William Sanderson

William Sanderson (born January 10, 1944) is an American retired actor. He played J. F. Sebastian in the feature film Blade Runner, and had regular roles on several television series, playing Larry on Newhart (1982–1990), E. B. Farnum on Deadwood (2004–2006, 2019), and Sheriff Bud Dearborne on True Blood (2008–2010, 2012).

Early life Sanderson was born in Memphis, Tennessee on January 10, 1944 to an elementary school teacher mother and a landscape designer father. He is a graduate of Memphis Central High School.

Sanderson volunteered for the U.S. Army when he was 18 years old in 1962. After his discharge, he attended college using the G.I. Bill, first at Southern Methodist University for a year, then at Memphis State University. He earned B.B.A. (1968) and J.D. (1971) degrees there, though he did not take the bar exam.

In a 1972 episode of To Tell the Truth, Sanderson described himself as "a full-time bartender ... and a part-time actor."

Career Sanderson appeared in many science fiction films, as one of the mechanics and regulars of the diner in The Rocketeer, who defies Nazi agents looking for the top secret rocket pack. As a single episode character, Deuce, in the television show Babylon 5 later reprising the role in Babylon 5: Thirdspace. Sanderson voiced Dr. Karl Rossum in Batman: The Animated Series.

Sanderson starred in the 1977 blacksploitation thriller Fight for Your Life, which is banned in the United Kingdom. He played the key supporting role of timid, genius inventor J. F. Sebastian in Ridley Scott's 1982 sci-fi-noir film Blade Runner.

As a guest, he made appearances in many television shows, his credits include The Pretender, The X-Files, Knight Rider, Married... with Children, Babylon 5, ER, Coach, and Walker, Texas Ranger. He plays a key role in an audio dramatization of Ursula K. Le Guin's Vaster than Empires and More Slow in NPR's 2000X series. In 2001, Sanderson played the courageous bartender Dewey in the TNT film Crossfire Trail.

Sanderson's fame peaked in a comic-relief role, as the soiled, societally-awkward, backwoodsman Larry in Newhart from 1982 to 1990, famous for the absurd catchphrase, "Hi. I'm Larry. This is my brother Darryl. This is my other brother Darryl" – a reoccurring character until the end of the second season, when he and his brothers purchased the cafe next to the Stratford Inn.

Sanderson had a minor role as the abusive and cruel junkyard dealer Ray in Man's Best Friend.

He returned to television playing E. B. Farnum in the HBO television series Deadwood from 2004 to 2006, later reprising the role in its film continuation. In 2008, Sanderson joined the cast of True Blood, playing Sheriff Bud Dearborne. He played Oldham, the resident interrogation expert of the DHARMA Initiative in an episode of the fifth season of the ABC series Lost.

In May 2019, Sanderson released an autobiography about his career, Yes, I'm That Guy: The Rough-and-Tumble Life of a Character Actor. 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.

Sanderson announced his retirement from acting on his Facebook page on May 13, 2020.

Personal life Sanderson lives in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania with his wife. He has one son, Andrew Sanderson, and two grandchildren, William and Jaxon Sanderson who live in Wake Forest, North Carolina.

Filmography 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 General A. 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

Television 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 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" 1995–1997 Aaahh!!! Real Monsters Otis, Janitor Voice, 2 episodes 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!" 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