---
name: "William Sadler"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/william-sadler"
fi1m_id: "william-sadler"
imdb_id: "nm0006669"
tmdb_id: 6573
wikidata_id: "Q152542"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "13 April 1950"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 10
average_fi1m_score: 72
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 10
updated: "2026-09-29T04:22:24.348134+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# William Sadler

## Identity

William Sadler

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/william-sadler
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** william-sadler
- **IMDb ID:** nm0006669
- **TMDB ID:** 6573
- **Wikidata ID:** Q152542
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Sadler_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q152542, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006669/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/6573

Actor. Born 13 April 1950 in Buffalo, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 13 April 1950, Buffalo, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1988–present
- **Also known as:** William Thomas Sadler, Bill Sadler, 威廉·托馬斯·桑德勒
- **Average Fi1m score:** 72, as actor, over 10 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 80 (2), 1990s 76 (3), 2010s 71 (4), 2020s 42 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 73 to 68 across 7 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 5 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 7 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 5, Crime 3, Thriller 3, Action 2, Comedy 2, Action & Adventure 1
- **Screen time:** 14 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,771m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Sadler_(actor), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q152542, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006669/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/6573

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Shawshank Redemption*](https://film.one/film/the-shawshank-redemption.md) (84)
- **Tubi:** [*Murphy Brown*](https://film.one/tv/murphy-brown.md) (77)
- **HBO Max:** [*The Pacific*](https://film.one/tv/the-pacific.md) (74)
- **Disney+:** [*Iron Man 3*](https://film.one/film/iron-man-3.md) (72)
- **Netflix:** [*The Highwaymen*](https://film.one/film/the-highwaymen.md) (55)
- **AMC+:** [*The Yeti*](https://film.one/film/the-yeti.md) (42)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

William Sadler is an American actor. He began his career in New York theatre, appearing in more than 75 productions over twelve years, including the Broadway run of Neil Simon's *Biloxi Blues* (1985). He trained at the State University of New York at Geneseo and Cornell University.

Sadler is known for film roles including Colonel Stuart in *Die Hard 2* (1990), Death in *Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey* (1991), for which he received a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor, Heywood in *The Shawshank Redemption* (1994), and Klaus Detterick in *The Green Mile* (1999). His television credits include Sheriff Jim Valenti in *Roswell* (1999–2002) and appearances in *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine* and *The Pacific* (2010).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (10)

- *The Yeti* (2026), Fi1m 42, as Hollis Bannister — [page](https://film.one/film/the-yeti.md)
- *The Highwaymen* (2019), Fi1m 55, as Henry Barrow — [page](https://film.one/film/the-highwaymen.md)
- *When They See Us* (2019), Fi1m 84, as Detective Michael Sheehan — [page](https://film.one/tv/when-they-see-us.md)
- *Iron Man 3* (2013), Fi1m 72, as President Ellis — [page](https://film.one/film/iron-man-3.md)
- *The Pacific* (2010), Fi1m 74, as Lt Col. Lewis 'Chesty' Puller — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-pacific.md)
- *The Green Mile* (1999), Fi1m 73, as Klaus Detterick — [page](https://film.one/film/the-green-mile.md)
- *The Shawshank Redemption* (1994), Fi1m 84, as Heywood — [page](https://film.one/film/the-shawshank-redemption.md)
- *Die Hard 2* (1990), Fi1m 70, as Stuart — [page](https://film.one/film/die-hard-2.md)
- *Murphy Brown* (1988), Fi1m 77, as Colonel Fitzpatrick — [page](https://film.one/tv/murphy-brown.md)
- *Roseanne* (1988), Fi1m 84, Actor — [page](https://film.one/tv/roseanne.md)

