Arliss Howard is set to lay down the law on True Blood.

According to TV Line, the long-time actor (Rubicon, Medium, Moneyball) will come on board the HBO smash as a series regular next summer, portraying Creighton Burrell, the Governor of Louisiana.

The character will be a sensitive single father who has a strong dislike for vampires… because his wife ran off with one!

In other True Blood Season 6 casting news:

• Robert Patrick has been promoted to series regular.
• Rob Kazinsky is on board as a faerie with feelings for Sookie.
• Rutger Hauer will play a shady individual named Macklyn, someone with a connection to the Stackhouse siblings.

Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.