Summary
Walton Goggins has explained how he came to play his iconicSons of Anarchycharacter Venus Van Dam. First appearing inSons of Anarchyseason 5 as a transgender escort who helped members of the show’s titular outlaw motorcycle gang blackmail a local businessman, Goggins would eventually become a recurring guest star until the season 7 finale. Forming aromantic bond with SAMCRO member Tig Trager(Kim Coates), Venus was last seen comforting Tig following the gang’s decision to pass a mayhem vote that placed a death mark on Jax Teller’s head.
During a recent appearance on one ofWIRED’s Internet’s Most Asked Questions videos, Goggins explained howSons of Anarchycreator Kurt Sutter approached him to play Venus. Revealing that Sutter once suggested that he would never cast Goggins or Michael Chiklis because they were too recognizable for their roles onThe Shield, Goggins shot back thathe would only ever play a transgender characterfor him anyway. Two years later,Sutter approached him with a genuine offer to play Venusin season 5. Check out his comments and the original video below:
Now this is my girl, Venus Van Dam. Kurt Sutter, the writer ofSons of Anarchy, was one of the main writers onThe Shield. A very, very dear friend of mine. And the truth is, this is a true story. He did an interview where he said that the only two people that I could never have on my show are Michael Chiklis and Walton Goggins, because no one could ever see them as anything but their characters onThe Shield.
Someone sent this article to me, I read it, I forwarded it to Kurt Sutter and I said ‘F— you, man. I wouldn’t do your show anyway.’ True story. I said, ‘The only way I would do your show is if I played a transgender.’ Two years later, he sent me a text and he said, ‘were you serious?’
And I said, ‘about what?’ He said, ‘about playing a transgender.’ And I said, ‘do you have pages?’ He said, ‘yes.’ He sent them, I read them and it was one of the greatest things that I had ever read. And it made me laugh and it broke my heart.
While Goggins would play Venus Van Dam inSons of Anarchy, hisThe Shieldco-star Michael Chiklis was also offered a role in the show’s final two episodes, playing the truck driver whose vehicle killed Jax Teller.
Walton Goggins’ Sons Of Anarchy Character Further Proves His Transformative Power
The Actor Is Well Known For Disappearing Into His Roles.
Switching effortlessly between comedy and more serious dramatic fare, his career has seen him portray everyone from post-apocalyptic gunslingers and career criminals to outrageous televangelists and undercover cops.
While Goggins may be experiencing a sudden influx of acclaim from his most recent role in Prime Video’sFallout, the veteran actor boasts an impressive career as one oftelevision’s most versatile and impressive actors. Switching effortlessly between comedy and more serious dramatic fare, his career has seen him portray everyone from post-apocalyptic gunslingers and career criminals to outrageous televangelists and undercover cops. However, his dedication toSons of Anarchy’sVenus Van Dam remains one of his best demonstrations of his skill and flexibility as a performer.
Every Walton Goggins TV Show, Ranked
With hilarious comedies and insightful dramas, Walton Goggins has proven himself as one of the most versatile and talented actors on TV today.
Revealing that it would not only take four and a half hours in the makeup chair to be transformed into hisSons of Anarchycharacter, Goggins also explained that he spent nearly a month wearing high-heeled shoes around the cobblestone streets of New Orleans to prepare for the role. He was so dedicated to bringing the character to life, that he also forbade anyone else on the show fromseeing his transformation into Venusaside from those directly involved in the makeup process.
Most importantly, however, his final performance was far from the stereotypical caricature that transgender roles have been historically seen in past decades. Deeply nuanced in a way that feels respectful to the broader transgender community, Venus’ ongoing associationwith SAMCRO memberswould even serve to overcome many of the other characters’ own prejudices. With performances such as Goggins’ outstanding turn as Venus inSons of Anarchy,it is easy to see why he is currently being hailed by so many as one of television’s most impressive actors.
Sons of Anarchy
Cast
Sons of Anarchy is centered around the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original (SAMCRO), exploring the tensions between President Clay and Vice President Jax in the town of Charming. The narrative focuses on their differing visions for the club’s operations, blending legal and illegal enterprises.