## Complete filmography (159)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Last Day of Byron Bray* (2026), as Byron Bray
- *The Yeti* (2026), as Hollis Bannister — Fi1m 42, [page](https://film.one/film/the-yeti.md)
- *Salem's Lot* (2024), as Parkins Gillespie
- *A Stage of Twilight* (2024), as Barry
- *Full Circle* (2023), series, as Gene McCusker
- *She Came from the Woods* (2023), as Gilbert McCalister · Producer
- *The Unholy* (2021), as Father Hagan
- *Alice Fades Away* (2021), as James
- *The Comey Rule* (2020), series, as Michael Flynn
- *Bill & Ted Face the Music* (2020), as Death · Executive Producer
- *Hunters* (2020), series, as Dr. Friedrich Mann
- *The Grudge* (2019), as Detective Wilson
- *VFW* (2019), as Walter Reed
- *When They See Us* (2019), series, as Detective Michael Sheehan — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/when-they-see-us.md)
- *The Highwaymen* (2019), as Henry Barrow — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/the-highwaymen.md)
- *The Rookie* (2018), series, as Walter Fields
- *God Friended Me* (2018), series, as Rev. Elias
- *Deadly Crush* (2018), as Sheriff Dusty Hawkins
- *Melvin Smarty* (2018), as Bob
- *Living Among Us* (2018), as Samuel
- *Our Cartoon President* (2018), series, as General Kelly / Mitch McConnell / Jeff Sessions (voice)
- *Shoot Me Nicely* (2017), as Roy Barnes
- *The Good Fight* (2017), series, as Judge Nilsson
- *The Hollow* (2016), as Sheriff Beau McKinney
- *Bull* (2016), series, as Father Andy
- *The Duel* (2016), as Governor Ross
- *Edge* (2015), as Big Bill
- *Jesse Stone: Lost in Paradise* (2015), as Gino Fish
- *Freeheld* (2015), as Peter Santucci
- *Frank the Bastard* (2015), as Cyrus Gast
- *Ava's Possessions* (2015), as Bernard
- *The Historian* (2014), as Valerian Hadley
- *The Flash* (2014), series, as Simon Stagg
- *Madam Secretary* (2014), series, as George Peters
- *Z Nation* (2014), series, as Sam Custer
- *Freedom* (2014), as Plimpton
- *Delirium* (2014), series, as John (archive footage)
- *Power* (2014), series, as Tony Teresi
- *Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.* (2013), series, as President Ellis
- *The Blacklist* (2013), series, as Sam Milhoan — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-blacklist.md)
- *Machete Kills* (2013), as Sheriff Doakes
- *Greetings from Tim Buckley* (2013), as Lee Underwood
- *Gilded Lilys* (2013), Actor
- *Onion News Empire* (2013), as Ed Musgrove
- *Iron Man 3* (2013), as President Ellis — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/iron-man-3.md)
- *Golden Boy* (2013), series, as Police Commissioner Jack Dowdell
- *The Suspect* (2013), as Sheriff Dixon
- *Riddle* (2013), as Western Man / Jack Abel
- *Elementary* (2012), series, as Ian Gale
- *Jesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubt* (2012), as Gino Fish
- *Future Weather* (2012), as Ed
- *See Girl Run* (2012), as Marty
- *Being Flynn* (2012), as Ray
- *Man on a Ledge* (2012), as Valet
- *Nothing Sacred* (2012), as Chambers
- *Silent but Deadly* (2011), as John Capper
- *Restitution* (2011), as George Youngstown
- *Homeland* (2011), series, as Michael Higgins — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/homeland.md)
- *Person of Interest* (2011), series, as Anton's Father — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/person-of-interest.md)
- *Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost* (2011), as Gino Fish
- *Hawaii Five-0* (2010), series, as John McGarrett — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/tv/hawaii-five-0.md)
- *Jesse Stone: No Remorse* (2010), as Gino Fish
- *The Pacific* (2010), series, as Lt Col. Lewis 'Chesty' Puller — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-pacific.md)
- *Beyond All Boundaries* (2009), as Lt. Colonel Lewis B. 'Chesty' Puller
