is an American actor who works in film and television. His television and motion picture roles have included Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller in
, a role for which he was nominated for, and won, the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor, and his role as the villainous Colonel Stuart alongside
, the son of Jane and William Sadler. From an early age, he took to performing in front of an audience. Armed with a variety of stringed instruments, Sadler found hometown success during his high school years at
. He took on the persona as Banjo Bill Sadler, a banjo wielding singer who could crack jokes while playing. Both students and teachers enjoyed his performances immensely, which led Sadler to audition for the senior play under English teacher Dan Larkin's persuasion. He won the role, which brought about his personal discovery of wanting to become an actor. After graduating high school, he enrolled in SUNY Geneseo. Following that, he spent two years at
where he earned his Master's degree in Acting with a minor in Speech Communications. He is a certified speech teacher and particularly skilled at accents. When his studies were done, Sadler began his auditions.
Sadler took his first post-school role in Florida and soon relocated to Boston, moving in with his sister while scrubbing the floors of a lobster boat by day and cutting his acting chops at night. Slowly working up the nerve to take a shot at the big time in New York, 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
. After a brief turn at the Trinity Square Repertory Company in
, Sadler moved back to New York and rented an apartment in the East Village, beginning a grueling 12 years in which he appeared in over 75 productions, including originating the role of "Sgt. Toomey" in the
. He was also a series regular on the television series
as Darrin Tyler. Other film credits include
. He had a recurring role on
. He appeared in three episodes of
in its final two seasons. In 2007, he played Carlton Fog on
. The 1989 pilot episode of the HBO horror anthology series
featured Sadler in its lead role. In March 2011, Sadler will make a guest appearance in NBC's
. Recently, he finished shooting with American independent filmmakers Dylan Bank and
. Sadler portrayed the robot Victor in the 2010 video game
stage, he met Marni Joan Bakst. They married in 1978 and have one daughter.
Film
| Year |
Title |
Role |
Notes |
| 1982 |
Hanky PankyHanky Panky is a 1982 comedy film that stars Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner. The film is directed by Sidney Poitier. Wilder first met Radner during filming of this movie; the two later married.-Plot:...
|
Hotel Clerk |
|
| 1986 |
Off Beat Off Beat is a 1986 comedy film about a young librarian who impersonates a police officer. The film was directed by Michael Dinner, and stars Judge Reinhold, Meg Tilly, and Cleavant Derricks....
|
Dickson |
|
| 1987 |
Project X |
Dr. Carroll |
|
| 1989 |
K-9 K-9 is a 1989 American action comedy film starring James Belushi and Mel Harris. Directed by Rod Daniel and written by Steven Siegel and Scott Myers, it was produced by Lawrence Gordon and Charles Gordon, and released by Universal City Studios...
|
Car Salesman Don |
|
| 1990 |
Hard to KillHard to Kill, a 1990 action film directed by Bruce Malmuth and starring Steven Seagal, Kelly LeBrock, Frederick Coffin and William Sadler. The film stars Seagal as Detective Mason Storm, who is shot into a coma in the same fire-fight that kills his wife Felicia and son Sonny...
|
Senator Vernon Trent |
|
| 1990 |
Die Hard 2Die Hard 2 is a 1990 action film and the second in the Die Hard film series. The film was directed by Renny Harlin, and stars Bruce Willis as John McClane...
|
Colonel Stuart |
|
| 1990 |
|
Frank Sutton |
|
| 1991 |
Bill & Ted's Bogus JourneyBill & Ted's Bogus Journey is a 1991 American science fiction comedy film, and the directing debut of Peter Hewitt. It is the second film in the Bill & Ted franchise, and a sequel to Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure . Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter and George Carlin reprise their respective roles...
|
Grim Reaper/English Family Member |
Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor |
| 1991 |
RushRush is a 1991 American crime drama feature film, based on a novel written by Kim Wozencraft. A narcotics detective and his inexperienced partner go after an elusive drug dealer...
|
Monroe |
|
| 1992 |
Trespass |
Don Perry |
|
| 1993 |
FreakedFreaked is a 1993 American comedy film, directed by Tom Stern and Alex Winter, and written by Stern, Winter and Tim Burns...
|
Dick Brian |
|
| 1994 |
|
Heywood |
|
| 1995 |
Tales form the Crypt: Demon Knight Demon Knight is a 1995 American horror film directed by Ernest Dickerson, starring Billy Zane, William Sadler, and Jada Pinkett Smith...
