# Troy Evans (actor)
**Troy Evans** (born 1948) is an American character actor whose four-decade career spans more than 160 screen credits, best known for the recurring roles of desk clerk [Frank Martin](https://www.edgepedia.org/frank-martin) on the medical drama *ER*, Sergeant Bob Pepper on *China Beach*, and [Detective](https://www.edgepedia.org/detective) "Barrel" Johnson on the Amazon crime series *[Bosch](https://www.edgepedia.org/bosch-tv-series)* and its spin-offs.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/troy-evans/) • [2](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/29177/troy-evans)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1948, Missoula, Montana[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0263283/bio/) |
| Military service | U.S. Army, 25th Infantry Division, served in Vietnam, 1968–69[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/evans-troy-1948) |
| Signature TV roles | Sergeant Bob Pepper, *China Beach* (1989–91); Frank Martin, *ER* (1994–2009); Detective "Barrel" Johnson, *Bosch* (2015–21)[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/evans-troy-1948) • [1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/troy-evans/) • [2](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/29177/troy-evans) |
| *ER* episode count | 129 episodes as desk clerk Frank Martin[5](https://www.storybeat.net/troy-evans-actor-episode-150/) |
| *Bosch* episode count | 59 episodes as Detective "Barrel" Johnson, plus *Bosch: Legacy* and *Ballard*[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/29177/troy-evans) |
| Notable films | *Ace Ventura: Pet Detective* (1994), *Under Siege* (1992), *The Frighteners* (1996), *Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas* (1998)[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0263283/bio/) |
| Typecasting | Often plays police officers, particularly detectives[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0263283/bio/) |
## Early life and military service
Evans was born in [Missoula, Montana](https://www.edgepedia.org/missoula-montana), and graduated from Flathead High School in Kalispell in 1966.[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/evans-troy-1948) He enrolled at the [University of Montana](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-montana) in the fall of 1966 intending to become an attorney and, by his own account, eventually the first president from a Western state; he was drafted the following spring.[6](https://www.storybeat.net/troy-evans-actor-episode-150/) He served with the 25th Infantry Division (2/22 mechanized) in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0263283/bio/)
After returning to the United States he worked numerous jobs before developing an interest in acting.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/troy-evans/) In a 1989 *Los Angeles Times* profile he described a turbulent stretch after the war: he opened a rock and roll bar in northwest Montana, was arrested for what he described as "15 to 20" assaults, and served almost two years in a Montana prison under a 40-year sentence.[7](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-06-30-ca-3017-story.html) • [6](https://www.storybeat.net/troy-evans-actor-episode-150/) He has said that near the end of his term he concluded that acting was a profession where nobody would ask if he was a felon, and that this realization led him to pursue it in earnest.[7](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-06-30-ca-3017-story.html) • [8](https://www.avclub.com/troy-evans-twin-peaks-demolition-man-china-beach)
## Television career
Evans came to California at age 29, and his first job was a bailiff on the sitcom *Soap* in 1980, followed by a role as Tom Pepper on *[Lou Grant](https://www.edgepedia.org/lou-grant-tv-series)* in 1981.[8](https://www.avclub.com/troy-evans-twin-peaks-demolition-man-china-beach) His television debut is often dated to 1982 with a supporting role on *Filthy Rich*, after which he took recurring parts on *Hill Street Blues* and *Mama's Family*.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/troy-evans/)
**China Beach and the 1990s.** In 1989 Evans landed the role of Sergeant Bob Pepper on *China Beach*, portraying a World War II veteran and hospital driver for two seasons of the series, which ran on ABC from 1989 to 1991.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/troy-evans/) • [4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/evans-troy-1948) In 1990 he appeared in the pilot episode of [David Lynch](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-lynch)'s *Twin Peaks* as school principal George Wolchezk, a role he did not reprise in any later episode.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0263283/bio/) In the early 1990s he was a regular cast member on the family drama *[Life Goes On](https://www.edgepedia.org/life-goes-on-tv-series)* as Artie McDonald (1992–93).[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/troy-evans/) • [4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/evans-troy-1948)
**ER.