# Eric Pierpoint

Eric Pierpoint (born November 18, 1950) is an American actor and author. He is perhaps best known for his role as George Francisco on Fox Network's Alien Nation. He has also notably appeared on each of the first four Star Trek television spin-offs.

## Early life

Pierpoint is the son of Patricia Adams Pierpoint and stepson of former CBS news White House correspondent Robert Pierpoint. He was born in Redlands, California, the middle of three children and lived there until age 9. His mother relocated to Washington, DC in 1959 upon marrying the elder Pierpoint, who legally adopted all three children. He graduated from Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland and was on the wrestling, soccer, and tennis teams. He spent time accompanying his stepfather on news assignments during his teen years, often meeting high ranking US Government officials. He then attended the University of Redlands in Redlands, California, majoring in philosophy and receiving his Bachelor's Degree. He was captain of the soccer team, and took his first drama course as a senior and began his pursuit of acting after graduation. He then attended The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he received his Master's Degree in Fine Arts.

## Career
### Acting

Pierpoint's onscreen career began in 1984, landing his first role in the film Windy City. Later that same year, he was cast in his first lead role in the short-lived television series Hot Pursuit, which was produced by Kenneth Johnson. He continued to appear in guest roles on TV series during the 1980s, including winning a recurring role on the sixth season of the popular show Fame. In 1989, he was again cast by Kenneth Johnson in another TV series, the television adaption of the 1988 film Alien Nation. Pierpoint would take over the role of Detective Samuel "George" Francisco, originated by Mandy Patinkin in the film, starring opposite Gary Graham as Detective Matthew Sikes. The series, though very popular among fans, was canceled after one season. Pierpoint went on to play the character in five subsequent Alien Nation TV movies from 1993 to 1997. Between 1993 and 2005, he starred in five separate guest roles on all four Star Trek series spin offs. He also continues to work regularly outside of science fiction, garnering many roles in popular films and TV shows during his career, including the 1997 film Liar, Liar and the more recent TV series Hart of Dixie and Parks and Recreation.
In addition to numerous roles on television and film, Pierpoint has been active in theater, starring in many plays throughout his career. His most recent role was in The Lion In Winter for the Ensemble Theater Company.

### Writing

In 2013, he completed his first book, a Young Adult Historical Fiction novel titled The Last Ride of Caleb O'Toole, which was published on September 3, 2013. His second novel, also historical fiction, is currently being written.
In addition to reading his work to middle school children in an educational book tour, he also teaches guest master classes in acting at various universities.

## Personal life

Pierpoint has been active in the Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles for a number of years. He currently resides in Topanga, California.

## Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1984 | Windy City | Pete | |
| 1986 | Invaders from Mars | Rinaldi | |
| 1992 | Forever Young | Fred | |
| 1995 | The Stranger | Sheriff Gordon Cole | (Video) |
| 1995 | Midnight Man | Patrick 'Paddy' White | |
| 1996 | Where Truth Lies | Joe McNamara | |
| 1996 | Driven | Hal | |
| 1996 | Little Witches | Sheriff Gordon | |
| 1997 | Liar Liar | Richard Cole | |
| 1997 | Steel | Major | |
| 2003 | The Movie Hero | Blake's Dad | |
| 2003 | Holes | Sheriff | |
| 2004 | Eulogy | Mr. Carmichael | |
| 2004 | Messiah | Abbot | |
| 2005 | The World's Fastest Indian | Earl | |
| 2006 | Four Weeks Four Hours | Larry | |
| 2007 | TV Virus | Rett | |
| 2008 | Solar Flare | Senator Melchard | |
| 2009 | Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen | NSA Officer | |
| 2010 | The Palace of Light | Frank Druffel | (Short) |
| 2010 | Sex Tax: Based on a True Story | Congressman Hayden | |
| 2010 | Nothing Special | Alan | |
| 2011 | Donner Pass | George Donner | |
| 2011 | Phil Cobb's Dinner for Four | Phil Cobb | |
| 2018 | What We Keep | Louis Hughes | (Short) |

## Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1984 | Hot Pursuit | Jim Wyler | 12 episodes |
| 1985-1986 | Hill Street Blues | Tom Hopper | 3 episodes |
| 1985-1986 | Fame | Paul Seeger | 24 episodes |
| 1987 | Beauty and the Beast | Donald | Episode: "Masques" |
| 1989 | In the Heat of the Night | Clay Caulder | Episode: "Stranger in Town" |
| 1989 | Heartland | Jack Kemper | Episode: "The Tornado" |
| 1989-1990 | Alien Nation | Detective George Francisco | 21 episodes |
| 1991 | WIOU | Marc Adamson | 4 episodes |
| 1991 | Nurses | Dr. Monford | Episode: "Coming to America" |
| 1991 | Matlock | David Houk | Episode: "The Suspect" |
| 1993 | Time Trax | Jason Peterman | Episode: "The Prodigy" |
| 1993 | Sex, Love and Cold Hard Cash | Andy (uncredited) | TV movie |
| 1993 | Star Trek: The Next Generation | Ambassador Voval | Episode: "Liaisons" |
| 1994 | Children of the Dark | Dr. David Tanner | TV movie |
| 1994 | Alien Nation: Dark Horizon | Detective George Francisco | TV movie |
| 1994 | Party of Five | Bruce Curran | Episode: "Kiss Me Kate" |
| 1995 | Murder, She Wrote | Bradford Thorpe | Episode: "Death 'N Denial" |
| 1995 | Alien Nation: Body and Soul | Detective George Francisco | TV movie |
| 1996 | Alien Nation: Millennium | Detective George Francisco | TV movie |
| 1996 | Alien Nation: The Enemy Within | Detective George Francisco | TV movie |
| 1997 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Captain Sanders | Episode: "For the Uniform" |
| 1997 | Alien Nation: The Udara Legacy | Detective George Francisco | TV movie |
| 1997 | Babylon 5 | Daniel | Episode: "The Deconstruction of Falling Stars" |
| 1997 | Ally McBeal | James Horton | Episode: "Silver Bells" |
| 1994-1998 | Silk Stalkings | Eric Russell / Dr. Finch | 8 episodes |
| 1998 | The Pretender | Sheriff Randall Carver | Episode: "Someone to Trust" |
| 1999 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Adam | Episode: "Dog's Best Friend" |
| 1999 | Sliders | President Jefferson Williams | Episode: "A Current Affair" |
| 1999 | Star Trek: Voyager | Kortar | Episode: "Barge of the Dead" |
| 2000 | Seven Days | 'Koop' | Episode: "The Dunwych Madness" |
| 2001 | Touched by an Angel | Jack McHenry | Episode: "The Penalty Box" |
| 1994-2001 | Diagnosis: Murder | Dr. Don Matthews / George Ridgeway | 2 episodes |
| 2001-2002 | JAG | Dr. Kubota / Lieutenant Colonel Maples | 2 episodes |
| 2003 | Mister Sterling | Chuck Stanley | 3 episodes |
| 2003 | Strong Medicine | Dr. Sullivan | Episode: "Vaccinations" |
| 2004 | Crossing Jordan | Fireman | Episode: "Fire in the Sky" |
| 2005 | CSI: Miami | Fire Chief Kyle Donaldson | Episode: "Nothing to Lose" |
| 2005 | Surface | Admiral Philip Geary | Episode #1.1 |
| 2005 | Medium | Chief Parker | Episode: "Dead Aim" |
| 2002-2005 | Star Trek: Enterprise | Harris / Shiraht | 5 episodes |
| 2006 | McBride: Requiem | Senator David Fletcher | TV movie |
| 2007 | Brothers & Sisters | Stanley Hancock | Episode: "Grapes of Wrath" |
| 2007 | Murder 101: If Wishes Were Horses | Captain Raymond Cain | TV movie |
| 2007 | Big Love | Larry Schoenfeld | 2 episodes |
| 2008 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | 'Cash' Dooley | Episode: "Bull" |
| 2009 | Eleventh Hour | Joseph Breen | Episode: "Minamata" |
| 2010 | A Soldier's Love Story | Terry | TV movie |
| 2010 | The Mentalist | Vint Molinari | Episode: "The Blood on His Hands" |
| 2011 | The Cape | Chief Tom Ross | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2011 | Chemistry | Arthur 'Artie' Delacorte | 10 episodes |
| 2011-2012 | Parks and Recreation | Chief Trumple | 3 episodes |
| 2012 | Workaholics | Don Walters | Episode: "The Business Trip" |
| 2014 | Farmed and Dangerous | Mick Mitcherson | 4 episodes |
| 2011-2015 | Hart of Dixie | Harold Tucker | 7 episodes |
| 2015 | Wicked City | Bruce Forrester | Episode: "The Very Thought of You" |
| 2016 | Four Stars | Admiral Hank Crawford | TV movie |
| 2017 | Six | Don Buckley | Episode: "Collateral" |