‘True Blood’ Star William Sanderson: ‘Shouldn’t we support our soldiers?’

by Christian Toto

William Sanderson says he likes to fly under the radar. The in-demand character actor’s resume just won’t let him get away with it. Sanderson‘s career has brought him to the past (“Deadwood“), the future (“Blade Runner“) and a few surreal points in between (the long-running “Newhart“).

The actor is currently co-starring in HBO’s vampire drama “True Blood,“ set to begin its second season at 9 p.m. EST June 14. Sanderson plays Sheriff Dearborne, a character whose normalcy stands apart from the show’s menagerie of shape shifters, neck biters and mind readers. “You can hide when you have beards and mustaches. I don’t have a lot of that,” he says of the straightforward sheriff.

What he and his colleagues do have is the respect of HBO’s higher ups. HBO executives “trust the creators of their show,” he says. “They set the tone. If they’re under pressure, Lord, it’ll reach us,” he says.

The 65-year-old actor is at a loss as to why the vampire genre cannot be killed, adding even show creator Alan Ball (“Six Feet Under”) can’t break down the appeal of the undead.

Sanderson’s biggest role early in his career led to an eight-year gig – and entry into pop culture lore – with his role in “Newhart.” Does “Hi, I’m Larry, this is my brother Darryl, and this is my other brother Darryl,” ring a bell? “I was pretty naïve back then, not knowing that everyone has fallow periods,” he says. “I was on a high the whole time, to have a 10 to 5 job.”

He would find steady work later on via a gaggle of television dramas, from “Lost” and “Walker Texas Ranger” to “The X Files,” but also appeared regularly in films like “The Client” (1994) and “Last Man Standing” (1996). It seemed every other story being told in Hollywood had a need for the cagey character actor.

Sanderson had hoped to spend some time this year traveling overseas to meet with U.S. troops on a USO-style mission, but his schedule wouldn’t allow it. Sanderson served in the Army for two years starting at age 18, and he remembers actor Vic Morrow once visiting Fort Benning where he was stationed.

Sanderson still hopes to follow through on his plans. He has great respect for the military and feels his time in the service helped chart his professional course. “At the time I just wanted to get in and get out,” he says of his military service. “In retrospect, it’s the thing I’m proudest of.” He’s less than proud of some fellow actors who won’t go out of their way to show their appreciation for today’s soldiers.

“Left wing people are anti-war. No one likes war. But shouldn’t we support the soldiers?” asks Sanderson, who says his brother was spat upon in San Francisco when he returned from Vietnam.

Today, Sanderson splits time between a home in Hollywood and one in Harrisburg, Pa., where his wife has strong roots. “They don’t care so much about this Hollywood stuff,” he says.

Sanderson still auditions for some roles despite his distinguished body of work, and the thought of retiring from the business creeps up on him now and again. The rejection that comes along with being a working actor can wear you down, he says. Until then, he’ll keep on working, although he fears he may have missed out on the one part he’s always wanted to play.

“I’m too old to do a movie that shows the good side of the American soldier,” he says.

Christian Toto is a contributing reporter for The Washington Times, MovieMaker Magazine and boxoffice.com. He blogs about film at whatwouldtotowatch.com and at The Denver Examiner.


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Posted Jun 12th 2009 at 8:17 am in Entertainment, Featured Story, Politics | 91 Comments