Jocko Sims

Congrats to actor @jockosims on his new role as Dr. George Tann in @Netflix critically acclaimed reboot of Little House on the Prairie, which premiered on July 9th. In Laura Ingalls Wilder’s beloved 1932 autobiographical series on pioneering life on the Kansas frontier, Dr. Tann is featured as a doctor on the Native American Osage Diminished Reserve who saved the lives of the Ingalls family when they contracted malaria in 1870. Jocko portrays Dr. George Tann, a generous, kind-hearted man with a charming bedside manner who serves as a connector within the prairie frontier community. In 2025, I hired Jocko to narrate my film, @dickallen15film and he appeared at our premiere at @SeriesFest in Denver on May 9th. Critics have lauded Dr. Tann as one of the most impactful additions to the reboot, underscoring his significance as a genuine historical figure. His absence from the original classic television series featuring Michael Landon, which aired from 1974 to 1982, left a notable gap. By reintroducing Dr. Tann into the narrative, Netflix’s series not only enriches the story but also offers a more authentic and vibrant portrayal of Black life on the American frontier—an aspect often overlooked and stereotyped within the Western genre. The series reintroduces Dr. George Tann (1825-1909), and expands the story's historical perspective, with Sims' portrayal as Dr. Tann. the Black doctor who grew up as a free Black man in Pennsylvania, and served in the Civil War. Critics have raved that Sims brings a warm, compassionate presence to the role, portraying Dr. Tann as a respected physician and community leader. Reviewers have also praised the 2026 Little House on the Prairie for carefully weaving in the perspectives of the Osage Nation, thereby expanding the series' scope beyond the limited white settler viewpoint of the Ingalls family. Click below for the link to trailer youtube.com/watch?v=jSds4Oi8… Jocko Sims past roles include starring in NBC’s hit medical drama, New Amsterdam, where he played Dr. Floyd Reynolds from 2018 to 2022, the head of the cardiac surgical department. Jocko, who had dreams of becoming a doctor himself while attending UCLA, said Dr. Reynolds’ role taught him about the impact he can have on future generations who watch the show and see a Black man playing a doctor. My own review as a physician is that Jocko nails it as Dr. Tann and brings a “Moonlight Graham”-like persona to the role with his emphatic folksy charm that is the pillar of the community. As Jocko’s portrayal of Dr. Reynolds did earlier, Jocko’s Dr. Tann role will inspire a new generation of African Americans to aspire to a career in medicine, especially in an audience that has never seen a black doctor in a starring or recurring role in a Western film or TV show. Historically, Black doctors in the American West are well documented, but they have been omitted from classic Western storytelling. In “My Father, Dick Allen,” Jocko narrates the story of baseball player Dick Allen, who, like Dr. Tann, was born in Pennsylvania and became a Civil Rights pioneer by crossing the color line in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1963. Allen was eventually inducted posthumously into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2025. dickallen15film.com/about-th… Jocko is pictured here finishing his narration for “My Father, Dick Allen” on June 29th in New York City at the About-Outloud-Audio Studio. #LHOTP #Netflix #LittleHouseOnThePrairie #drtann #jockosims #DickAllen15film

In time for Father’s Day, I present a preview of the film “My Father, Dick Allen: Waiting for the Call: Justice Served, Finally a Plaque for Number 15,” which explores Dick Allen's crucial role in baseball history, highlighting his offensive abilities and resolve in confronting racial prejudice. Notably, his 1972 MVP season played a key role in saving the @whitesox , a charter American League franchise, from leaving town, as chronicled in “Chili Dog MVP,” which I co-authored with @john_p_owens. The film explores important places in Dick Allen’s life, including Little Rock, where he encountered significant racial hatred; Wampum, the racially tolerant town in Western Pennsylvania where he was raised; and Cooperstown, where his @baseballhall plaque is set to be unveiled on July 27th. By highlighting themes of justice, forgiveness, and resilience, we ensure that Dick Allen's legacy is accurately honored. @jockosims has agreed to narrate the documentary. We have filmed in 14 different locations across the US. Even though Dick was the best offensive player of his era (his adjusted 165 OPS+ from 1964-74 was the highest in all of baseball), it took 47 years after his baseball career ended for @DickAllen_15 to get elected. To view a preview click: dickallen15film.com/featured… #DickAllen #myfatherdickallen #dickallen15film #HallofFame #ChiliDogMVP