William Sanderson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Sanderson
|
|
|---|---|
Sanderson in 2019
|
|
| Born | January 10, 1944 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1976–2020 |
| Spouse(s) |
Sharon Sanderson
(m. 1993) |
| Children | 1 |
William Sanderson (born January 10, 1944) is an American actor who is now retired. He is well-known for playing J. F. Sebastian in the movie Blade Runner (1982). He also had important roles in several TV shows. He played Larry on Newhart (1982–1990), E. B. Farnum on Deadwood (2004–2006, 2019), and Sheriff Bud Dearborne on True Blood (2008–2010, 2012).
Contents
Early Life and Education
William Sanderson was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on January 10, 1944. His mother was an elementary school teacher, and his father was a landscape designer. He graduated from Memphis Central High School in 1962.
When he was 18, Sanderson joined the U.S. Army. After serving, he used the G.I. Bill to go to college. He studied at the University of Memphis (which was called Memphis State University back then). He earned degrees in business in 1968 and law in 1971.
Acting Career Highlights
William Sanderson had a long and interesting acting career. He often played unique and memorable characters.
Famous Movie Roles
Sanderson appeared in the movie The Rocketeer as "Skeets," one of the mechanics at the diner. He also had a supporting role as J. F. Sebastian in the science fiction film Blade Runner in 1982. This movie is very famous for its futuristic setting.
Popular TV Show Appearances
One of his most famous TV roles was Larry on the show Newhart. He was part of a funny trio known for the line, "Hi. I'm Larry. This is my brother Darryl. This is my other brother Darryl." He played this role from 1982 to 1990.
Later, he returned to television as E. B. Farnum in the HBO series Deadwood from 2004 to 2006. He even played the character again in the Deadwood film. In 2008, Sanderson joined the cast of True Blood, where he played Sheriff Bud Dearborne. He also appeared in an episode of the ABC series Lost as Oldham.
Sanderson also made guest appearances on many other TV shows. These include The Pretender, The X-Files, Knight Rider, Married... with Children, Babylon 5, ER, and Walker, Texas Ranger. He also voiced Dr. Karl Rossum in Batman: The Animated Series.
Books and Podcasts
In May 2019, Sanderson wrote a book about his acting journey called Yes, I'm That Guy: The Rough-and-Tumble Life of a Character Actor. After his book came out, he and Nick "Saucey" Katsouros started a podcast called Sanderson Says. They used the podcast to talk more about his autobiography.
Retirement
On May 13, 2020, William Sanderson announced on his Facebook page that he was retiring from acting.
Personal Life
William Sanderson lives in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Sharon Sanderson, whom he married in 1993. He has one son and two grandchildren.
Film and Television Roles
Here is a list of some of the movies and TV shows William Sanderson has been in.
Movies
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Blade Runner | J.F. Sebastian |
| 1983 | Lone Wolf McQuade | "Snow" |
| 1985 | Fletch | Jim Swarthout |
| 1991 | The Rocketeer | "Skeets" |
| 1993 | Man's Best Friend | Ray |
| 1994 | The Client | FBI Agent Wally Boxx |
| 1996 | Last Man Standing | Joe Monday, The Bartender |
| 2001 | Dying on the Edge | Tommy |
| 2003 | Gods and Generals | General A. P. Hill |
| 2006 | Disappearances | Muskrat "Rat" Kinneson |
| 2014 | A Merry Friggin' Christmas | Father Juge |
Television Shows
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982–1990 | Newhart | Larry | 91 episodes |
| 1982 | Knight Rider | The Reverend | Episode: "Trust Doesn't Rust" |
| 1989 | Lonesome Dove | "Lippy" Jones | Miniseries; 4 episodes |
| 1991 | Married... with Children | Cousin Eb | Episode: "Buck Has a Belly Ache" |
| 1992–1994 | Batman: The Animated Series | Dr. Karl Rossum | Voice, 4 episodes |
| 1994 | Babylon 5 | "Deuce" | Episode: "Grail" |
| 1994 | The X-Files | Edward Funsch | Episode: "Blood" |
| 1996 | The Pretender | Roy Abbot | Episode: "Every Picture Tells a Story" |
| 1996 | ER | Mr. Percy | Episode: "No Brain, No Gain" |
| 1996–2001 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Will Stanton / Mayor | 3 episodes |
| 2001 | Crossfire Trail | Dewey | Television film |
| 2004–2006 | Deadwood | E. B. Farnum | 36 episodes |
| 2008–2012 | True Blood | Sheriff Bud Dearborne | 22 episodes |
| 2009 | Lost | Oldham | Episode: "He's Our You" |
| 2019 | Deadwood: The Movie | E. B. Farnum | Television film |
See also
In Spanish: William Sanderson para niños
