Walton Goggins in Sons of Anarchy: Most Admired Character

If you have ever joined a conversation about the greatest roles in Sons of Anarchy, you must have heard a common name that is mentioned: Walton Goggins. The role played by Venus Van Dam turned out to be one of the most popular and discussed parts of the whole show.

According to many SOA fans, Venus is the soul of the series. His passion for this complicated role shifted the way people took the entire show’s story.

Walton Goggins in Sons of Anarchy gave a new twist to the SOA season. Goggins did not simply get involved. He took his role as Venus Van Dam very seriously and lived the character. His contributions on the show earned him genuine applause from fans and critics. We know the reasons today, why Walton Goggins in Sons of Anarchy is the most popular character.

Let’s get to know more about Walton Goggins and his phenomenal acting performance as Venus Van Dam, a transgender, in one of the best motorcycle TV shows in the history of Television.

Before discussing Walton Goggins’ Sons of Anarchy character, first, we must have a peek at his career. Goggins was born on November 10, 1971. He has been part of many of the best TV series and movies.

Goggins had initially achieved a big name with “The Shield”. This show ran from 2002 to 2008. He played a policeman, called “Shane Vendrell”. Fans loved his work.

Goggins later appeared in another American crime drama TV series, “Justified”, and played the role of ‘Boyd Crowder’. This show was also one of the best, unique, and phenomenal for its storytelling and dialogue. This role was even bigger. Boyd was initially meant to die in the first show.

On the other hand, Goggins was so good that the creators of the Sons of Anarchy show decided to keep him. He stayed on for years. Walton Goggins’ role as Venus Van Dam made him get Emmy nominations for his brilliant acting.

Goggins’ work in the movies is equally powerful. He appeared in “Django Unchained” by Quentin Tarantino. He starred in ‘The Hateful Eight’, ‘Predators’, and many other top movies. Goggins has received 9 awards and been nominated 38 times throughout his career. It is difficult to match his depth and range as an actor.

The story of how Goggins got the role of Venus Van Dam in Sons of Anarchy is quite amusing. It shows his ambition and enthusiasm to work well.

The mastermind and co-producer of Sons of Anarchy, Kurt Sutter, got acquainted with Walton Goggins during ‘The Shield’. There was a time when Kurt Sutter gave an interview. He mentioned that he could never cast two men in the Sons of Anarchy TV series.

According to Sutter, fans cannot forget the two iconic characters in “The Shield”. They may not want to see these two men in SOA, playing a different character. One of these two men was Walton Goggins.

Rather than ignoring Sutter’s opinion, Goggins decided to take action. He wrote a note to Kurt Sutter and made a bold statement in it. He informed Kurt that he would be a part of the show on the condition of playing a trans woman. Goggins did not play around with this. He wanted a real, deep role in the series.

Two years went by. Then Kurt Sutter returned to Goggins and told him, ‘Did you mean that?’ Walton said yes to the role of a transgender woman in SOA. After this, Sutter informed about the role of Venus in SOA.

Goggins read the script and was fond of it. He declared it to be among the best things he had ever read. It was funny, deep, and could touch hearts. He was aware that this was his role.

One of the richest and most complete characters on Sons of Anarchy is Venus Van Dam. Her real name is Vincent Noone. She was born as a man and turned out to be a woman. She played the role of an escort in the Sons of Anarchy TV show.

Venus in Sons of Anarchy first appeared in Season 5, Episode 5. This is the episode titled “Orca Shrugged”. Initially, the gang introduced Venus on board to assist in a plan.

They desire to blackmail one of the men in the city. Venus even takes pictures of him dressed in S&M outfits as evidence. The entire thing is supposed to be humorous initially.

However, the role became much more profound. Venus Van Dam became much more than just a joke as the show progressed. She became real. She showed all the emotions in SOA, including pain, trauma, love, and care. She needed to be perceived and appreciated for what she was.

Venus Van Dam, played by Walton Goggins in Sons of Anarchy, was featured in six episodes. She first appeared in Season 5 and continued to appear until the final season, which was Season 7. The number of times Goggins appeared in the Sons of Anarchy episodes shows his entire influence on the series. Although Venus failed to appear in all episodes, she made a clear impression on the hearts of many fans.

Venus Van Dam's depth makes her such a great role. This is not a flat role. Venus is full of life. Also, she has real pain.

Later in the episode, we get to know about the past of Venus. It is dark and hard to hear. Her family was not kind to her. As a boy, they did not accept her when she told them she was actually a girl from inside. They did very wrong things. As a child, they made her participate in unlawful activities.

This is the best that Walton Goggins in Sons of Anarchy can be. He is careful and truthful to the pain of Venus. He does not make it appear artificial or exaggerated. He let us experience what it was like to be her.

As a transgender sex worker in the Sons of Anarchy TV series, Goggins has completely justified the role. To be told that you are wrong for what you are, to face violence and shame, and still emerge victoriously. This is what Goggins has done with his brilliant acting skills in SOA.

Venus Van Dam eventually falls in love as the show progresses. She falls in love with a man known as ‘Tig Trager’, played by Kim Coates. At first, Tig is drawn to Venus. He admires her power and her soul. But their bond grows deeper. Soon, they are in real love.

The scene between Walton Goggins and Kim Coates in Sons of Anarchy is one of the most affectionate scenes on the show. The two actors were very compatible. They were actually concerned about one another. The fans could not imagine Tig and Venus without each other.

Venus Van Dam and Tig Trager's bond gives both Walton Goggins’ role and the Sons of Anarchy show its heart. This is not just a side story. This is the love that is essential to them both.

