William Sanderson | |
|---|---|
 Sanderson in 2019 | |
| Born | (1944-01-10)January 10, 1944 (age 81) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1976–2020 |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
William Sanderson (born January 10, 1944) is a retired American actor. He played J. F. Sebastian in the feature filmBlade Runner (1982), and had regular roles on several television series, playing Larry onNewhart (1982–1990),E. B. Farnum onDeadwood (2004–2006,2019), and Sheriff Bud Dearborne onTrue Blood (2008–2010, 2012).
Sanderson was born on January 10, 1944[1] to an elementary school teacher mother and a landscape designer father.[2] He is a 1962 graduate of MemphisCentral High School.[citation needed]
Sanderson volunteered for theU.S. Army when he was 18 years old in 1962. After his discharge, he attended college using theG.I. Bill, first atSouthern Methodist University for a year, then atMemphis State University.[3] He earnedB.B.A. (1968) andJ.D. (1971) degrees there, though he did not take thebar exam.[4]
Sanderson appeared as one of the mechanics and regulars of the diner inThe Rocketeer, who defies Nazi agents looking for the top secret rocket pack. He also portrayed a character named Deuce in an episode ofBabylon 5 and later reprised the role inBabylon 5: Thirdspace. Sanderson voiced Dr. Karl Rossum inBatman: The Animated Series. Sanderson starred inFight for Your Life, which has a strict ban in the United Kingdom. He also played a supporting role as J. F. Sebastian in Ridley Scott's 1982 cyberpunk-noir filmBlade Runner.
As a guest, he made appearances in television shows, and his credits includeThe Pretender,The X-Files,Knight Rider,Married... with Children,Babylon 5,ER,Coach, andWalker, Texas Ranger. He plays a key role in an audio dramatization ofUrsula K. Le Guin'sVaster than Empires and More Slow in NPR's2000X series. In 2001, Sanderson played the courageous bartender Dewey in theTNT filmCrossfire Trail.[5]
Sanderson played Larry inNewhart from 1982 to 1990, famous for the catchphrase, "Hi. I'm Larry. This is my brother Darryl. This is my other brother Darryl." Sanderson had a minor role as the abusive and cruel junkyard dealer Ray inMan's Best Friend.
He returned to television playingE. B. Farnum in theHBO television seriesDeadwood from 2004 to 2006, later reprising the role in itsfilm continuation. In 2008, Sanderson joined the cast ofTrue Blood, playing Sheriff Bud Dearborne. He played Oldham, the resident interrogation expert of theDHARMA Initiative in an episode of the fifth season of the ABC seriesLost.
In May 2019, Sanderson released an autobiography about his career,Yes, I'm That Guy: The Rough-and-Tumble Life of a Character Actor.[6] Following the release of his book, Sanderson and Nick "Saucey" Katsouros released a six-episode limited-run podcast,Sanderson Says, to discuss and expound on the autobiography.[7]
Sanderson announced his retirement from acting on his Facebook page on May 13, 2020.[8]
Sanderson lives inHarrisburg, Pennsylvania with his wife. He has one son and two grandchildren.[citation needed]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | Fight for Your Life | Jessie Lee Kane | |
| 1977 | Proof of the Man | Gun Dealer | |
| 1978 | Blue Nude | Guy In Next Cell | Uncredited |
| 1979 | The Onion Field | Young Con | |
| 1979 | Savage Weekend | Otis | |
| 1980 | Coal Miner's Daughter | Lee Dollarhide | |
| 1980 | Seed of Innocence | Randy Webb | |