|
Brayker |
|
| 1996 |
Bordello of Blood Bordello of Blood is a 1996 comedy/horror film starring Dennis Miller, Erika Eleniak, Angie Everhart, Corey Feldman, and Chris Sarandon. It is based on the HBO television series Tales from the Crypt. It received an R rating for vampire violence, gore, language, and nudity...
|
The Mummy |
|
| 1996 |
Solo Solo is a 1996 science fiction, action film from Columbia/Tristar Studios. It was directed by Norberto Barba, who has since primarily produced television series. The film was based on the novel Weapon by Robert Mason, and was adapted for the script by David L. Corley...
|
Colonel Frank Madden/Improved Solo |
|
| 1997 |
RocketMan RocketMan is a 1997 science fiction comedy film that was produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Caravan Pictures and released on October 10, 1997. The film was shot on location at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas and in Moab, Utah for the scenes on the surface on Mars.The film was a...
|
Wild Bill' Overbeck |
|
| 1998 |
Ambushed |
Jim Natter |
|
| 1998 |
Disturbing Behavior Disturbing Behavior is a 1998 thriller science fiction film starring James Marsden, Katie Holmes, and Nick Stahl. The film was released on July 24, 1998. The plot follows a group of high school outcasts who are horrified by their "Blue Ribbon" classmates...
|
Dorian Newberry |
|
| 1998 |
Reach the Rock Reach the Rock is a 1998 film directed by William Ryan.-Plot:A small town troublemaker , directionless and alienated, ends up spending a night in a jail cell, where he and the police chief engage in a battle of wills and wit.The soundtrack featured a compilation of Chicago-based Post-Rock artists,...
|
Quinn |
|
| 1999 |
Stealth Fighter Stealth Fighter is an action film released in 1999. The film stars Ice-T, Costas Mandylor, Erika Eleniak, Sarah Dampf, William Sadler, Ernie Hudson, and Andrew Divoff.-Film synopsis:...
|
Adm. Frank Peterson |
|
| 1999 |
|
Klaus Detterick |
|
| 2001 |
Skippy |
Ringo |
|
| 2002 |
Another Life |
Man |
Short film |
| 2003 |
The Battle of Shaker Heights The Battle of Shaker Heights is a 2003 comedy-drama film co-directed by Efram Potelle and Kyle Rankin. It starred Shia La Beouf, Elden Henson, Kathleen Quinlan, Amy Smart, and Shiri Appleby...
|
Abraham 'Abe' Ernswiler |
|
| 2004 |
KinseyKinsey is a 2004 biographical film written and directed by Bill Condon. It describes the life of Alfred Kinsey , a pioneer in the area of sexology. His 1948 publication, Sexual Behavior in the Human Male was one of the first recorded works that tried to scientifically address and investigate...
|
Kenneth Braun |
|
| 2005 |
Purple Heart Purple Heart is a 2005 action-war film directed, co-writer and co-produced by Bill Birrell. It stars William Sadler, Mel Harris and Emilio Rivera. It is released on November 11, 2006.- Plot :...
|
Colonel Allen |
|
| 2005 |
Devour |
Ivan Reisz |
|
| 2005 |
ConfessConfess is a 2005 American independent feature film written and directed by Stefan Schaefer.-Plot:Terroll Lessor, a computer genius in an unpleasant job, decides to use his skills against reprehensible parts of society...
|
Roger Lampert |
|
| 2006 |
Unspoken |
Dad |
|
| 2006 |
Jimmy and Judy Jimmy and Judy is an 2006 independent film starring Rachael Bella as Judy and Edward Furlong as Jimmy. It is written and directed by Randall K...
|
Uncle Rodney |
|
| 2006 |
Premium Premium is a 2006 romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Pete Chatmon.-Cast:* Dorian Missick as Cool* Zoe Saldana as Charli* Hill Harper as Ed* Eva Pigford as Farrah* Tonya Pinkins as Marva* Sean Nelson as Austin Price...
|
Cole Carter |
|
| 2006 |
|
Bartender |
Short film |
| 2007 |
|
Mr. Dewitt |
|
| 2007 |
August RushAugust Rush is a 2007 drama film directed by Kirsten Sheridan and written by Paul Castro, Nick Castle, and James V. Hart, and produced by Richard Barton Lewis.-Plot:...
|
Thomas Novacek |
|
| 2007 |
|
Jim Grondin |
|
| 2008 |
Eagle Eye Eagle Eye is a 2008 thriller film directed by D. J. Caruso and starring Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan. The two portray a young man and a single mother who are brought together and coerced by an anonymous caller into carrying out a plan by a possible terrorist organization...
