Ron Perlman’s performance as MC President Clay Morrow was career-defining. Over the course of the series, Ron perfectly personified the idea of the anti-hero and became the character we all loved to hate.
Below are 10+ random facts about Sons of Anarchy star Ron Perlman that fans didn’t know. If you think he’s nothing more than a mustache and a motorcycle – think again!
RELATED STORIES
Most either know Ron Perlman from *Sons of Anarchy*.
Or even Hellboy , but chances are, you didn’t know that it was actually him, thanks to all that crazy prosthetics.
But the star actually has an impressive filmography beyond those two titles!
Not only that, but he has led a very interesting life!
And it is our duty to share with you some completely random facts that we learned about the star recently!
He is a very outspoken and interesting human being! So let’s get into it!
1. Ron struggled with his weight as a child and was constantly teased.
“That was the reality . I mean, you know, I was, like – I was up around 300 pounds by the time I was 12 and a half, 13 years old. And it stayed that way for – till I took my college physical, which I failed.”
2. He doesn’t mess around when it comes to his hair.
“Everybody knows, when it comes to my hair , I do not [expletive] around! Everyone knows this! That’s why the only thing I [expletive] with is @1821manmade. Don’t [expletive] with nothin else! Ya hear? By the way, don’t forget to scroll…”
3. Ron wasn’t the first choice to play Clay Morrow in *Sons Of Anarchy*.
As Ron explains during an interview:
“They had already shot the pilot with another actor playing Clay Morrow . And the network decided that they weren’t getting what they were hoping to get.”
“The original actor is a brilliant actor. I won’t mention his name, but he’s – I’m a huge fan of his. But he’s a very subtle guy.”
“And he has a very kind of a quiet, understated presence about him, which, in terms of this particular guy, Clay Morrow, they were looking for way more dynamic.”
4. He seriously loves his dog.
Ron’s caption reads: “To my fellow world traveler , my partner in untold crime and adventure, my B of BFFs, Happy Sweet 16 Nigel. Can’t wait to see what the next 16 brings…”
5. His first film role was truly prehistoric.
Ron starred in the 1981 Academy Award-winning film, Quest For Fire . Ron plays a Neanderthal named Amoukar who lived more than 80,000 years in the past.
The film revolves around, you guessed it, early man’s discovery and use of fire.
6. Ron had zero experience riding a motorcycle before landing his role on *Sons Of Anarchy*.
“And depending on who you ask,” Ron admits, “I never did much riding after the fact, either. Me and the bike – we – let’s put it this way – I’d rather be eating Haagen-Dazs.”
7. He’s an established voice actor.
I mean with a rich timbre like Ron’s, how could you not? He’s appeared in everything from Mortal Kombat to Afro Samurai .
Sidebar: if anyone reading this hasn’t seen Afro Samurai , just drop everything and watch it right now.
8. He’s a published author!
Ron released his memoirs titled Easy Street (The Hard Way) .
It’s a tell-all book wherein Ron recalls what life was like growing up as a kid in Washington Heights, as well as his early days in Hollywood.
9. Ron had a hard time getting into the frame of mind for Clay Morrow.
“And, you know, it was what it was, and it was never anything that was in my control. The places the character went were places I felt very uncomfortable going as an actor, things that he was given to do.”
10. He’s been known to refer to himself in the 3rd person.
Believe it or not, Ron actually refers to himself as ” The Perl “.
I keep trying to come up with some kind of clever commentary but I’m just shocked and speechless.
11. Ron has become known for his visual transformations and penchant for facial prosthetic.
Let’s run the list, shall we? He’s been Hellboy , the Beast in the TV version of Beauty and the Beast ; I won’t bother mentioning Quest for Fire again.
Ron has said that he finds the act of covering up his face to be freeing as an actor.
