William Sadler
Biography
William Thomas Sadler (born April 13, 1950) is an American actor who works in film and television. His television and motion picture roles have included Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller in The Pacific, Luther Sloan in Star Trek Deep Space Nine, Sheriff Jim Valenti in Roswell, and—perhaps most notably—the Grim Reaper in Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, a role for which he was nominated for, and won, the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor, and his role as Colonel Stuart alongside Bruce Willis in Die Hard 2.
Known For
TV
The Rookie
Walter Fields
2018
TV
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Gary Dolan
1999
TV
Law & Order
Kevin Drucker
1990
TV
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Red Cooper
2000
TV
The Blacklist
Sam Milhoan
2013
TV
Criminal Minds
2005
TV
Criminal Minds
Ray Finnegan
2005
TV
The Flash
Simon Stagg
2014
TV
Hawaii Five-0
John McGarrett
2010
TV
Person of Interest
Anton's Father
2011
TV
White Collar
Brett Gelles
2009
TV
Homeland
Michael Higgins
2011
TV
JAG
Saul Wainright
1995
TV
Damages
McClarenTruth.org's Financier
2007
TV
Damages
Helmut Torben
2007
TV
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Kyle Devlin
2001
TV
Elementary
Ian Gale
2012
TV
Fringe
Dr. Sumner
2008
TV
Numb3rs
J. Everett Tuttle
2005
TV
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine
Sloan
1993
Filmography
2026FilmThe Yetias Hollis Bannister2025FilmThe Evolution of Horror Cinema Worldwideas Horror Film Expert2024FilmSalem's Lotas Parkins Gillespie2024FilmA Stage of Twilightas Barry2023TVFull Circleas Gene McCusker2023FilmShe Came from the Woodsas Gilbert McCalister2021FilmThe Unholyas Father Hagan2021FilmAlice Fades Awayas James2020TVThe Comey Ruleas Michael Flynn2020FilmBill & Ted Face the Musicas Death2020TVHuntersas Dr. Friedrich Mann2019FilmThe Grudgeas Detective Wilson2019FilmVFWas Walter Reed2019TVWhen They See Usas Detective Michael Sheehan2019FilmThe Highwaymenas Henry Barrow2018TVThe Rookieas Walter Fields2018TVGod Friended Meas Rev. Elias2018FilmDeadly Crushas Sheriff Dusty Hawkins2018FilmMelvin Smartyas Bob2018FilmLiving Among Usas Samuel2018TVOur Cartoon Presidentas General Kelly / Mitch McConnell / Jeff Sessions (voice)2017FilmShoot Me Nicelyas Roy Barnes2017TVThe Good Fightas Judge Nilsson2016FilmThe Hollowas Sheriff Beau McKinney2016TVBullas Father Andy2016FilmThe Duelas Governor Ross2015FilmEdgeas Big Bill2015FilmJesse Stone: Lost in Paradiseas Gino Fish2015FilmFreeheldas Peter Santucci2015FilmFrank the Bastardas Cyrus Gast2015TVWHIH Newsfrontas President Ellis2015FilmAva's Possessionsas Bernard2014FilmWalking the Mileas Self2014FilmThe Historianas Valerian Hadley2014TVThe Flashas Simon Stagg2014TVMadam Secretaryas George Peters2014TVZ Nationas Sam Custer2014FilmFreedomas Plimpton2014TVDeliriumas John (archive footage)2014TVPoweras Tony Teresi2014FilmThat Guy Dick Milleras Self2013TVMarvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.as President Ellis2013TVThe Blacklistas Sam Milhoan2013FilmMachete Killsas Sheriff Doakes2013FilmGreetings from Tim Buckleyas Lee Underwood2013FilmGilded Lilys2013FilmOnion News Empireas Ed Musgrove2013FilmIron Man 3as President Ellis2013TVGolden Boyas Police Commissioner Jack Dowdell2013FilmThe Suspectas Sheriff Dixon2013FilmRiddleas Western Man / Jack Abel2012TVElementaryas Ian Gale2012FilmJesse Stone: Benefit of the Doubtas Gino Fish2012FilmFuture Weatheras Ed2012FilmSee Girl Runas Marty2012FilmBeing Flynnas Ray2012FilmMan on a Ledgeas Valet2012FilmNothing Sacredas Chambers2011FilmSilent But Deadlyas John Capper2011FilmRestitutionas George Youngstown2011TVHomelandas Michael Higgins2011TVPerson of Interestas Anton's Father2011FilmJesse Stone: Innocents Lostas Gino Fish2010FilmThe Making of Fallout: New Vegasas Self2010TVHawaii Five-0as John McGarrett2010FilmJesse Stone: No Remorseas Gino Fish2010TVThe Pacificas Lt Col. Lewis 'Chesty' Puller2009FilmBeyond All Boundariesas Lt. Colonel Lewis B. 