Tom Skerritt on the Ponderosa: Bonanza Roles

Watching "Bonanza" reruns is one of my pastimes because I loved that show when I was a little girl and I still love to see who guest-starred on the series and what they did later on. Even if not guest starring, a lot of actors who went on to have extraordinary careers had a least one "Bonanza" episode on their resume.

They were all on the Ponderosa with Ben, Adam, Hoss and Little Joe, and later with Candy and Jamie.

While many people may think all these actors have left and gone to the Big Ponderosa in the Sky, that isn't so. Many are still alive and well and still acting. I'm kicking off a series I hope to write regularly to tell you about some of the actors who turned up on "Bonanza."

Let's begin with the very versatile and talented actor, Tom Skerritt.

If someone mentions Tom Skerritt, the role that immediately comes to mind for me (and possibly other "Law and Order" buffs) is when he played the pompous crazy judge, Oliver Taft, on "Law and Order: SUV" in the 2004 episode "Poison." Asst. DA, Casey Novak makes it her mission to have the judge removed from the bench because he is prejudiced against poor defendants and convicts them even if they are innocent. He lets rich ones off the hook because he thinks they are good people. The cross-examination of the judge, although it would probably never happen in real life, was just a great scene.

I hope I'm not insulting Mr. Skerritt by mentioning that one TV role. He has had a long and illustrious career. I have seen him in many other roles. The reason that one in particular stands out in my mind is because of the look on his face when the Casey Novak character declares "You can't object, Judge," as she asks him a question that he really wants to object to. It was quite a powerful characterization of a corrupt judge.

Some of the films Tom Skerritt appeared in include: "12 O'Clock High" (1964). "MASH" (1970), "Alien" (1979), "The Dead Zone" (1983), "Top Gun" (1986) , "Steel Magnolias" (1989), and in 1992 as Darryl Cooper, a father who is seduced by his teenage daughter's sexy little pal in "Poison Ivy." Sara Gilbert played his daughter and Drew Barrymore played Ivy, the Lolita-like seductress.

Throughout his career, Tom also appeared in an amazing variety of television shows, including "Cheers" (1982) and he was rewarded with an Emmy in 1994 for his work as Sheriff Brock in the 1992 series "Picket Fences." He also appeared on stage with the wonderful actress, Lee Remick, in her last performance in "Love Letters" in 1990,

Another thing I love to look up is what historical roles an actor played throughout his career: Tom Skerritt played General William Westmoreland in 2002, Joseph "Joe" Kennedy in 2000 and Sam Houston in a 1998 TV movie "Two for Texas." (Peter Coyote played Jim Bowie).

Now let's go back on the Ponderosa and take a look at Tom Skerritt's roles on "Bonanza:"

In 1964 at the age of 31 Tom played Jerry, a guy whose girlfriend, Sue, has big eyes for guest star, Rory Calhoun (as charming rogue but bad guy, Tom Wilson). Wilson saves Adam Cartwright's life making Adam blind to his bad character. Adam defends Tom Wilson when he is cheating at cards and flirting back with Jerry's girl, Sue. When Sue's dad ends up dead, Adam is skeptical of Jerry's claim that Tom Wilson did it, and even more so when Sue says she did it. Jerry has to find a way to show he is telling the truth and isn't just jealous, and Sue is being used.

In 1973, Tom Skerritt appeared in the episode known as "Hunter." Tom play Corporal Bill Tanner, a psychopath who gets his jollies by deciding to kill people. When he picks a victim, he turns it into a hunting game, and Little Joe (Michael Landon) has the misfortune to cross paths with him, becoming his latest prey. David Canary, as ranchhand "Candy" was appearing on the series at this time. Canary would go on to become famous in a dual role on "All My Children" as identical twins, Adam and Stuart Chandler. Pernell Roberts ("Adam") had already left the show, and Dan Blocker ("Hoss") passed away the year before this episode, Mitch Vogel played adopted son Jamie Hunter Cartwright. Tim Matheson was also a recurring character as Griff King.

Tom Skerritt actually had more roles on "Gunsmoke" than he did on Bonanza. He has appeared in over 40 films and more than 200 television episodes.

About his career, Tom has said: "... What it comes down to is what someone told me years ago -- if you have one hit and the next two are not successful, then you have to start from scratch again. That's what happened to me. It's like a game, I suppose, and I've been doing OK."

He sure has.

Sources: Wikipedia and IMDB

More Bonanaza Roles:
Zsa Zsa Gabor as Madame Marova
Felix Silla as Sean, one of "McCarthy's Leprechauns"
Mary Fickett (AMC's Ruth Martin) as Erin O'Donnell
Ellen Corby (Grandma Walton) as Lorna Doone Mayberry
James Coburn as Ross Marquette
Cal Bolder as Arnie "The Ape" ("Of Mice and Men" plot)