12. Ron has a serious bromance with Guillermo del Toro.
Ron was with Guillermo when the director received his star on the Walk of Fame and wrote:
“Today the great Guillermo Deltoro received his much deserved Star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame . Today was historic. And I was one of the lucky few to bear witness!!!”
In fact, Perlman turned down the *Hellboy* reboot because of his loyalty to the director.
“The reboot was something I had the opportunity to participate in and decided that the only version of ‘Hellboy’ I’m interested in is the one I do with Guillermo,” Perlman said .
“So in walking away from it, I truly walked away from it, and haven’t seen it or heard much about it. I wished them well, but it was not in my bailiwick.”
Luckily for him, the reboot didn’t end up doing well!
13. He’s always loved cigars.
“The first cigar I remember smoking was an Arturo Fuente Corona ,” Ron says. “It was of a shape and size that were very manageable. It was not too big, not too small, not intimidating. I became obsessed with Fuente cigars.”
14. He’s a vocal advocate and participant in the Screen Actors Guild Foundation.
What is the foundation for? It’s an organization that gives educational assistance and programming to the SAG-AFTRA.
It also helps provide programming for children’s literacy to the public.
“When I heard what it was that the SAG Foundation does, it resonated deeply.”
“And immediately inside of me, to the point where I felt like ‘this is going to be something that I align myself with for as long as I have the strength to and for as long as God gives me.'”
15. When times were tough, Ron had to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.
Ron admits that there were vast pockets of time in his career where the phone simply didn’t ring. As a result, he was forced to work many jobs just to keep the lights on.
He was a limo driver, and also worked retail in his friend’s boutique store.
16. He once spilled his secret toward having a happy marriage.
If you’re a man, he believes it’s all about being compliant with one handy phrase.
“The mastering of the phrase, ‘You know darling, you are so right!’ If you can master that phrase, and you’re a dude, you got a shot.”
17. Because of his insecurities that stem from his childhood, he appreciates using masks and makeup for his roles.
“Having a physical layer between myself and the outside world that I was performing to really enabled me to kind of free myself up and not worry about all of the things that my inner voices were saying were in the way of giving the kind of free performance one wants to give.”
“It was kind of like a pattern.”
“I mean, it was one heavy duty prosthetic make-up transformation after another, you know, starting with the very first one, which was Quest For Fire, then Name Of The Rose, then Beauty And The Beast. Those things happened in succession and gave way to the Island of Dr. Moreau and Hellboy and a number of others.”
18. Season 6 of *Sons of Anarchy* was very uncomfortable for him.
“So season six was rather uncomfortable for me on a lot of levels, partially because of how much I grew to love the guys and the world of the show and what we had built together.”
“And, you know, it was what it was, and it was never anything that was in my control.”
“The places the character went were places I felt very uncomfortable going as an actor, things that he was given to do…”
19. His father had faith in him becoming an actor.
Perlman has said that after his father had watched him perform in a play in college, his father encouraged him to follow his dreams and said that he truly had a knack for the art.
“And a year later he was gone.” Perlman said.
“So this was the ultimate, like, almost like a deathbed wish, where he gave me permission – not only gave me permission, but gave me a certain resolve that only a father can give to a son.”
“It was beautiful. And it’s taken me to where I am, you know, to this day.
20. When an interviewer told Perlman he would like to see him as president, Perlman actually admitted he wanted to serve his country!
“I would love to serve my country especially during these troubled times. The fact of the matter is I’m having so much fun working on my small independent films. That I can’t see myself taking time away from that.”
21. He wants to work with Quentin Tarantino.
I have to ask, who doesn’t want to work with Quentin Tarantino ? He makes some of the biggest films in Hollywood!
Here’s hoping that Perlman gets his acting wish sometime soon! I’m sure they’d make a great film together.
Do you know any more interesting facts about the one and only *Sons of Anarchy* star Ron Perlman?
Or were you pleasantly surprised by all the facts you learned in this article?
Either way, let us know down below in the comments! We would love to hear from you!