| 1981 | Death Hunt | Ned Warren | |
| 1981 | Raggedy Man | Calvin | |
| 1982 | The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez | Cowboy | |
| 1982 | Blade Runner | J.F. Sebastian | |
| 1983 | Lone Wolf McQuade | "Snow" | |
| 1983 | Nightmares | Gas Station Attendant | Segment: "Terror in Topanga"; uncredited |
| 1984 | City Heat | Lonnie Ash | |
| 1985 | Fletch | Jim Swarthout | |
| 1986 | Black Moon Rising | Tyke Thayden | |
| 1987 | Last Man Standing | Casper | |
| 1987 | Dead Aim | Brennan | |
| 1989 | Thunderground | "Ratman" | |
| 1989 | Deadly Weapon | Reverend Smith | |
| 1990 | Mirror, Mirror | Mr. Veze | |
| 1991 | The Giant of Thunder Mountain | Percey Crow | |
| 1991 | The Rocketeer | "Skeets" | |
| 1993 | Skeeter | Gordon Perry | |
| 1993 | Man's Best Friend | Ray | |
| 1994 | Mirror, Mirror II: Raven Dance | Roger | |
| 1994 | The Client | FBI Agent Wally Boxx | |
| 1994 | Wagons East | Zeke | |
| 1995 | Hologram Man | Manny "Giggles" O'Donnell | |
| 1995 | Phoenix | Miro | |
| 1996 | Last Man Standing | Joe Monday, The Bartender | |
| 1996 | Forest Warrior | Paul Carpio | |
| 1996 | The Utilizer | Leek | |
| 1997 | Critics and Other Freaks | Chef Bernie | |
| 1999 | Nice Guys Sleep Alone | Rufus | |
| 2000 | Stanley's Gig | Stanley Myer | |
| 2000 | Stageghost | Jack Butler | |
| 2001 | Dying on the Edge | Tommy | |
| 2002 | Monkey Love | Bradley Chalmers | |
| 2002 | Never Get Outta the Boat | Clarence | |
| 2003 | Gods and Generals | GeneralA. P. Hill | |
| 2003 | The Low Budget Time Machine | The Prospector | |
| 2004 | Promised Land | Clark | |
| 2004 | Avatar | Riley | |
| 2005 | Wit's End | Jedediah Cross | |
| 2006 | Disappearances | Muskrat "Rat" Kinneson | |
| 2006 | Beyond the Wall of Sleep | Joe Slaader | |
| 2006 | The Treasure of Painted Forest | Paul | |
| 2008 | Pretty Ugly People | Sam | |
| 2014 | A Merry Friggin' Christmas | Father Juge | |
| 2018 | The Griddle House | Gus |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | The Other Side of Victory | Oakley | Television film |
| 1979 | Starsky & Hutch | "Weirdo" | Episode: "Starsky vs. Hutch" |
| 1980 | Scared Straight! Another Story | Harlan | Television film |
| 1980 | The Dukes of Hazzard | Russ Collins | Episode: "Mrs. Roscoe P. Coltrane" |
| 1980–1981 | Palmerstown, U.S.A. | Merwin Noon / Henry Redmond | 2 episodes |
| 1981 | Walking Tall | Stacy | Episode: "The Protectors of the People" |
| 1982–1990 | Newhart | Larry | 91 episodes |
| 1982 | Bret Maverick | Kenneth Broomick | Episode: "Hallie" |
| 1982 | Quincy, M.E. | Willie McCracken | Episode: "Guns Don't Die" |
| 1982 | The Executioner's Song | Gibbs | Television film; uncredited |
| 1982 | Knight Rider | The Reverend | Episode: "Trust Doesn't Rust" |
| 1983 | Who Will Love My Children? | Cleve Shelby | Television film |
| 1983 | It Takes Two | Earl | Episode: "Instinct" |
| 1983 | Women of San Quentin | "Countee" | Television film |
| 1985 | Streets of Justice | "Weasel" | Television film |
| 1986 | The Defiant Ones | Mason | Television film |
| 1986 | Dalton: Code of Vengeance II | Bobby Fuller | Television film |
| 1987 | The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains | Trump | Television film |
| 1988 | The Twilight Zone | Norman Blane | Episode: "The Call" |
| 1989 | Lonesome Dove | "Lippy" Jones | Miniseries; 4 episodes |
| 1991 | Sometimes They Come Back | Carl Mueller (age 44) | Television film |
| 1991 | Married... with Children | Cousin Eb | Episode: "Buck Has a Belly Ache" |
