ACTORS & Skin: Brian Kerwin

I first noticed Brian Kerwin in 1990 during his time playing Jackie's boyfriend on Roseanne. 'Gary' was initially seen as the perfect guy for Jackie, and the blonde and beautiful Kerwin certainly fit the bill. Gary's dark side quickly came out, and I remember being shocked at his abusive turn and impressed at the performances from Kerwin and Laurie Metcalf.

Kerwin with Laurie Metcalf (Roseanne)

I think the next time I saw Kerwin, it was a few years later when he was starring along side Michelle Pfeiffer in Love Field. Googling Brian a few years later led to my learning more about his impressive career. Kerwin has done it all, stage, screen and television. On stage, he has appeared in classics such as August: Osage County, The Little Foxes and Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. He also appeared on stage in Harvey Fierstein written Torch Song Trilogy, and went on to play Ed in the film adaptation.

On television, Kerwin has starred in soaps, sit-coms and dramas, epic mini-series and television movies. Brian has appeared on some of television's biggest hits of the eighties ranging from St. Elsewhere through a turn on The Love Boat. His biggest claim to fame on TV was most likely his role as Deputy Birdie Hawkins on the short lived BJ & the Bear spin-off, The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo

Kerwin is one of those actors who has worked steadily since starting in Hollywood in the 70's. In addition to his impressive stage and TV resume, on screen Kerwin has worked with some of Hollywood's biggest stars including; Pfeiffer, Sally Field, Diane Lane, Robin Williams, Julianne Moore, Sissy Spacek.

Sheriff Lobo

Like so many of the actors I have featured, Kerwin is another of those actors that really deserved more acclaim and fame that he has received. Kerwin has been in huge Oscar winning films like The Help, and big stinkers like King Kong Lives. Having seen The Help, it was the latter I had to find and watch when I began to put together this piece.

With Matthew Broderick and Harvey Fierstein in Torch Song Trilogy (1988)

The Blue & the Gray (1982)

King Kong Lives (1986)

I love a bad monster movie and King Kong Lives is B A D! The 1986 sequel to the 70's King Kong features Kerwin and Linda Hamilton trying to save both Kong, and a new female ape discovered in the jungle by Kerwin's character. As bad as the story and special effects were, I had fun watching the flick and especially like the role reversal with Kerwin being 'the damsel in distress'. It wasn't Linda Hamilton picked up and loved by the new ape, it was Kerwin who had her total affection.

Actors & SKIN: Brian Kerwin

The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo (1980)

I didn't really think there was enough material for an Actors & Skin piece on Brian Kerwin. When I started, I thought his role in 1985's Murphy's Romance was his only nude scene. In the flick, Kerwin plays Sally Field's ex, and there is brief butt scene as he is heading into the shower. Given how it's filmed, I also wondered if that butt actualy belonged to Kerwin. A little research however, was able to give me another butt scene that I could compare...

Wet Gold (1984)

Although no nudity, Kerwin has shown a fair bit of skin on television. In 1984's Wet Gold, Kerwin stars along with Brooke Shields and 80's hottie Tom Byrd in a tv movie set mostly on a boat. Although I haven't seen the movie, the few Youtube clips that watch, showed that Kerwin and Byrd were shirtless for much of the movie.

Stripping off his suit on The Love Boat (1981)

Kerwin played a stripper when he went cruising, stripping town to some shiny briefs. Thanks to Scenes of Male Skin for the clip.

Murphy's Romance (1985)

Hometown U.S.A (1979)

Sooo, that comparative butt scene.... A little searching told me Kerwin had another butt scene in 1979's Hometown U.S.A. In the American Graffiti knock off, Kerwin puts on his James Dean, and his red leather jacket, to play T. J. Swackhammer. In the film, Kerwin has his beautiful thrusting butt, shown in the same scene as his face.

Brian Kerwin: ACTORS & Skin

As I stated above, it was within the pages of TV and movie magazines that I first crushed over actor Brian Kerwin.  I loved his great face and wavy blond hair and the occasional shirtless shot in some of the articles that I found.  It was only later, I began to see him pop up in movies and television shows.

I remember catching Kerwin in many of his TV appearances including his stints on Frasier, Desperate Housewives, The West Wing and as Jackie's boyfriend on Roseanne.  Kerwin began acting professionally in 1977 and has worked steadily in both film and on television since.

Although Kerwin may not be a big star, he really has one of the most successful careers of any actor of his generation.   He's appeared in many huge films and worked with some of the industries biggest stars.  Kerwin has shared the screen with high profile actors including; Sally field, Sissy Spacek, Michelle Pfieffer, Robin Williams to name just a few.

In between roles in big screen hits, with big star power, Kerwin went back and forth from film to television with ease.  He might be in a huge box office hit one month, then boarding an episode of The Love Boat the next.   His ability to stand out, while easily slide into almost any role in any genre is one of the reasons for his success and longevity. 

NBC: Proud As A Peacock

Oh how I wish there were more shots of Kerwin in his red speedo while appearing on those celebrity sports competitions in the 1980's.  Thankfully, there are a few of them out there.  Some of them, including Kerwin's appearances, are also on Youtube.

Sadly, Kerwin never bared all for a Playgirl Pictorial, he just appeared on the cover with Sally Field for an 1986 issue.  You can check out the skin scenes I did find in the two posts below.

Blast From The Past for November 29th Brian Kerwin

Brian Kerwin is a true Hollywood success story. Brian never grew up wanting to be an actor, he sort of 'fell into' it. Brian's first professional role was a short lived stint in 1973 on 'The Young and the Restless'. Although his time on the show was short, it was enough to move him quickly onto Prime Time tv with guest appearances on many shows of the 70's from 'Logan's Run', 'David Cassidy-Man Undercover' and then in 1979, 'BJ and the Bear' which lead Brian to his biggest role to date on 'The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo'.



'The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo' barely lasted 2 seasons, but in those 2 seasons, Brian became a teen idol, brining him regular press in tv and movie magazines. It also provided some wonderful moments for Brian fans as he often appeared on shows like 'Battle Of The Network Stars' in his speedos. After again jumping to tv guest spots on many 80's shows, Brian made the leap to major movies with roles along side Robin William (Jack), Sally Field (Murphy's Romance), as well as in 'Torch Song Trilogy'. Many other movies and tv roles continued to flow in.



I always thought Brian was hot, and enjoyed him in tv shows and movies throughout the 80's and 90's including his stint on 'Roseanne'. Brian was able to play the good boy and the bad boy with equal success and though he never reached the superstardom of say a Shaun Cassidy, this was good for Brian as he was able to continue moving from tv to movies with ease. In between Brian also marked up impressive Theatre credits. Brian continues to work steadily, most recently seen on 'Big Love', 'One Life to Live' and in '27 Dresses'. This hunk from the past is still a busy working actor, and as I have said before, anyone still working after close to 4 decades in the business is a true survivor and success. Some of the info and pics come from a wonderful Brian site you should check out found HERE:












Brian on an early 80's episode of 'The Love Boat'.





Brian in 'Murphy's Romance' (1985).