William Sanderson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Sanderson
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Sanderson in 2019
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| Born | January 10, 1944 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1976–2020 |
| Spouse(s) |
Sharon Sanderson
(m. 1993) |
| Children | 1 |
William Sanderson (born January 10, 1944) is a retired American actor. He is well-known for playing interesting characters in movies and TV shows. Some of his most famous roles include J. F. Sebastian in the movie Blade Runner (1982). He also had regular roles on TV series like Larry on Newhart (1982–1990), E. B. Farnum on Deadwood (2004–2006, 2019), and Sheriff Bud Dearborne on True Blood (2008–2010, 2012).
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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 designed landscapes. He went to Memphis Central High School.
After high school, Sanderson joined the U.S. Army when he was 18 years old in 1962. After leaving the Army, he used the G.I. Bill to go to college. He studied at Southern Methodist University for a year. Then, he went to Memphis State University. There, he earned degrees in business (1968) and law (1971).
Acting Career Highlights
Sanderson has appeared in many different types of films and television shows. He is known for his unique character roles.
Famous Movie Roles
He played J. F. Sebastian, a shy and brilliant inventor, in Ridley Scott's 1982 science fiction film Blade Runner. This role is one of his most remembered. He also appeared in other science fiction movies, like The Rocketeer. In this film, he played one of the mechanics who stood up to Nazi agents.
Notable Television Appearances
William Sanderson became very famous for his funny role as Larry on the TV show Newhart. He played a backwoodsman who was a bit awkward. His character was known for the funny catchphrase, "Hi. I'm Larry. This is my brother Darryl. This is my other brother Darryl." He was a regular on the show from 1982 to 1990.
Later, he returned to television in the HBO series Deadwood from 2004 to 2006. He played E. B. Farnum, a character he also played again in the movie Deadwood: The Movie in 2019. In 2008, Sanderson joined the cast of True Blood, playing Sheriff Bud Dearborne. He also had guest roles in many popular TV shows. These include The X-Files, Knight Rider, Married... with Children, ER, and Lost. He also lent his voice to Dr. Karl Rossum in Batman: The Animated Series.
Later Career and Retirement
In May 2019, Sanderson released his autobiography. It was 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 book and career.
William Sanderson announced that he was retiring from acting on May 13, 2020.
Personal Life
William Sanderson lives in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Sharon. They have been married since 1993. He has one son and two grandchildren.
Images for kids
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Sanderson in 2019
See also
In Spanish: William Sanderson para niños
