✎ Editor’s notes on 18 facts

TV SERIES · 2008–2014 · USA

Sons of Anarchy

Created by: Kurt Sutter
Network: FX
Seasons: 7
Episodes: 92
Studio: SutterInk, Linson Entertainment, Fox 21

18 archived facts 6 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026

The Sons of Anarchy (SOA) are an outlaw motorcycle club with many charters in the United States and overseas. The show focused on the original and founding charter, Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, Redwood Original, often referred to by the acronym SAMCRO, Sam Crow, or simply Redwood Charter. The charter operates both legal and illegal businesses in the small town of Charming, California. They combine gun-running…

18 Interesting Facts About Sons of Anarchy

Production Story (2)

#001
Chuck Zito, a Hells Angel for 25 years, sued FX, claiming the network stole his idea after he pitched a motorcycle series to its President and Vice President, who turned it down; a year later Sons of Anarchy was in production. After a two-year fight, Zito lost on summary judgment. Kurt Sutter hired Chuck anyway, casting him in the fifth season as Frankie Diamonds, a New York Nomad who transfers to Charming.
Editor’s noteArka Evren
How should I put this — you claim your idea was stolen, but they still give you a role in the show. That's a favour from the Sons of Anarchy team
sufferwithme / Founder / Editor
Sons of Anarchy (2008): Chuck Zito in a Sons of Anarchy vestImage: IMDb
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#002
It was Green Street Hooligans (2005) that sold Kurt Sutter on Charlie Hunnam as Jax Teller.
Editor’s noteArka Evren
There's a problem here. You can't just say "this actor's going to be in my show" about every actor you see in every film. Sure, now and then people who've played other roles have turned in a good performance in a new job, but take Heath Ledger's iconic Joker performance — after that, who'd want him in their film or show, and how would they even face it? Bryan Cranston was an actor who'd been in a comedy series, and he fit Walter White in Breaking Bad perfectly.
sufferwithme / Founder / Editor
Sons of Anarchy (2008): Charlie Hunnam and the Sutter nameplateImage: Wikimedia Commons · Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Behind the Scenes (2)

#003
Nothing is improvised on set. The actors stick to the script word for word, and any change has to go through Kurt Sutter first.
Editor’s noteArka Evren
Actually, this is a two-part riddle. Improvised scenes slow down the main idea. But real directors, writers, producers don't allow improvisation. Everything's in the plan. From start to finish. A real director calculates everything and rarely allows improvisation. Apart from that, everything follows the plan. It has to. The best way to reflect what's in the writer's, director's or producer's head is to try to bring exactly what's in their head to life.
sufferwithme / Founder / Editor
Sons of Anarchy (2008): Ray McKinnon and Kurt Sutter on setImage: IMDb
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#004
Irish Freddy, the season two tattoo artist, is played by Freddy Corbin, a tattoo artist in real life who also helped Kurt Sutter design every tattoo on the show.
Editor’s noteArka Evren
Tattoos aren't a healthy thing. They don't look good to the eye either. A woman getting "dont stop" tattooed on her lower back is playing with absurdity. I don't know about Americans, but which Turkish mother has ever gotten that kind of tattoo on her lower back?
sufferwithme / Founder / Editor
Sons of Anarchy (2008): Kurt Sutter and Donal Logue in a sceneImage: IMDb
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Characters & Cast (4)

#005
Tig's (Kim Coates) fear of dolls has a name, Pediophobia, and it is one that creator Kurt Sutter shares in real life.
Editor’s noteArka Evren
It's interesting that they both carry the same fear. I don't know if there was a doll in the show, but if there wasn't, that's the reason.
sufferwithme / Founder / Editor
Sons of Anarchy (2008): Speakers at the Sons of Anarchy panelImage: Wikimedia Commons · Daniel Benavides from Austin, TX, CC BY 2.0
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#006
Four real Hells Angels have roles on the show. David Labrava plays “Happy,” Rusty Coones is “Quinn,” longtime Oakland President Sonny Barger plays “Lenny the Pimp,” and Chuck Zito plays “Frankie Diamonds.”
Editor’s noteArka Evren
This kind of fun fact adds to the interest of any phenomenon. Having something from real life in a show is one of the things that makes that show more solid. I've always said the best shows are usually the most realistic ones. Of course Sons of Anarchy isn't a great show and isn't very realistic either — this was just a nice thought that fit here. Still, SoA is a great show left over from the newest of the old.
sufferwithme / Founder / Editor
Sons of Anarchy (2008): David Labrava portraitImage: Wikimedia Commons · Mingle Media TV, CC BY-SA 2.0
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#007
Every tattoo on David Labrava (Happy) is his own, including the smiley face on his arm that gives the character his name.
Editor’s noteArka Evren
From where to where — as someone actually against tattoos, and something I'd never have thought of, a tattoo becoming a character's name is what happens when things like that happen to people on TV and in film. You look and suddenly something you never expected has become part of you. I'm not saying this about tattoos. For example, that kid everyone made fun of and gave a nickname to when he was little grows up and becomes an actor, the writers who hear that nickname give it to the character, and you look and the whole world has that nickname burned into their heads. The nickname becomes more his than his own name.
sufferwithme / Founder / Editor
Sons of Anarchy (2008): Sons of Anarchy cast meets soldiersImage: Wikimedia Commons · Spc. Michael Camacho, Public domain
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#008
Series creator Kurt Sutter plays Otto, the jailed Sons of Anarchy member.
Editor’s noteArka Evren
There were quite a few cast differences in Sons of Anarchy too. For example, this is a really fun fact. That's why fun facts are great. Things you don't notice, and feeling like you're rewatching the show or film.
sufferwithme / Founder / Editor
Sons of Anarchy (2008): Kurt Sutter in the prison sceneImage: IMDb
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Easter Eggs & References (7)

