Jerry Hardin

In the 1970s and '80s, character actor Jerry Hardin established a niche in television and films as one of those faces often seen but rarely recognized - that is until 1993 he donned the nickname of the one of the most famous whistleblowers in history on a pop culture phenomenon. The Texas-born Hardin found his groove as denizen of regional theater in the 1950s and '60s. Entering the next decade, he became a go-to guest-star on episodic television, carving a niche as officious types and "good ole boys," as per his brief entrée into situation comedy with the short-lived show "Filthy Rich" (CBS, 1982-83). He typically won roles as authority figures, cops, politicos and bureaucrats, conspicuously for some of Hollywood's biggest directors, and periodically popped up in recurring TV roles, as with his multi-year stint as the Los Angeles DA in "L.A. Law" (NBC, 1986-94). A recurring part on "The X-Files" (Fox, 1993-2002) would make his most lasting impression, as Hardin took on the role of Agent Mulder's cryptic deep-cover source, known only as "Deep Throat." Though never a household name, Jerry Hardin would remain a familiar, amiable countenance through myriad-if-brief media appearances, yet his turn as Deep Throat would imprint him as a lynchpin on one of TV's biggest series, his famous last words becoming the show's penultimate catchphrase: "Trust no one."