William Sadler

William Thomas Sadler (born April 13, 1950) is an American actor. He began his career in various Broadway productions including Neil Simon's Biloxi Blues. Known as a character actor, his best known film roles include Die Hard 2 (1990), Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991), The Shawshank Redemption (1994), The Green Mile (1999), The Mist (2007), and Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020). He portrayed President Matthew Ellis in various Marvel Cinematic Universe media including Iron Man 3 (2013) and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2015–2016), and he also portrayed Gino Fish in the Jesse Stone television films.

He has had roles in various television shows including Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1998–1999), Roswell (1999–2002), The Pacific (2010) and Hawaii Five-0 (2010–2020).

Early life Sadler was born in Buffalo, New York, the son of Jane and William Sadler.

From an early age, he enjoyed performing for an audience. Playing a variety of stringed instruments, he found hometown success during his high-school years at Orchard Park High School. He took on the persona of Banjo Bill Sadler, a banjo-playing singer who cracked jokes while playing.

After graduating from high school, he enrolled at SUNY Geneseo; then spent two years at Cornell University, where he earned his master's degree in acting with a minor in speech communications.

Career

A chance meeting with an old schoolmate on a trip into the city resulted in Sadler's casting in an off-off-Broadway production of Chekhov's Ivanov. After a brief turn at the Trinity Square Repertory Company in Providence, Rhode Island, Sadler moved back to New York and rented an apartment in the East Village, beginning twelve years in which he appeared in over 75 productions, including originating the role of Sgt. Toomey in the Broadway run of Neil Simon's Biloxi Blues, opposite Matthew Broderick in 1985.

Sadler is best known for his roles in the 1990 action film Die Hard 2 as Colonel Stuart, as Heywood in the 1994 prison drama The Shawshank Redemption, Death in the 1991 comedy Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, and as Brayker in Demon Knight. When he first auditioned for a role in Tales From the Crypt, he was told he was too young. With a make-up artist friend's help, Sadler re-auditioned as a 70-year-old, and won the part. In addition to appearing in Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey as Death, Sadler also appears as himself, with his real-life wife and 5-year-old daughter, in scenes where families around the world respond to Bill and Ted's actions.

Sadler portrayed Julius Caesar in the contemporary adaptation of William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar on Broadway alongside Denzel Washington at the Belasco Theatre. Recently, he finished shooting with American independent filmmakers Dylan Bank and Morgan Pehme on the film Nothing Sacred. Sadler portrayed the robot Victor in the 2010 video game, Fallout: New Vegas. Sadler played Lee Underwood in Greetings from Tim Buckley, a film on Tim and Jeff Buckley, which premiered at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival.

Sadler appeared as Matthew Ellis, the President of the United States, in Iron Man 3 (2013).

In 2015, Sadler was part of the Texas Frightmare Weekend, and starred in Ava's Possessions, which was screened at SXSW.

On September 8, 2021, it was announced that Sadler was cast as Parkins Gillespie in 'Salem's Lot, an adaptation of Stephen King's novel of the same name.

Personal life

Sadler married his wife, Marni Joan Bakst, on May 6, 1978. They had a daughter together, Sadler Colley Bakst, age 38 at the time of her mother's death. On December 19, 2024, Sadler confirmed his wife had died after a "two year battle with cancer".

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1982 Hanky Panky Hotel Clerk 1986 Off Beat Dickson 1987 Project X Dr. Carroll 1989 K-9 Don, Car Salesman 1990 Hard to Kill Senator Vernon Trent Die Hard 2 United States Army Colonel William Stuart Frank Sutton 1991 Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey Death / English Family Member Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor Rush Monroe 1992 Trespass Don Perry 1993 Freaked Dick Brian 1994 Heywood 1995 Demon Knight Frank Brayker 1996 Bordello of Blood The Mummy Solo Colonel Frank Madden / Improved Solo 1997 RocketMan Bill 'Wild Bill' Overbeck 1998 Ambushed Jim Natter Disturbing Behavior Dorian Newberry Reach the Rock Quinn 1999 Stealth Fighter Admiral Frank Peterson Klaus Detterick 2001 Skippy Ringo 2002 Another Life Man Short film 2003 The Battle of Shaker Heights Abraham 'Abe' Ernswiler 2004 Kinsey Kenneth Braun 2005 Devour Ivan Reisz Confess Senator Roger Lampert Purple Heart Colonel Allen 2006 Jimmy and Judy Uncle Rodney Premium Cole Carter Unspoken Dad Bartender Short film 2007 Mr. Dewitt August Rush Thomas Novacek Jim Grondin 2008 Eagle Eye William Shaw Phil 'Honest Phil' Palmer 2009 Stream Dr. Shelby Short film Shadowheart Thomas Conners Direct-to-video Wilson Wyler Concannon Last Day of Summer Mr. Crolick Beyond All Boundaries Lieutenant Colonel Lewis 'Chesty' Puller (voice) Short film Red & Blue Marbles John 2010 Melvin Smarty Bob Mineville Tom O'Roarke2011 Silent but Deadly John Capper Open Gate Robert 2012 Man on a Ledge Frank Cassidy / Valet See Girl Run Marty Greetings from Tim Buckley Lee Underwood 2013 Iron Man 3 President Matthew Ellis Machete Kills Sheriff Doakes The Suspect Sheriff Dixon Frank the Bastard Cyrus Gast 2014 Freedom Plimpton The Historian Dr. Valerian Hadley 2015 Ant-Man President Matthew Ellis Deleted scene 2016 The Duel Lawrence Sullivan Ross, Governor of Texas The Hollow Sheriff Beau McKinney 2018 Deadly Crush Sheriff Dusty Hawkins Living Among Us Samuel The Statement Counselor Short film 2019 The Highwaymen Henry Barrow VFW Walter Reed 2020 The Grudge Detective Wilson Bill & Ted Face the Music Death Also executive producer 2021 The Unholy Father William Hagan 2022 She Came from the Woods Gilbert McAlister2022 A Stage of Twilight Barry 2024 'Salem's Lot Parkins Gillespie