|
William Shaw |
|
| 2008 |
|
Honest Phil Palmer |
|
| 2009 |
Stream |
Dr. Shelby |
Short film |
| 2009 |
Shadowheart |
Thomas Conners |
Direct-to-video |
| 2009 |
|
Wilson Wyler Concannon |
|
| 2009 |
Last Day of Summer |
Mr. Crolick |
|
| 2009 |
Beyond All Boundaries |
Lt. Col. Lewis "Chesty" PullerLieutenant General Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller was an officer in the United States Marine Corps. Puller is the most decorated U.S...
|
Voice Role
Short film |
| 2009 |
Red & Blue Marbles |
John |
|
| 2010 |
Melvin Smarty |
Bob |
|
| 2011 |
Silent But Deadly Silent But Deadly is an 2011 television film which was filmed at Chatham-Kent, Ontario, Canada. It stars Kim Poirier, Jason Mewes and William Sadler. It is a MJC Entertainment Inc production...
|
John Capper |
|
Television
| Year |
Title |
Role |
Notes |
| 1977 |
|
|
Episode: "Henry Winkler Meets William Shakespeare" |
| 1978 |
|
Dieter Schmidt |
Television film |
| 1981 |
Charlie and the Great Balloon Chase |
Joey |
Television film |
| 1981 |
Nurse |
Dr. George Bradford |
Episode: "Margin for Error" |
| 1982 |
The Neighborhood |
|
Television film |
| 1983 |
NewhartNewhart is a television situation comedy starring comedian Bob Newhart and actress Mary Frann as an author and wife who owned and operated an inn located in a small, rural Vermont town that was home to many eccentric characters. The show aired on the CBS network from October 25, 1982 to May 21, 1990...
|
Guest |
Episode: "Lady & the Tramps" |
| 1985 |
Assaulted Nuts Assaulted Nuts was a short-lived TV comedy series which ran in early 1985. The show was constructed as a fast-paced succession of short, unconnected sketches...
|
Various |
|
| 1986 |
|
Rick Dillon/Kevin Moore |
Episode: "Shades of Darkness" |
| 1987 |
Private EyePrivate Eye is a fortnightly British satirical and current affairs magazine, edited by Ian Hislop.Since its first publication in 1961, Private Eye has been a prominent critic and lampooner of public figures and entities that it deemed guilty of any of the sins of incompetence, inefficiency,...
|
Charlie Fontana |
Television film/pilot |
| 1987 |
Tour of Duty Tour of Duty is an American drama television series on CBS. It ran for three seasons from September 1987 to April 1990 as 58 one–hour episodes. The show was created by Steve Duncan and L. Travis Clark, and produced by Zev Braun....
|
Major Rigby |
Episode: "Dislocations" |
| 1987–88 |
Private Eye |
Lieutenant Charlie Fontana |
7 episodes |
| 1988 |
In the Heat of the NightIn the Heat of the Night is a television series based on the motion picture and novel of the same name. It was broadcast on NBC from 1988 until 1992, and then on CBS until 1995...
|
Ritchie Epman |
Episode: "Blind Spot" 1 & 2 |
| 1988 |
St. ElsewhereSt. Elsewhere is an American medical drama television series that originally ran on NBC from October 26, 1982 to May 25, 1988. The series is set at fictional St. Eligius, a decaying urban teaching hospital in Boston's South End neighborhood...
|
|
Episode: "The Abby Singer Show" |
| 1988 |
Cadets |
Colonel Tom Sturdivant |
|
| 1988 |
Dear John Dear John is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from 1988 to 1992. The series was originally based on the British sitcom of the same name. Dear John was retitled Dear John USA when it was shown in the UK. During its four-season run, the series was bounced to and from various time periods on...
|
Ben |
Episode: "The Younger Girl" |
| 1989 |
RoseanneRoseanne is an American sitcom broadcast on ABC from October 18, 1988 to May 20, 1997. Starring Roseanne Barr, the show revolved around the Conners, an Illinois working class family...
|
Dwight |
Episodes: "Dan's Birthday Bash & "Saturday" |
| 1989 |
Hooperman Hooperman is a U.S. television series starring John Ritter. It ran for two seasons on ABC, from 1987 to 1989. A comedy-drama, the series was created by Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher who were the team responsible for creating L.A. Law....
|
Lanny Hardin |
Episode: "Look Homeward, Dirtbag" |
| 1989 |
Unconquered Unconquered is a 1947 adventure film produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille and released by Paramount. The film depicts the violent struggles between American colonists and Native Americans on the western frontier in the mid-18th century during the time of Pontiac's Rebellion, primarily around...
