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Fans flock to ‘Anarchy’ star

Altoona Curve fans were invited to “fear the reaper” at Thursday night’s home game.

A motorcycle-themed night of baseball featured an appearance by actor William Lucking, one of the stars of the FX drama “Sons of Anarchy,” and free parking for motorcycles. The first 50 bikes parked in the VIP lot were invited to ride along the track during the pregame.

Motorcycle groups, like A.B.A.T.E. of Pa., also attended and set up booths for bike enthusiasts.

Lucking signed autographs and posed for pictures with dozens of fans over the course of two hours on the party deck at Peoples Natural Gas Field. The line to meet him stretched the length of the deck.

“Sons of Anarchy” focuses on the outlaw motorcycle gang of the same name and has been on air since 2008. The show is entering its seventh and final season, which is set to air in the fall. Lucking’s character, Piermont “Piney” Winston, is one of the gang’s oldest members who helped found the “Sons of Anarchy” decades earlier.

The show’s fans asked him about making the show and some of the other actors in the cast, particularly lead actor Charlie Hunnam. Hunnam is best known for the motorcycle drama, but also gained more notoriety for briefly being linked to star in the film adaptation of “Fifty Shades of Grey.”

“He’s a great guy,” Lucking told a fan. “I know him quite well.”

Lucking’s wife, Sigrid Insull, was also present, and didn’t miss the chance to tease her husband.

“Charlie’s not nearly as good looking as my husband,” she joked.

Many local fans came out to meet Lucking, but others traveled farther to Altoona for the experience. Though many had DVD cases, posters or T-shirts for Lucking to sign, the Curve’s game-day program also featured a picture of his character, Piney, for autographs.

Jamie Klink of Frostburg, Md., made the 1 hour trip to the stadium for the chance to speak to one of the show’s stars.

“I don’t even like baseball,” she admitted.

Klink also arrived at the stadium about 5:30 p.m. Thursday, she said, more than an hour-and-a-half before Lucking was set to meet with fans, to ensure that she got a good spot.

She said she has followed “Sons of Anarchy” since its debut and isn’t happy to see the show make its exit.

“I’m sad it’s ending,” she said.

Mirror Staff Writer Paige Minemyer is at 946-7535.

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