Adam Arkin born August 19 1956 is an American actor and director His father is Oscar Awardwinning actor Alan Arkin and his brother is actor Matthew Arkin He is known for playing the role of Aaron Shutt on Chicago Hope He has been nominated for numerous awards including a Tony Best Actor 1991 I Hate Hamlet as well as three primetime Emmys four SAG Awards Ensemble Chicago Hope and a DGA Award My Louisiana Sky Beginning in 1990 he had a recurring guest role on Northern Exposure playing the angry paranoid Adam for which he received an Emmy nomination In 2002 Arkin won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Directing in a Childrens Special for My Louisiana Sky Between 2007 and 2009 he costarred in the drama series Life In 2009 he portrayed villain Ethan Zobelle a white separatist gang leader in Sons of Anarchy and Principal Ed Gibb in 8 Simple Rules 20032005