|
|
Television film |
| 1989 |
Murphy BrownMurphy Brown is an American situation comedy which aired on CBS from November 14, 1988, to May 18, 1998, for a total of 247 episodes. The program starred Candice Bergen as the eponymous Murphy Brown, a famous investigative journalist and news anchor for FYI, a fictional CBS television...
|
Colonel Fitzpatrick |
Episode: "Off the Job Experience" |
| 1989 |
Hard Time on Planet Earth Hard Time on Planet Earth is a short-lived American science fiction series that aired on CBS as a midseason replacement in 1989. Airing for 13 episodes, the series starred Martin Kove and was created by Jim and John Thomas....
|
Officer Rollman |
Episode: "The Way Home" |
| 1989 |
Gideon Oliver Gideon Oliver is a prime time television series that ran on the ABC television network between February 1989 and May 1989 as part of the ABC Mystery Movie rotation, along with B.L. Stryker, Kojak and Columbo. On the air for only five episodes, the series starred Emmy- and Academy Award-winning...
|
Franklin Finney |
Episode: "By the Waters of Babylon" |
1989
1994 |
Tales from the CryptTales from the Crypt, sometimes titled HBO's Tales from the Crypt, is an American horror anthology television series that ran from 1989 to 1996 on the premium cable channel HBO...
|
Niles Talbot
The Grim Reaper |
Epiosde: "The Man Who Was Death"
Episode: "The Assassin" |
| 1990 |
|
Anthony Prine |
Television film |
| 1991 |
Two-Fisted Tales |
Mr. Rush (Presenter) |
Television pilot |
| 1991 |
The Last to Go |
Treat |
Television film |
| 1991 |
Tagget For other meanings of "Dragonfire", see Dragon Fire.Tagget is a 1991 crime drama / spy movie telemovie, in which the titular character — a disabled Vietnam War veteran and director of an electronics firm — investigates an attempt to kill him....
|
Yuri Chelenkoff |
Television film |
| 1993 |
Night Driving |
Eddy |
Television short film |
| 1993 |
Jack Reed: Badge of Honor Jack Reed: Badge of Honor is a 1993 made for television 96-minute crime drama written by Andrew Laskos, directed by Kevin Connor starring Brian Dennehy, Susan Ruttan and Alice Krige. It was the debut of a series of films starring the fictional character Jack Reed.-Synopsis:Committed to find the...
|
Anatole |
Television film |
| 1994 |
Bermuda Grace Bermuda Grace is a 1994 American television film directed by Mark Sobel. A comedy thriller, it starred William Sadler and David Harewood as a Philadelphia and a British policemen who go on the hunt of a jewel thief to the Atlantic island of Bermuda. It was intended as the first in a series, but...
|
Sam Grace |
Television film |
| 1994 |
Roadracers Roadracers is a 1994 made-for-television film directed by Robert Rodriguez, his second feature film following the success of his 1992 debut, El Mariachi...
|
Sarge |
Television film |
| 1995 |
|
Dr. Linus |
Television pilot |
| 1995 |
|
Frank Hellner |
Episode: "Valerie 23" |
| 1996 |
Poltergeist: The Legacy Poltergeist: The Legacy is a Canadian horror television series which ran from 1996 to 1999. The series tells the story of the members of a secret society known as the Legacy, and their efforts to protect humankind from occult dangers...
|
Shamus Bloom |
Episode: The Fifth Sepulcher |
| 1998–99 |
Star Trek: Deep Space NineStar Trek: Deep Space Nine is a science fiction television series set in the Star Trek universe...
|
Luther Sloan |
Episodes: "Inquisition", "Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges" & "Extreme Measures" |
| 1999 |
Witness Protection Witness Protection is a 1999 American television movie directed by Richard Pearce. The teleplay by Daniel Therriault is based on a New York Times Magazine article entitled The Invisible Family by Robert Sabbag...
|
Sharp |
Television film |
| 1999–2002 |
RoswellRoswell is an American science fiction television series developed, produced, and co-written by Jason Katims. The series debuted on October 6, 1999 on The WB and moved to UPN for the third season. The last episode aired May 14, 2002...
|
Sheriff Jim ValentiSheriff James "Jim" Valenti, Jr is a fictional character created by Melinda Metz for the young adults book series Roswell High and adapted by Jason Katims for the 1999-2002 American science fiction television series Roswell...
|
58 episodes |
| 2003 |
Ed Ed is an NBC television program co-produced by David Letterman's Worldwide Pants Incorporated, NBC Productions, and Viacom Productions that aired from 2000 to 2004....
|
Lee Leetch |
Episode: "The Case" |
| 2003 |
Law & Order: Criminal IntentLaw & Order: Criminal Intent is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it was also primarily produced. Created and produced by Dick Wolf and René Balcer, the series premiered on September 30, 2001, as the second spin-off of Wolf's successful crime drama...
|
Kyle Devlin |
Episode: "Graansha "Graansha" is a second season episode of the television series Law & Order: Criminal Intent.-Plot summary:In this episode, Detectives Goren and Eames investigate the brutal murder of a probation officer, run over by a car three times....
