Alan Autry

Carlos Alan Autry Jr. (also known for a time as Carlos Brown; born July 31, 1952) is an American actor, politician, and former football player. During his brief career in the National Football League, he played as a quarterback and was known as Carlos Brown.

Autry played the role of Captain Bubba Skinner on the NBC, and later CBS, television drama series '' In the Heat of the Night'', starring Carroll O'Connor. He has also appeared in films and other television shows. In November 2000, he was elected mayor of Fresno, California, and served for two four-year terms through January 2009. From 2008 to 2011, Autry hosted a talk-radio show on KYNO AM 940 in Fresno. He now hosts a midday show on KXEX 1550 AM in Fresno.

Early life

Autry was born in Shreveport, Louisiana, the son of Carl and Verna (née Brown) Autry. His name was changed to Carlos Brown when he was a year old, after his parents divorced. He worked alongside his mother and stepfather, Joe Duty, in California's San Joaquin Valley, where they planted and harvested cotton, grapes, and other crops, traveling around the valley living in migrant-worker camps. When he was 12, they settled in Riverdale, California.

Football career

In high school, Autry was a star quarterback for the Riverdale Cowboys. He received an athletic scholarship to the University of the Pacific in Stockton, California, where he was a second-string tight end in his senior year for the Tigers. In 1975, he was selected by the Green Bay Packers, where he ended up in 1976, as the starting quarterback for three games.

His football career ended quickly when he was cut from the team by then-coach Bart Starr. Autry then went to Hollywood to become an actor. He made a football comeback attempt, playing for the B.C. Lions of the CFL in 1979 (as Carlos Brown). He was the third-string quarterback behind Joe Paopao and another ex-Green Bay Packer, Jerry Tagge.

Acting career

Autry made his film debut in the 1978 motion picture '' Remember My Name''. He met his father, Carl Autry Sr., for the first time in 1981, while on location in Shreveport for the motion picture '' Southern Comfort'', after he found Carl's name in the telephone book. Afterwards, he made the decision to return to his birth surname of Autry. During his acting years, he struggled with drug and alcohol use, according to an interview with Pat Robertson's '' The 700 Club'' in 2007.

Other

After nine years in Hollywood, Autry returned home and left his career. "I realized that God had moved in my life like never before. I really realized what God and the power of Jesus Christ was," he said on ''The 700 Club.''
By 1986, he was divorced and became a born-again Christian and began to devote much of his time to working with charitable causes. He is married to his second wife, Kimberlee Autry; the couple has three children.

Filmography

Television

Starring roles

*'' In the Heat of the Night'' (1988–95) as Officer/Sergeant/Lieutenant/Captain Bubba Skinner
*'' Grace Under Fire'' (1995–96) as Rick Bradshaw
*'' Style & Substance'' (1998) as Earl
*'' Sons of Thunder'' (1999) as Butch McMann

Guest-starring roles

*''Hello, Larry'' – "The Final Papers" (1979) as Max redited as Carlos Brown*'' Seven Brides for Seven Brothers'' – "Gold Fever" (1982) as J.T. redited as Carlos Brown*'' Best of the West'' – "The Funeral" (1982) redited as Carlos Brown*''Cheers'' – " The Boys in the Bar" (1983) as Tom Kenderson
*''The Mississippi'' – "Murder at Mt. Parnassus" (1983)
*''The A-Team''
** "Labor Pains" (1983) as Gary Crenshaw
** "Quarterback Sneak" (1986) as Mike "The Hammer" Horn
*'' The Dukes of Hazzard''
** "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Duke" (1984) as Hurley
** "10 Million Dollar Sheriff" (Parts 1&2) (1981) as Dawson redited as Carlos Brown*'' Hunter'' – "High Bleacher Man" (1984) as Whitey McVee
*'' Newhart'' – "Will the Real Dick Loudon Please Shut Up?" (1986) as Ed McKendrick
*'' St. Elsewhere'' – "Out on a Limb" (1986) as John Corzinsky
*'' The Facts of Life'' – "Peekskill Law" (1988) as Clark Darrin
*'' Hart of Dixie'' (2015) – as Mayor Todd Gainey Sr. of rival town Fillmore, AL
*'' Tulsa King'' (2022) - as Brian Gillen
*'' 9-1-1: Lone Star'' (2023–24) - as Ranger Chief Bridges

Films

Credited as Alan Autry
*'' Roadhouse 66'' (1984) as Hoot
*'' O.C. and Stiggs'' (1985)
*''The Eagle and the Bear'' (1985)
*''Brewster's Millions'' (1985) as Biff Brown
*''House'' (1985) as Cop #3
*''Nomads'' (1986) as Olds
*''Blue de Ville'' (1986) as Sgt. Auggie Johnson
*'' At Close Range'' (1986) as Ernie
*''Proud Men'' (1987) as Brian Winoon
*''Destination America'' (1987) as Larry Leathergood
*'' Amazing Grace and Chuck'' (1987) as George
*''World Gone Wild'' (1987) as Hank
*'' Street of Dreams'' (1988) as Maury Fields
*'' The Big One: The Great Los Angeles Earthquake'' (1990) as Matt
*''Intruders'' (1992) as Joe Wilkes
*'' The Legend of Jake Kincaid'' (2002) as Jake Kincaid
*''Forgiven'' (2011) as Jake Kincaid
*''Victory by Submission'' (2016) as Hank Hendricks

Credited as Carlos Brown
*'' Remember My Name'' (1978) as Rusty
*'' North Dallas Forty'' (1979) as Balford
*''Rage!'' (1980) as Man #B
*''Popeye

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