Smallscreen News

Stephen King guests on Sons of Anarchy for season three UPDATE

By April MacIntyre May 7, 2010, 4:30 GMT

01/11/2010 - Katey Sagal and Kurt Sutter - Fox All-Star Party - Arrivals - Villa Sorisso - Pasadena, CA, USA © Chris Hatcher / PR Photos

What does Kurt Sutter have up his sleeve for us in season three of "Sons of Anarchy," the TV show that swept the Monsters and Critics' annual list "best of" for two years running?

First we heard Hal Holbrook was cast as Gemma's (Katey Sagal) long lost father.  Now word is writer/author Stephen King will make a special appearance when the biker drama returns for a third season on FX this September.

Holbrook recently was interviewed by the Los Angeles Times about his work on SOA: "I did four episodes. It's about a motorcycle gang. Acting can be a cathartic release or it can be self-indulgent. And I've always tried not to make it self-indulgent. I like the people very much -- they look like renegades so I kind of like that. I'm kind of fed up with actors looking like they're in a commercial for some [expletive] product."

King's news was reported by Entertainment Weekly, where the author has a column on popular culture.

He will play a quiet loner who appears in Gemma’s time of need. According to the report, one of Sutter's producers learned that King was a fan of the drama, so they reached out to the author for a possible cameo. King will appear in the third episode.

"Sons" has been a ratings bonanza for FX, and a critical darling that is currently enthralling Britain with its season two, underway since the end of April.

UPDATE from @sutterink,showrunner Kurt Sutter's Twitter feed:
 
"exciting casting news. making a deal with james cosmo for 8 eps. amazing actor! playing kellan ashby, an irish priest connected to the IRA." about 15 hours ago via web

James Cosmo is a Scottish actor who appeared in "Braveheart" and many films, notably as Angus MacLeod in "Highlander."

He also appeared in "Trainspotting" and "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe."