Actor lays down the law in HBO series ‘True Blood’

I love interviews with Sanderson - he is so no- nonsense! From newsOK

William Sanderson is working on his second critically acclaimed HBO series in a row, having gone from "Deadwood” to "True Blood” — but the veteran performer hasn’t let that go to his head.

"I’m a journeyman actor,” he says. "I don’t do all the episodes of ‘True Blood.’ I haven’t seen all the scripts, so I can’t say if I live or die, but I certainly am more humble.”

For three seasons on "Deadwood,” set in a late 19th-century mining town in South Dakota, the Tennessee native played the scheming hotel owner E.B. Farnum.

In "True Blood,” airing its second season Sundays on HBO, set in the fictional modern-day town of Bon Temps, La., Sanderson plays Sheriff Bud Dearborne.

Unlike Farnum, Dearborne has a more presentable appearance. "I get to shave,” Sanderson says. "And he’s a normal person so far.”

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Exclusive Interview with 'True Blood' Star William Sanderson

Even if you don't know the name, you know the face of William Sanderson. He's one of those iconic character actors who can show up anywhere. On television he's been on Newhart, Deadwood, Lost and his current gig as Sheriff Bud Dearborn on HBO's vampire drama True Blood, which returns for season 2 June 14. In films, he's been in everything from Blade Runner to The Rocketeer to the Civil War drama Gods and Generals.

BuddyTV spoke to William Sanderson about his career and the new season of True Blood. Sanderson talked about vampires, his guest appearance on this season of Lost, and an upcoming Starz documentary about character actors he'll be appearing in.

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True Blood Goes to the Movies: William Sanderson ( True Blood's Bud Dearborn) stars in 'Blade Runner'

William Sanderson ( Bud Dearborn) stars as J.F. Sebastian in 'Bladerunner'

Advances in genetic technology have allowed scientists to create sophisticated biologically-engineered humanoid beings called "replicants". Following a violent revolt that takes place "off world," replicants are declared illegal on Earth.

In Los Angeles, November 2019, Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) is called out of retirement when a fellow Blade Runner, Holden (Morgan Paull) is shot administering a Voight-Kampff test to Leon (Brion James), an escaped replicant. A reluctant Deckard is brought to his old boss Bryant (M. Emmet Walsh), who informs him that the recent escape of Nexus-6 replicants is the worst yet. He orders Deckard to eliminate the four replicants, a process referred to as "retirement". Deckard agrees to help after Bryant makes thinly-veiled threats if Deckard is not a cop, then he is 'little people'.

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William Sanderson http://us.imdb.de/name/nm0761836/

Interview: William Sanderson: Soft-Spoken Sheriff of True Blood's Bon Temps

William Sanderson is like the bell pepper in the gumbo. He may not be the crawfish or the crab or the andouille, but the mix is made all the better for his presence. The familiar face from shows like "Lonesome Dove" and "Blade Runner" -- not to mention his unforgettable role on Newhart and his trademarked line, "Hi. I'm Larry. This is my brother Daryl, and this is my other brother Daryl."

These days Sanderson is enforcing the law in the HBO hit series, True Blood. As Sheriff Bud Dearborne, he's a plainspoken, grounded southern gentleman -- much like Sanderson himself. The catch: in the town of Bon Temps, Louisiana, the latest minority group is starting to make itself known: vampires.

True Blood is set, by author Charlaine Harris, in the deep south, and at it's core is a tale of intolerance. There's a new minority in the world, that being the vampires, and on one level the story is about violent discrimination against them. Speaking as an Arkansas boy to a Tennessee gentleman, why do those kind of stories have to be set in the south? Haven't we grown past that?

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Sheriff Dearborn Hates Them Vamps

May 12, 2009 - Although his name might not readily rush to the tip of your tongue, you definitely know William Sanderson. As a TV and film veteran in projects that range from Blade Runner to Deadwood, Newhart to The X-Files, Sanderson has made a career of playing offbeat characters. You can catch Sanderson on HBO's bold and bawdy vampire series True Blood when it returns for its second season on June 14th. Playing the Sheriff of Bon Temps, Louisiana, Sanderson is one of the few "normal" characters wading in a sea of supernatural sex and unwashed prejudice.

Sanderson also popped up on IGN's radar when he appeared on Lost this season as Oldham, a DHARMA wing nut who tries to get a few answers out of Sayid in "He's Our you." No one's sure if Oldham will be back, but we do know that on the same episode, during "the present," we were shown a building that had a sign that read "Oldham Pharmaceuticals."

IGN TV: Some of the characters on True Blood head off to Dallas in Season 2. What about your character, Sherriff Bud Dearborn? Does he get to leave town, or does he stick around the home front?

William Sanderson: Heh, I've got to be careful. They've told me not to reveal too much. I get emails from True Blood, and from Lost, telling me not to talk too much about it. But he (Bud)…well, I don't know if they really need him in Dallas. It's a good question though. I don't mean to be evasive. Bud's a little lazy, if that helps at all. I don't want to say anything to get me in trouble with HBO, they've been very good to me (laughs). I did Deadwood with them and they were so great. I'm just so happy. He (Bud) is a normal character. Yes, I'm playing a normal character right now and it's the hardest thing I've ever done.

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Sheriff Dearborne , What are you doing on Lost ?

Sheriff Bud Dearborn William Sanderson, The Actor, The Legend

** note and the second season begins airing in June!!

Catching up with an old friend is a popular thing to do. Recently, I caught up with actor William Sanderson, whom I am not only friends with, but a huge fan of his great career. Sanderson is unlike most stars in Hollywood. He’s a well-read, highly educated man who chose a career in acting after filling his life and mind with education and many amazing life experiences. That’s what makes him one of the best actors of all time. He’s filled with rich life experiences which he’s able to convey in his many varied roles over a long and distinguished career. One that, after decades, shows no signs of slowing down at all

His wife Sharon seems to be a grounding force in his life, which is probably why Bill is able to go from one incredible run on a series, like he did recently on “Deadwood,” to an amazing turn of a totally different type of show and character, which he now plays on HBO’s “True Blood.” That’s right, the man now is part of a vampire television series and he’s winning over critics and fans all over again. He seems incapable of getting anything in his career wrong. The prolific actor is the most versatile actor today.It requires a performer of tremendous ability to make an indelible impression in a supporting role, but actor William Sanderson has made a career out of creating characters who are seared in memory. From hit sitcoms to the hottest dramas on HBO, his work spans a wide variety of genres and styles in which he renders his often simple-minded, small-town characters with precision.

Currently Sanderson can be seen as Sheriff Bud Dearborne on the award-winning HBO series “True Blood,” created by Alan Ball, a part which critics say he performs as a “master of understated comic delivery.” The show’s award-winning first season will be released on DVD in May, and the second season begins airing in June. The role follows his three seasons as the skittery hotel proprietor E.B. Farnum on HBO’s epic “Deadwood,” which saw him starring opposite Ian McShane. Later this spring, Sanderson will also guest star in the blockbuster series “Lost,” playing a Hunter S. Thompson-type character. He can also be seen in the recently released DVD of the Emmy-Award winning 1997 miniseries “George Wallace,” sharing the screen with no less than Gary Sinise and Angelina Jolie.

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