Tig is a hard man. He does tough things on behalf of the club. However, when he encounters Venus, it changes. Here, he shows the softer side of himself. He wants to care for someone; he wants to be cared for. Venus gives him that. She does not condemn him for his action. She sees the man he can be.

In the case of Venus, Tog provides security and genuine love. At the start, she fears that he is merely with her to explore new things. She is scared that he considers her a thrill or a means to feel special. But Tig proves to her that this is not the case. He loves her for who she is, not because of the way she looks or what she can do. He is in love with the person Venus is.

One scene stands out to fans. The fans of both Walton Goggins and Sons of Anarchy refer to it as the best moment in the show. Venus informed Tig that she loved him. She looked quite brave and raw. She opened up about her feelings. Tig heard her pain and doubts.

In the Sixth Season, Final Episode, Sons of Anarchy, the biker gang is required to decide to kill Jax. It is a hard vote. Tig has to vote ‘yes’, too. While voting, Tig is wrought up from inside. But Venus is there. She does not judge. She just holds him, lets him feel his pain, and stays by his side. This is Walton Goggins in Sons of Anarchy, expressing genuine affection and care.

The role Walton Goggins performed as Venus Van Dam is so fine that it won him industry praise. The Critics' Choice Television Awards nominated him twice for his work in Sons of Anarchy. These were for ‘Best Guest Performer’ in a Drama Series in 2014 and 2015.

These nods are huge. They show that the industry's leading individuals recognized his work and believed it was good. They witnessed his adding depth to Venus’ role. They saw the manner in which he made fans of more than just noticing him in the Venus character. They observed him transform the show's entire mood.

The Emmy nomination for Walton Goggins for his role in FX’s Sons of Anarchy TV series was a big thing. Although he was not the main character, he did not appear in every episode. Goggins ensured that each scene was not wasted. He was introducing a specific skill and heart to Venus.

Walton Goggins appeared in about six main episodes of Sons of Anarchy. Each one of them was worth watching. Let’s have a look at Goggins’ character in the show:

Venus Van Dam first appeared in Season 5, Episode 5, named “Orca Shrugged”. This is the first major scene of Walton Goggins on Sons of Anarchy.

The gang takes her in to help with their plan. Goggins made the scene entertaining. He also added depth to the story by developing his character further.

The series has showcased Walton Goggins' versatility on Sons of Anarchy. As the show progressed, he showed the depth and each layer of Venus’ character. Every new scene showed more agony and more power.

The last season provided Goggins the chance to show the best of Venus’ role. These were episodes of Goggins on SOA that allowed him to showcase the full potential of the role. The lovemaking with Kim Coates was genuine and sweet. The sequences in which Venus was discussing her background were raw and sincere.

Venus Van Dam is an actor who is much loved by Sons of Anarchy fans. People claim she is their favorite role in the show. Here are the reasons why Venus earned much love:

• First, Venus is real and honest. She is not a stereotype. She is a whole, three-dimensional woman with a history, a present, and a future. Goggins would not turn her into a joke or a sideshow. He demanded that she be handled with respect.

• Second, the love story of Venus and Tig in the SOA show is quite purely depicted. Their bond is quite natural. However, it is full of love and violence. Fans wanted to see them happy. They rooted for them in the show.

• Third, Venus shows strength. She has been hurt in different ways that no one can imagine. However, she does not give up. She learns to love herself. She helps others. She defends what she believes in.

• Fourth, Walton Goggins' performance in Sons of Anarchy was stunning and left everyone stunned. Goggins did not appear on the show every minute. However, when he appeared, he made sure he owned it. His acting skills were quite obvious, and so was his passion.

Venus Van Dam’s character on SOA transformed perceptions of trans roles on television. It wasn’t something small or a trick to capture the audience. Venus was a woman who had a life and a heart. The creator of the show, Kurt Sutter, has explained that if he had made the show today, he would have cast a real trans actor in the role. However, he admired Goggins, who took care of Venus and brought her to life.

The character Goggins played made trans women look different to the fans. People observed the pain and strength in trans people's lives. They saw the love and the hope. They came to know that trans women are like other people. They want to be seen and loved. They desire to live with pride.

The role of Venus also showed what Goggins would do as an actor. Walton Goggins's role in SOA was a guest role. Nevertheless, it was a master course in acting. He took a role that could have been flat and a joke, but he made it all about himself by portraying a transgender woman on the show.

What is unique about Goggins is his hard work ethic and his admiration for the art. He did not simply turn up and recite lines as Venus. He prepared for the role deeply.

Goggins began training to play Venus when he was preparing for the movie ‘Django Unchained’. He would put on heels and walk the streets of New Orleans at night. He desired to experience what it was like to be a woman. He went too deep into the character of Venus to justify the role. He wanted to be in her shoes for real.

This level of attention to detail is evident in all scenes. Walton Goggins' Sons of Anarchy role is a masterpiece of how to approach a role seriously. He was aware that this was a significant position. He was aware that it would be crucial to trans fans and to the show as well. He wanted to get it right.

At the set, Goggins asked his other cast members to treat him like Venus at all times, even when the cameras were off. This helped him in remaining in character. It reflected his respect for the role and for the trans people he was representing as well.

Several years have passed since Sons of Anarchy was cancelled in 2014. Still, Venus Van Dam is a part of the hearts of fans. Whenever people discuss the best moments of the show, they tend to mention Venus. 

The reason is apparent. Venus was not just a role. She was a turning point. She showed that the television could portray trans stories with sincerity and authenticity. She showed that love can nurture and grow even amid a violent, crime-filled show.

Cameos in TV series or movies could have a massive effect, as demonstrated by Walton Goggins in Sons of Anarchy. Goggins did not have to appear on screen every episode to be relevant. His work was so good that each time he was on the screen, it was lit.