#009
Stephen King turns up in one episode as a character named Bachman, a wink at Richard Bachman, the pen name King used early in his career so he could put out a flood of books without watering down the Stephen King brand.
Editor’s noteArka Evren
Look, it's something between reality and fiction. By the way, Stephen King's favourite show is The Wire. So is Eminem's. And Breaking Bad is the best show ever made. Let's not get off track — this fun fact tells us something.
sufferwithme / Founder / Editor
Sons of Anarchy (2008): Sons of Anarchy cast at a signing dayImage: Wikimedia Commons · Spc. Michael Camacho, Public domain
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#010
In several episodes Walton Goggins plays Venus Van Dam, a name that nods openly to Cletus Van Dam, the alias his character on The Shield (2002) gleefully used more than once.
Editor’s noteArka Evren
With no real alternative, FX passed the ball among its own. The Shield ended in 2008, SoA started in 2008, there were nods to each other. From SoA to The Shield, because The Shield was a good show
sufferwithme / Founder / Editor
Sons of Anarchy (2008): Walton Goggins as Venus Van DamImage: IMDb
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#011
Later in the series, Filip 'Chibs' Telford (Tommy Flanagan) wears a silver ball peen hammer pin on his colors, a support emblem for the Hells Angels MC. Many members began carrying ball peen hammers on their colors because the tool could be explained away as mechanical gear, which meant even convicted felons could keep one handy as a weapon in a pinch. The hammer is a common sight on Hells Angels support merchandise, and one member in Connecticut displayed one in his tattoo shop with “People Skills” burned into the handle.
Editor’s noteArka Evren
In prison life people don't know what's going to happen to them, and since the most basic human instinct is survival, they've resorted to these kinds of things. Prison should have stopped being a place where people kill each other long ago. Even though today there are improved prisons under modern conditions, there are still undeveloped, backward prisons in most of the world. It might come across as a bit of a harsh comment, but for someone who goes to prison it's like "the pitcher goes so often to the well that it is broken at last." Apart from that, my comment on religious belief is this: in Christian countries, violence, rape, harassment and similar crimes are more widespread than in Muslim countries. You can see this when you do research.
sufferwithme / Founder / Editor
Sons of Anarchy (2008): Tommy Flanagan sitting on a panel with microphonesImage: Wikimedia Commons · Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0
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#012
NBA star Carmelo Anthony has a small part in season seven.
Editor’s noteArka Evren
Sons of Anarchy brought people from real life into its show. It's a nice move. I mean, sometimes nice, sometimes bad. The bad side is this: you're damaging that world. Sons of Anarchy is a world, and every real person who enters that world ruins it. In Breaking Bad, Samuel L. Jackson wanted to appear as a guest star in a Fury costume, and the producers refused. On the other hand, this feels more like real life. But the Breaking Bad world was turned into a brand by the names it didn't let in.
sufferwithme / Founder / Editor
Sons of Anarchy (2008): Sons of Anarchy cast meets soldiersImage: Wikimedia Commons · Spc. Michael Camacho, Public domain
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#013
The fictional gangs the “byz-lats” and the “one-niners” exist in both Sons and The Shield (2002).
Editor’s noteArka Evren
They're both FX shows. In American TV there's a lot of actor swapping between channels. I gave the HBO example above. The Shield is a good show but it's not as popular as Sons of Anarchy. Maybe because it doesn't do what popular culture wants. Watch a few episodes of The Shield. Watch Seinfeld too. Anyway, that was off-topic. Sons of Anarchy is one of the good shows too, and actor swapping happens. It happens a lot in the US because most shows are shot there. Maybe I'd say actors aren't being trained, but here's the thing: worldwide, people trying to break into the profession hit a wall. That's why it's mostly familiar faces. Breaking Bad, for example, did the hard thing and went with unknown faces. There are thousands of people studying film and television. Really, they should throw themselves into this world before an opportunity even comes to them.
sufferwithme / Founder / Editor
Sons of Anarchy (2008): Charlie Hunnam and Emilio Rivera shaking handsImage: IMDb
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#014
Opie and Floyd the barber are named as a tribute to The Andy Griffith Show, where Opie was Sheriff Andy Taylor's son and Floyd ran the barbershop in Mayberry.
Editor’s noteArka Evren
Opie, oh Opie. "I got this." These guys were tough — they gave these characters the maximum confidence a motorcycle can give a person. Don't say that; I think a well-fitting shoe gives a person confidence too, for instance. Opie was a great character as well.
sufferwithme / Founder / Editor
Sons of Anarchy (2008): Andy Griffith Show 1961 trio sceneImage: Wikimedia Commons · CBS Television, Public domain
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#015
Sons borrowed plenty of actors from FX's own The Shield, and it also pulled a sizable group from HBO's Deadwood: Titus Welliver (Jimmy O on Sons, Silas Adams on Deadwood), Paula Malcomson (Maureen Ashby / Trixie), Kim Dickens (Colette Jane / Joanie Stubbs), Robin Weigert (Ally Lowen / Calamity Jane), Ray McKinnon (Lincoln Potter / Reverend Smith), Keone Young (Bohai Lin / Mr. Wu), Jamie McShane (Cameron Hayes / Ned Mason), Dayton Callie (Wayne Unser / Charlie Utter), Cleo King (Neeta / Aunt Lou), Tim DeZarn (Nate Meineke / Town Cryer), Dan Hildebrand (Sean Casey / Tim Driscoll and Shaughnessy), Jim Cody Williams (Uncle Vinky / Terrence) and Julie Ariola (Mary Winston / the Countess).
Editor’s noteArka Evren
Did you say The Shield? Wait, wait, wait. The Shield. This show still doesn't get the recognition it deserves — a great series about the adventures of a cop named Vic. As for Deadwood, actors in HBO shows usually turn up in other HBO shows too, but one coming over from FX is something we're not used to. Channels don't like sharing their actors. Not until the contract's up. But The Shield. Look, there's something different here. The Shield is the show that isn't popular, doesn't get what it deserves, gets left on its own.
sufferwithme / Founder / Editor
Sons of Anarchy (2008): Dayton Callie - Wayne UnserImage: IMDb
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Deeper Meaning (1)

