Ron Perlman is back to work on the set of "Sons of Anarchy" this week — and admits he's surprised to be there. As followers of FX's acclaimed series about an outlaw motorcycle club are aware, his character, the group's ex-president Clay Morrow, went on a violent spree last season — violent even for Clay. He killed an old friend, brutally beat his wife's (Katey Sagal) face, and ordered the death of the mother of his baby step-grandson. And those are just the highlights.

"Clay got a little expansive in his house-cleaning agenda," is how the well-spoken Perlman puts it. "He actually started doing things that, as I was reading them for the first time, even I was shocked. There was a survey done toward the end of the season, before the last shows aired, and only 19 percent of the country figured he could make it through the year alive. I would have been in the 81 percent that said, 'He's got to go.' So the fact that I'm around to do Season 5 I'm taking as borrowed time, and I'm really going to enjoy myself, whatever comes my way. It's a blessing for me to be back in Season 5 of a show I love to do." Perlman has made a tour de force of the role.

"Sons of Anarchy" — which adds Jimmy Smits to its cast in Season 5, debuting in September — has actually already been renewed for Season 6. Perlman, who, incidentally, has several films in the pipeline, smiles at the mention. "If you asked me two or three years ago, I'd have figured I'd be around for that, but I'm not taking any bets on Clay Morrow these days." He says he doesn't know how the season will go. "We get the scripts a few days before we shoot them, and that's fine with me. You don't get ahead of yourself."

Right now, Perlman says he isn't even 100 percent certain that he'll get June 11 off. But he's pretty sure he will. That's the date he will be hosting The Screen Actors Guild Foundation's 3rd Annual Los Angeles Golf Classic, benefiting SAG's Catastrophic Health Fund and Assistance Programs. "I don't ask for that many accommodations. I've asked them to do the very best they can to make sure I can attend my own tournament that day, and they've never let me down before," he says. Supporters of this year's "Actors Fore Actors" tourney include George Clooney, Tim Allen, Kevin Nealon, Greg Itzin, Dennis Haysbert, Ray Romano and Dave Annable. The event, sponsored by Integrated Wealth Management, takes place at Burbank's Lakeside Golf Club.

"It's grown each year. The first one was great and the second one even better, so I'm looking forward to this being the best one yet. It's a true labor of love," he says of the star-studded competition. As for his own golfing prowess, Perlman says, "I have to admit, I have much more love for the game than talent."

MEANWHILE: We couldn't help wondering — what's Perlman's response to the CW's plans for a new version of his hit series of the 1980s — "Beauty and the Beast" — as part of its fall lineup? "I saw Jay Acovone the other night and he was one of the regulars on 'Beauty and the Beast,' and he asked the same thing," Perlman tells us. "I said, 'We're so out, we're in.' If you stay out long enough, it all comes back around. That's why I never threw out my bellbottoms."

FROM THE INSIDE LOOKING OUT: "Falling Skies" actor Drew Roy — Hal, the elder son of Noah Wyle's character — is just fine with the grueling physical activity required of him on the TNT series, returning June 17. "I'm used to taking a shower after a day shooting and going 'Oh, look at that bruise,'" says the Alabama native. "I have so many friends back home who play football in the yard, paintball... This is basically the same thing, but with the camera going,'" he says with a laugh. In fact, he now finds himself watching action scenes from movies and other series and critiquing his fellow actors. "Like, 'I don't feel like he gave it everything he had. He wasn't really running for his life.'"

Drew also pushes to do his own stunt work on the drama about humans struggling to survive and fight back after an alien invasion. "I did a really awesome motorcycle sequence where I have to go back and rescue someone. I didn't want the stunt guy to do it. I went out there with our motorcycle guys. They gave me pointers that were tremendously helpful. Then I just practiced and practiced, ripping the throttle, backing up, rolling out of there. I didn't look at it as being hard, but a fun challenge."

The actor, remembered as Miley Cyrus' love interest, Jesse, in "Hannah Montana," among other roles, says he's bonded with his on-camera family members — Wyle and "brothers" Connor Jessup and Maxim Knight — as well as other members of the cast and crew. "You really get to know somebody when it's five in the morning and snowing. You see the true side of people. Everyone says we have a great cast, and we do."

HERE COMES THE JUDGE: Although he has several other irons in the fire, it's a safe bet that Gerald McRaney will continue his recurring appearances as Judge David Nicastro in the USA Network's "Fairly Legal" as long as he can. "That show is such a treat for me to work on because of Sarah," he tells us, referring to star Sarah Shahi. "She is just the sweetest thing — so easy to work with and such a great sense of humor and always a high standard of professionalism." The series has three more episodes airing this season, June 1 and 8, and the June 15 season finale.

To find out more about Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith and read their past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.