In 1960, he appeared in the NBC Western series "Overland Trail" in the episode "Sour Annie", with fellow guest stars Mercedes McCambridge and Andrew Prine. Pickens appeared five times in NBC's "Outlaws" (1960–62) Western series as the character Slim. The program, starring Barton MacLane, was the story of a U.S. marshal in Oklahoma Territory and the outlaws he pursued. In 1967, Pickens had a recurring role as the scout California Joe Milner in the ABC military Western "Custer", which starred Wayne Maunder in the title role.