| 1992 | Dangerous Curves | Bobby Havens | Episode: "Auld Lang Syne" |
| 1992 | Mann & Machine | Dr. William Unzer | Episode: "Cold, Cold Heart" |
| 1992 | The Young Riders | Emmett Barnett | Episode: "The Debt" |
| 1992–1994 | Batman: The Animated Series | Dr. Karl Rossum | Voice, 4 episodes[9] |
| 1993 | Sirens | Male Store Owner | Episode: "Keeping the Peace" |
| 1993 | Ned Blessing: The Story of My Life and Times | Unknown | Episode: "The Smink Brothers" |
| 1993 | Return to Lonesome Dove | "Lippy" Jones | Miniseries; 4 episodes |
| 1994 | Matlock | Mickey Sanders | Episode: "The Crook" |
| 1994 | Babylon 5 | "Deuce" | Episode: "Grail" |
| 1994 | The X-Files | Edward Funsch | Episode: "Blood" |
| 1995 | Siringo | Tully | Television film |
| 1995 | The Marshal | Philbrick | Episode: "The Heartbreak Kid" |
| 1995 | Santo Bugito | Clem | Voice, episode: "My Name Is Revenge"[9] |
| 1995–1997 | Aaahh!!! Real Monsters | Otis, Janitor | Voice, 2 episodes[9] |
| 1996 | Andersonville | Munn | Television film |
| 1996 | The Pretender | Roy Abbot | Episode: "Every Picture Tells a Story" |
| 1996 | ER | Mr. Percy | Episode: "No Brain, No Gain" |
| 1996–1999 | Jumanji | Professor J.S. Ibsen | Voice, 14 episodes |
| 1996–2001 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Will Stanton / Mayor | 3 episodes |
| 1997 | Coach | Jesse / Larry | 3 episodes |
| 1997 | George Wallace | T.Y. Odum | Television film |
| 1997 | Cow and Chicken | Cowboy | Voice, episode: "School Bully/Time Machine" |
| 1997 | George and Leo | Unknown | Episode: "The Cameo Episode" |
| 1998 | The Practice | Mr. Simmons | Episode: "Rhyme and Reason" |
| 1998 | Babylon 5: Thirdspace | "Deuce" | Television film |
| 1998 | Maximum Bob | Dicky Crowe | 5 episodes |
| 1998 | The Angry Beavers | Ditto Otto / Clerk | Voice, episode: "If You Insisters/Alley Oops!"[9] |
| 1999 | L.A. Heat | The Monk | Episode: "The Monk" |
| 2000 | Miracle on the Mountain: The Kincaid Family Story | Helicopter Pilot | Television film |
| 2000 | Resurrection Blvd. | Clancy, The Illegal Gun Dealer | Episode: "Suenos" |
| 2000 | Psyko Ferret | Stan Veinous | Voice, television film |
| 2001 | Crossfire Trail | Dewey | Television film |
| 2002 | Dharma & Greg | Mike | Episode: "The Tooth Is Out There" |
| 2003 | Monte Walsh | "Skimpy" Eagens | Television film |
| 2003 | Without a Trace | Wally Sykes | Episode: "Kam Li" |
| 2004 | Monk | Joshua Skinner | Episode: "Mr. Monk Gets Married" |
| 2004–2006 | Deadwood | E. B. Farnum | 36 episodes |
| 2007 | Life | Holt Easley | Episode: "What They Saw" |
| 2008–2012 | True Blood | Sheriff Bud Dearborne | 22 episodes |
| 2009 | Lost | Oldham | Episode: "He's Our You" |
| 2009 | Trauma | Captain Edward Smith | Episode: "Blue Balloon" |
| 2010 | Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! | Jim | Episode: "Choices" |
| 2011 | Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior | Leonard Keane | Episode: "Nighthawk" |
| 2011 | Mike & Molly | Dennis | 2 episodes |
| 2011 | Bar Karma | James | 12 episodes |
| 2012 | Bones | Norbert Mobley | Episode: "The Family in the Feud" |
| 2013 | Bravest Warriors | Alien Perkalus | Voice, episode: "Mexican Touchdown" |
| 2019 | American Gods | The Bookkeeper | Episode: "The Greatest Story Ever Told" |
| 2019 | Deadwood: The Movie | E. B. Farnum | Television film |
… actor William Sanderson in 1944 (age 76)
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| National | |
