Veteran television actor Ron Glass has said that until `` Firefly '' , he had not experienced or sought a science-fiction or western role , but he fell in love with the pilot script and the character of Shepherd Book .
The veteran television actor Ron Glass ( `` Barney Miller '' , `` All in the Family '' ) , has said that until `` Firefly '' , he had not thought about a science-fiction western role but he fell in love with the pilot script and the character of Shepherd Book .