'Chesty' Puller2009FilmLast Day of Summeras Mr. Crolick2009TVWhite Collaras Brett Gelles2009TVThree Rivers2009FilmThe Hills Run Redas Wilson Wyler Concannon2009FilmShadowheartas Thomas Conners2009FilmJesse Stone: Thin Iceas Gino Fish2009FilmStreamas Dr. Shelby2008FilmEagle Eyeas Jerry's Dad2008TVFringeas Dr. Sumner2008FilmWhen Darkness Came: The Making of 'The Mist'as Self2007FilmAugust Rushas Thomas Novacek2007FilmThe Mistas Jim2007FilmAbandoned in the Arcticas Adolphus Greely (voice)2007FilmA New Waveas Roger Dewitt2007TVDamagesas McClarenTruth.org's Financier2007FilmJesse Stone: Sea Changeas Gino Fish2007TVTraveleras Carlton Fog2006TVThe Path to 9/11as Neil Herman2006FilmUnspokenas Dad2006FilmJimmy and Judyas Uncle Rodney2006FilmPremiumas Cole Carter2006FilmThe Good Studentas Phil Palmer2005FilmConfessas Senator Lampert2005FilmDeVouras Ivan Reisz2005TVCriminal Minds2005TVLaw & Order: Trial by Juryas Paul Rice2005TVNumb3rsas J. Everett Tuttle2005TVMediumas John Edgemont2005FilmPurple Heartas Colonel Allen2004FilmKinseyas Kenneth Braun2004TVWonderfallsas Darrin Tyler2003TVTru Callingas Travis2003FilmThe Battle of Shaker Heightsas Abe2002FilmAnother Lifeas Man2001TVLaw & Order: Criminal Intentas Kyle Devlin2001FilmSkippyas Ringo2000TVEdas Lee Leetch2000TVCSI: Crime Scene Investigationas Red Cooper2000FilmWalking the Mile: The Making of The Green Mileas Self - 'Klaus Detterick'1999FilmWitness Protectionas Sharp1999FilmThe Green Mileas Klaus Detterick1999TVRoswellas Jim Valenti1999TVThird Watchas Scotty Murray1999TVLaw & Order: Special Victims Unitas Gary Dolan1999FilmStealth Fighteras Adm. Frank Petersen1998FilmReach the Rockas Quinn1998FilmDisturbing Behavioras Newberry1998FilmAmbushedas Jim Natter1997FilmRocketManas Wild Bill Overbeck1996FilmSoloas Colonel Frank Madden / Improved Solo1996FilmBordello of Bloodas Mummy1996TVPoltergeist: The Legacyas Shamus Bloom1995TVJAGas Saul Wainright1995FilmThe Omenas Dr. Linus1995FilmA Night to Die Foras Self1995FilmValerie 23as Frank Hellner1995TVThe Outer Limitsas Frank Hellner1995FilmTales from the Crypt: Demon Knightas Frank Brayker1994FilmThe Shawshank Redemptionas Heywood1994FilmRoadracersas Sarge1994TVRebel Highwayas Sarge1994FilmBermuda Grace1993FilmJack Reed: Badge of Honoras Anatole1993FilmFreakedas Dick Brian1993TVStar Trek: Deep Space Nineas Sloan1992FilmTrespassas Don1992TVHBO First Look1992FilmTwo-Fisted Talesas Mr. Rush (Presenter)1991FilmRushas Monroe1991FilmBill & Ted's Bogus Journeyas Grim Reaper1991FilmTaggetas Yuri Chelenkoff1991FilmThe Last to Goas Treat1990FilmThe Hot Spotas Frank Sutton1990FilmThe Face of Fearas Anthony Prine1990TVLaw & Orderas Kevin Drucker1990FilmDie Hard 2as Stuart1990FilmHard to Killas Senator Vernon Trent1989TVTales from the Cryptas Niles Talbot (segment "The Man Who Was Death")1989FilmK-9as Salesman Don1989FilmUnconqueredas Coach Dickey1988TVMurphy Brownas Colonel Fitzpatrick1988TVRoseanne1988TVDear Johnas Ken1987TVTour of Dutyas Major Rigby1987TVPrivate Eye1987FilmProject Xas Dr. Carroll (as Bill Sadler)1986FilmOff Beatas Dickson1985TVThe Equalizeras Rick Dillon / Kevin Moore1982TVSt. Elsewhereas J.J. Oppenheimer1982TVNewhartas Clumsy Guest1982FilmHanky Pankyas Hotel Clerk1981FilmCharlie and the Great Balloon Chaseas Joey1979FilmThe Other Side of Victoryas Captain Rogers1978FilmThe Great Wallendasas Dieter Schmidt—FilmIt's Not Real Until You Shoot It: Making HILLS RUN REDas Self—FilmNew England Toys