** Producer John Wells, who had seen Evans's one-man show and later cast him on *China Beach*, called him when *ER* was sold and asked him to play the cop in [Noah Wyle](https://www.edgepedia.org/noah-wyle)'s first scene.[8](https://www.avclub.com/troy-evans-twin-peaks-demolition-man-china-beach) Evans appeared in the 1994 pilot as Officer Frank Martin, returned years later as a replacement for the desk clerk Jerry, and remained with the series through 2009, a run of 129 episodes in which the former police officer character frequently talked with the doctors about his police career.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0263283/bio/) • [1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/troy-evans/) • [5](https://www.storybeat.net/troy-evans-actor-episode-150/)
**Bosch and later work.** From 2015 to 2021 Evans played homicide Detective "Barrel" Johnson in 59 episodes of Amazon's *Bosch*, and he reprised the role in *Bosch: Legacy* (2022–25) and *[Ballard](https://www.edgepedia.org/ballard-tv-series)* (2025).[2](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/29177/troy-evans) His other television credits include recurring and guest roles on *The Division*, *Boston Public*, *Close to Home*, *Veep*, *NCIS: Los Angeles*, and *Hannah Montana*.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/troy-evans/) • [2](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/29177/troy-evans)
## Film career
Evans has appeared in more than 50 movies.[5](https://www.storybeat.net/troy-evans-actor-episode-150/) His 1980s film work included the rival basketball coach in *Teen Wolf* (1985), a plainclothes officer in *Near Dark* (1987), and Deputy Charlie Bloch in *Halloween 5* (1989).[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/troy-evans/) • [4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/evans-troy-1948) In the 1990s he played Granger in *Under Siege* (1992), a tough cop in *Demolition Man* (1993), the ill-fated Roger Podacter in *Ace Ventura: Pet Detective* (1994), and Sheriff Perry in *The Frighteners* (1996).[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/evans-troy-1948) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0263283/bio/)
In *Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas* (1998) he played an irate police chief checking into a hotel during a convention, in what was originally a non-speaking background role. Evans had just undergone major hip surgery and poured his physical pain into an ad-libbed rant at the hotel clerk; director [Terry Gilliam](https://www.edgepedia.org/terry-gilliam) liked it enough to keep it in the film.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0263283/bio/) He has also done voice work, including additional voices for the animated film *Home on the Range* (2004) and the character Thistle Jinn in *Epic* (2013).[4](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/evans-troy-1948) • [9](https://cinetown.org/people/profile/troyevans)
## Storytelling and personal life
Evans performs a one-man evening of stories, *Troy Evans: Montana Tales and Other Bad-Ass Business*, drawing on a family storytelling tradition he traces to his grandfather, a Montana state senator.[8](https://www.avclub.com/troy-evans-twin-peaks-demolition-man-china-beach) • [7](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-06-30-ca-3017-story.html) He is married to Heather McLarty.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0263283/bio/) His screen persona leans heavily on authority figures: he is listed as often playing cops, particularly detectives, and his trademarks include a crew cut.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0263283/bio/)
## References
1. [Troy Evans – Actor, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/troy-evans/)
2. [Troy Evans, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/29177/troy-evans)
3. [Troy Evans – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0263283/bio/)
4. [Evans, Troy 1948–, Encyclopedia.com (Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television)](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/evans-troy-1948)
5. [Troy Evans, Actor – Episode #150, StoryBeat with Steve Cuden (2021)](https://www.storybeat.net/troy-evans-actor-episode-150/)
6. [Troy Evans on David Lynch, Steven Seagal, and Sylvester Stallone, The A.V. Club (2024)](https://www.avclub.com/troy-evans-twin-peaks-demolition-man-china-beach)
7. [The Siege of Troy Evans, Montana Storyteller and Ex-Con, Los Angeles Times (June 30, 1989)](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-06-30-ca-3017-story.html)
8. [Troy Evans on David Lynch, Steven Seagal, and Sylvester Stallone, The A.V. Club](https://www.avclub.com/troy-evans-twin-peaks-demolition-man-china-beach)
9. [Troy Evans, Cinetown](https://cinetown.org/people/profile/troyevans)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames Ev to F*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license