#016
The club's key members all have names or nicknames that rhyme: Jackie, Chibby, Tiggy, Juicy, Bobby, Happy, Piney and Opie. Clay is the lone exception, perhaps as a hint that he is not like the rest.
Editor’s noteArka Evren
Opie, Opie, Opie.
He,
"I got this"
Oh, what an Opie.
I don't know if Clay was any different, but Opie was a great character.
sufferwithme / Founder / Editor
Sons of Anarchy (2008): Sons of Anarchy cast at a signing dayImage: Wikimedia Commons · Master Sgt. Linda Miller, Public domain
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Life & Family (2)

#017
Long before he played SoA First 9 member John Teller and posed for the prop photos of him seen throughout the series, Victor Newmark had made his name in a very different bike world: he was the 1995 BMX World Champion.
Editor’s noteArka Evren
There are all kinds of different people in the crew. Having a motorcycle champion in this show earns it extra points.
sufferwithme / Founder / Editor
Sons of Anarchy (2008): Motorcycle displayed in the fair areaImage: Wikimedia Commons · jareed from London, UK, CC BY 2.0
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#018
Off screen, Kurt Sutter (creator / Otto) and Katey Sagal (Gemma) are husband and wife.
Editor’s noteArka Evren
I'm looking at this show's fun facts for the first time along with you, and it's surprising.
sufferwithme / Founder / Editor
Sons of Anarchy (2008): Charlie Hunnam and Katey Sagal on a panelImage: Wikimedia Commons · Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Sources & editorial notes

Reference databases

Wikipedia English Wikipedia article
IMDb IMDb title page (trivia)

Information from external sources is independently selected, consolidated and edited by Arka Evren. Sources are listed for verification and further reading. Encyclopedia text is used under its licence (CC BY-SA). How we work