" |
| HBO's Project Greenlight Project Greenlight was a contest and television series focusing on first-time filmmakers being given the chance to direct a feature film. It was created by Alex Keledjian, developed by Eli Holzman and produced by Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Sean Bailey, and Chris Moore through their production...
|
Himself |
unknown episodes |
| 2004 |
WonderfallsWonderfalls is a comedy-drama television series that was broadcast on the Fox television network in 2004.The show centres on Jaye Tyler , a recent Brown University graduate with a philosophy degree, who holds a dead-end job as a sales clerk at a Niagara Falls gift shop...
|
Darrin Tyler |
Thirteen episodes |
| 2004 |
JAG JAG is an American adventure/legal drama television show that was produced by Belisarius Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television and, for the first season only, NBC Productions...
|
Saul Wainwright |
Episode: "Retrial" |
| 2005 |
Third Watch Third Watch is an American television drama series which first aired on NBC from 1999 to 2005 for a total of 132 episodes, broadcast in 6 seasons of 22 episodes each....
|
Scotty Murray |
Episode: "Forever Blue" |
| 2005 |
Tru Calling Tru Calling is an American television supernatural drama series that premiered on Fox Network on October 30, 2003. It ran for two seasons before being canceled....
|
Travis |
Episode: "Enough" |
| 2005 |
Law & Order: Trial by Jury Law & Order: Trial by Jury is an American television drama about criminal trials set in New York City. It was the third spin-off from the long-running Law & Order. The show's almost exclusive focus was on the criminal trial of the accused, showing both the prosecution's and defense's preparation...
|
Paul Rice |
Episode: "Blue Wall" |
| 2005 |
Law & OrderLaw & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
|
Kevin Drucker |
Episode: "Life Line" |
| 2006 |
CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationCSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
|
Karl 'Red' Cooper |
Episode: "Killer" |
| 2006 |
|
Neil Herman |
Miniseries |
| 2007 |
Numb3rsNumb3rs is an American television drama which premiered on CBS on January 23, 2005, and concluded on March 12, 2010. The series was created by Nicolas Falacci and Cheryl Heuton, and follows FBI Special Agent Don Eppes and his mathematical genius brother, Charlie Eppes , who helps Don solve crimes...
|
J. Everett Tuttle |
Episode: "Democracy" |
| 2007 |
|
Munst |
Episode: "All of Us Are in the Gutter" |
| 2007 |
Jesse Stone: Sea Change |
Gino Fish |
Television film |
| 2007 |
TravelerTraveler is a short-lived American television series that ran from May 10, 2007 until July 18, 2007 on ABC in the United States. The series was produced by Warner Bros. Television....
|
Carlton Fog |
7 episodes |
| 2008 |
MediumMedium is an American television drama series that premiered on NBC on January 3, 2005, and ended on CBS on January 21, 2011. Themed on supernatural gifts, its lead character, Allison DuBois , is a medium employed as a consultant for the Phoenix, Arizona district attorney's office...
|
John Edgemont |
Episode: "Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble" |
| 2008 |
FringeFringe is an American science fiction television series created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The series follows a Federal Bureau of Investigation "Fringe Division" team based in Boston, Massachusetts under the supervision of Homeland Security...
|
Doctor Sumner |
Episode: "The Equation" |
| 2009 |
Jesse Stone: Thin Ice |
Gino Fish |
Television film |
| 2009 |
Jesse Stone: No Remorse |
Gino Fish |
Television film |
| 2009 |
Criminal MindsCriminal Minds is an American police procedural drama that premiered September 22, 2005, on CBS. The series follows a team of profilers from the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit based in Quantico, Virginia. The BAU is part of the FBI National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime...
|
Ray Finnegan |
Episode: "Reckoner" |
| 2010 |
|
Lt. Col. Lewis "Chesty" Burwell PullerLieutenant General Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller was an officer in the United States Marine Corps. Puller is the most decorated U.S...
, USMC |
Miniseries |
| 2010 |
Hawaii Five-0 |
Jack McGarrett |
Pilot episode |
| 2011 |
Jesse Stone: Innocents Lost |
Gino Fish |
Television film |