- *Last Day of Summer* (2009), as Mr. Crolick
- *White Collar* (2009), series, as Brett Gelles
- *Three Rivers* (2009), series, Actor
- *The Hills Run Red* (2009), as Wilson Wyler Concannon
- *Shadowheart* (2009), as Thomas Conners
- *Jesse Stone: Thin Ice* (2009), as Gino Fish
- *Stream* (2009), as Dr. Shelby
- *Eagle Eye* (2008), as Jerry's Dad
- *Fringe* (2008), series, as Dr. Sumner — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/fringe.md)
- *When Darkness Came: The Making of 'The Mist'* (2008), Thanks
- *The Mist* (2007), as Jim
- *August Rush* (2007), as Thomas Novacek
- *Abandoned in the Arctic* (2007), as Adolphus Greely (voice)
- *A New Wave* (2007), as Roger Dewitt
- *Damages* (2007), series, as McClarenTruth.org's Financier, Helmut Torben — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/damages.md)
- *Jesse Stone: Sea Change* (2007), as Gino Fish
- *Traveler* (2007), series, as Carlton Fog
- *The Path to 9/11* (2006), series, as Neil Herman
- *Unspoken* (2006), as Dad
- *Jimmy and Judy* (2006), as Uncle Rodney
- *Premium* (2006), as Cole Carter
- *The Good Student* (2006), as Phil Palmer
- *Confess* (2005), as Senator Lampert
- *DeVour* (2005), as Ivan Reisz
- *Criminal Minds* (2005), series, as Ray Finnegan — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/tv/criminal-minds.md)
- *Law & Order: Trial by Jury* (2005), series, as Paul Rice
- *Numb3rs* (2005), series, as J. Everett Tuttle
- *Medium* (2005), series, as John Edgemont
- *Purple Heart* (2005), as Colonel Allen
- *Kinsey* (2004), as Kenneth Braun
- *Wonderfalls* (2004), series, as Darrin Tyler
- *Tru Calling* (2003), series, as Travis
- *The Battle of Shaker Heights* (2003), as Abe
- *Another Life* (2002), as Man
- *Law & Order: Criminal Intent* (2001), series, as Kyle Devlin
- *Skippy* (2001), as Ringo
- *Ed* (2000), series, as Lee Leetch
- *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation* (2000), series, as Red Cooper
- *Witness Protection* (1999), as Sharp
- *The Green Mile* (1999), as Klaus Detterick — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/the-green-mile.md)
- *Roswell* (1999), series, as Jim Valenti · Director
- *Third Watch* (1999), series, as Scotty Murray
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Gary Dolan
- *Stealth Fighter* (1999), as Adm. Frank Petersen
- *Reach the Rock* (1998), as Quinn
- *Disturbing Behavior* (1998), as Newberry
- *Ambushed* (1998), as Jim Natter
- *RocketMan* (1997), as Wild Bill Overbeck
- *Solo* (1996), as Colonel Frank Madden / Improved Solo
- *Bordello of Blood* (1996), as Mummy
- *Poltergeist: The Legacy* (1996), series, as Shamus Bloom
- *JAG* (1995), series, as Saul Wainright
- *The Omen* (1995), as Dr. Linus
- *The Omen* (1995), series, as Dr. Linus
- *Valerie 23* (1995), as Frank Hellner
- *The Outer Limits* (1995), series, as Frank Hellner
- *Tales from the Crypt: Demon Knight* (1995), as Frank Brayker
- *The Shawshank Redemption* (1994), as Heywood — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-shawshank-redemption.md)
- *Roadracers* (1994), as Sarge
- *Rebel Highway* (1994), series, as Sarge
- *Bermuda Grace* (1994), Actor
- *Jack Reed: Badge of Honor* (1993), as Anatole
- *Freaked* (1993), as Dick Brian
- *Star Trek: Deep Space Nine* (1993), series, as Sloan — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-deep-space-nine.md)
- *Trespass* (1992), as Don
- *HBO First Look* (1992), series, Actor
- *Two-Fisted Tales* (1992), as Mr. Rush (Presenter)
- *Rush* (1991), as Monroe
- *Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey* (1991), as Grim Reaper
- *Tagget* (1991), as Yuri Chelenkoff
- *The Last to Go* (1991), as Treat
- *The Hot Spot* (1990), as Frank Sutton
- *The Face of Fear* (1990), as Anthony Prine