Television Year Title Role Notes 1977 Unknown Episode: "Henry Winkler Meets William Shakespeare" 1978 Dieter Schmidt Television film 1981 Charlie and the Great Balloon Chase Joey Nurse Dr. George Bradford Episode: "Margin for Error" 1982 The Neighborhood Neighbor Television film 1983 Newhart Guest Episode: "Lady & the Tramps" AfterMASH Joe Warner Episode: "Fallout" 1985 Assaulted Nuts The Grim Reaper, Various Characters Unknown episodes 1986 Rick Dillon / Kevin Moore Episode: "Shades of Darkness" 1987 Tour of Duty Major Rigby Episode: "Dislocations" 1987–1988 Private Eye Lieutenant Charlie Fontana 12 episodes 1988 In the Heat of the Night Ritchie Epman Episodes: "Blind Spot: Part 1" & "Blind Spot: Part 2" St. Elsewhere Mr. Oppenheimer Episode: "The Abby Singer Show" Cadets Colonel Tom Sturdivant Television film Dear John Ben Episode: "The Younger Girl" 1989 Roseanne Dwight 2 episodes Hooperman Lanny Hardin Episode: "Look Homeward, Dirtbag" Unconquered Coach Dickey Television film Murphy Brown Colonel Fitzpatrick Episode: "Off the Job Experience" Hard Time on Planet Earth Officer Rollman Episode: "The Way Home" Gideon Oliver Franklin Finney Episode: "By the Waters of Babylon" 1989, 1994 Tales from the Crypt Niles TalbotThe Grim Reaper Episodes: "The Man Who Was Death""The Assassin" 1990 The Face of Fear Anthony Prine Television film 1991 The Last to Go Treat Television film Tagget Yuri Chelenkoff 1992 Two-Fisted Tales Mr. Rush (Presenter) 1993 Night Driving Eddy Television short film Jack Reed: Badge of Honor Anatole Television film 1994 Bermuda Grace Sam Grace Roadracers Sarge 1995 The Omen Dr. Linus Frank Hellner Episode: "Valerie 23" 1996 Poltergeist: The Legacy Shamus Bloom Episode: The Fifth Sepulcher 1998–1999 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Luther Sloan Episodes: "Inquisition", "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges", "Extreme Measures" 1999 Witness Protection US Attorney Sharp Television film 1999–2002 Roswell Sheriff Jim Valenti 61 episodes 2003 Ed Lee Leetch Episode: "The Case" Law & Order: Criminal Intent Kyle Devlin Episode: "Graansha" Project Greenlight Himself Unknown episodes 2004 Wonderfalls Darrin Tyler 13 episodes JAG Saul Wainwright Episode: "Retrial" 2005 Third Watch Scotty Murray Episode: "Forever Blue" Tru Calling Travis Episode: "Enough" Law & Order: Trial by Jury Paul Rice Episode: "Blue Wall" Law & Order Kevin Drucker Episode: "Life Line" 2006 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Karl 'Red' Cooper Episode: "Killer" Neil Herman Miniseries 2007 Numb3rs J. Everett Tuttle Episode: "Democracy" Munst Episode: "All of Us Are in the Gutter" Jesse Stone: Sea Change Gino Fish Television film Traveler Carlton Fog 7 episodes 2008 Medium John Edgemont Episode: "Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble" 2008–2011 Fringe Dr. Sumner Episodes: "The Equation" & "Alone in the World" 2009 Jesse Stone: Thin Ice Gino Fish Television film Jesse Stone: No Remorse Gino Fish Criminal Minds Ray Finnegan Episode: "Reckoner" 2010 The Pacific Lieutenant Colonel Lewis 'Chesty' Puller Miniseries 2010–2020 Hawaii Five-0 John McGarrett Various episodes: seasons 1–5, 10 2011 White Collar Brett Gelles Episode "Where There's a Will" Person of Interest Seamus O'Mara Episode: "Pilot" Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost Gino Fish Television film 2012 Damages Helmut Torben 6 episodes Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt Gino Fish Television film 2013 666 Park Avenue Nate McKenny 2 episodes Elementary Ian Gale Episode: "Blood Is Thicker" Homeland Michael Higgins 3 episodes 2013–2019 The Blacklist Sam Milhoan 4 episodes 2014 The Flash Simon Stagg Episode: "Fastest Man Alive" 2014–2015 Madam Secretary George Peters 2 episodes 2015 Edge Bill 'Big Bill' Television film Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise Gino Fish Z Nation Sam Custer Episode: "Zombie Road" 2015–2019 Blue Bloods Armin Janko Episodes: "Absolute Power" & "Identity" 2015–2016 Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. President Matthew Ellis 3 episodes 2016 Berlin Station Clay Williams 4 episodes 2016 Shoot Me Nicely Roy Barnes Television film 2017 When We Rise Chuck Cooper 2017–2018 Power Tony Teresi 2018 Bull Father Andy Episode: "A Higher Law" 2018–2020 Our Cartoon President John F. Kelly, Jeff Sessions, Mitch McConnell, Various Voices 2019–2020 God Friended Me Reverend Elias 2019 When They See Us Michael Sheehan Miniseries Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Gary Dolan Episode: "Facing Demons" 2020 Hunters Dr. Friedrich Mann Episode: “Eilu v’ Eilu” The Comey Rule Michael Flynn Miniseries 2023 Full Circle Gene McCusker Miniseries 2025 The Rookie Walter Fields Episode: "The Watcher"

Web Year Title Role Notes 2016 WHIH Newsfront President Matthew Ellis 2 episodes 2017 Day 5 Bob / Sandman 4 episodes

Video games Year Title Voice role Notes 2008 Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Conspiracy Alexander Conklin Credited as Bill Sadler 2010 Fallout: New Vegas Victor