming). As Deep Throat, he conveys the perfect mix of ambiguity, amusement, detachment, and fear that fits Carter's direction; he also plays well opposite Duchovny and William B. Davis (Cigarette Smoking Man).

Not to mention, the character's name is perfect: after all, that voice! Hardin definitely earns the term: unforgettable character actor.