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Kevin Drucker — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *Die Hard 2* (1990), as Stuart — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/die-hard-2.md)
- *Hard to Kill* (1990), as Senator Vernon Trent
- *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, as Niles Talbot (segment "The Man Who Was Death"), The Grim Reaper
- *K-9* (1989), as Salesman Don
- *Unconquered* (1989), as Coach Dickey
- *Murphy Brown* (1988), series, as Colonel Fitzpatrick — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/murphy-brown.md)
- *Roseanne* (1988), series, Actor — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/roseanne.md)
- *Dear John* (1988), series, as Ken
- *Tour of Duty* (1987), series, as Major Rigby
- *Private Eye* (1987), series, Actor
- *Project X* (1987), as Dr. Carroll
- *Off Beat* (1986), as Dickson
- *The Equalizer* (1985), series, as Rick Dillon / Kevin Moore
- *St. Elsewhere* (1982), series, as J.J. Oppenheimer — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/st-elsewhere.md)
- *Newhart* (1982), series, as Clumsy Guest
- *Hanky Panky* (1982), as Hotel Clerk
- *Charlie and the Great Balloon Chase* (1981), as Joey
- *The Other Side of Victory* (1979), as Captain Rogers
- *The Great Wallendas* (1978), as Dieter Schmidt
- *New England Toys*, Actor
- *The Summer They Came*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![William Sadler plays Lt. Col. Lewis 'Chesty' Puller in HBO's new 10-part miniseries 'The Pacific.'](https://film.one/media/person/83724/gallery-5e400d735970.jpg) William Sadler plays Lt. Col. Lewis 'Chesty' Puller in HBO's new 10-part miniseries 'The Pacific.' — Staff Sgt. Ethan E. Rocke, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/USMC-100224-M-3819R-050.jpg/1280px-USMC-100224-M-3819R-050.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![William Sadler plays Lt. Col. Lewis “Chesty” Puller in HBO's new 10-part miniseries "The Pacific." (Official U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Staff Sgt. Ethan E. Rock](https://film.one/media/person/83724/gallery-8e6c8a08d5f9.jpg) William Sadler plays Lt. Col. Lewis “Chesty” Puller in HBO's new 10-part miniseries "The Pacific." (Official U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Staff Sgt. Ethan E. Rock — Marines from Arlington, VA, United States, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/William_Sadler_%284403829263%29.jpg/1280px-William_Sadler_%284403829263%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![William Sadler plays Lt. Col. Lewis 'Chesty' Puller in HBO's new 10-part miniseries 'The Pacific.'](https://film.one/media/person/83724/gallery-2ecb17c72a96.jpg) William Sadler plays Lt. Col. Lewis 'Chesty' Puller in HBO's new 10-part miniseries 'The Pacific.' — Staff Sgt. Ethan E. Rocke, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/83/William_Sadler_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![William Sadler 2016](https://film.one/media/person/83724/gallery-216518960ed9.jpg) William Sadler 2016 — GabboT, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/William_Sadler_2016.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![William Sadler](https://film.one/media/person/83724/gallery-b01cd6746d87.jpg) William Sadler — Image via TMDB
- ![William Sadler](https://film.one/media/person/83724/gallery-d2511a0c1982.jpg) William Sadler — Image via TMDB
- ![William Sadler](https://film.one/media/person/83724/gallery-c4965af1aeea.jpg) William Sadler — Image via TMDB
- ![William Sadler](https://film.one/media/person/83724/gallery-daf497eac2f9.jpg) William Sadler — Greg2600, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ae/William_Sadler_2019.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/william-sadler