Sam Anderson

Last updated
Sam Anderson
Sam Anderson cropped2.jpg
Anderson in 2006
Born (1947-04-02) April 2, 1947 (age 77)
Alma mater University of North Dakota, Antelope Valley College
OccupationActor
Years active1969–present
Children2 [1]

Sam Anderson (born April 2, 1947) [2] is an American actor. He is best known for his character roles such as Sam Gorpley on Perfect Strangers , Principal Willis DeWitt on Growing Pains , Holland Manners on Angel , dentist Bernard Nadler on Lost , Doctor Harad in Friends , and in film, as the principal in Forrest Gump . [3] [4]

Contents

Early life

Anderson was born in Clark, South Dakota and grew up in Wahpeton, North Dakota. [5] He received a Master of Arts degree in American literature and creative writing at the University of North Dakota and the University of Wisconsin. [6] During the 1970s, he taught drama at Antelope Valley College in Lancaster, California.

Career

Anderson is best known for his roles as mailroom supervisor Mr. Gorpley on Perfect Strangers , [6] Mike Seaver's adversarial Principal DeWitt on Growing Pains , a chief of Cardiology on ER , the lawyer Holland Manners on the first two seasons of Angel [7] and as Bernard on Lost . [8] In addition, he was one of the recurring actors on various episodes of WKRP in Cincinnati , playing various roles, including an immigration officer in the episode "The Americanization of Ivan". In film, he notably played the school principal in Forrest Gump . [9]

Anderson is also known as the assistant manager of the Hotel Royale in Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "The Royale", and as Doctor Harad in Friends . His other guest-starring roles include Remington Steele , Hill Street Blues , The Golden Girls , Murder, She Wrote , Picket Fences , The West Wing , Everybody Loves Raymond , and many other shows. Anderson guest-starred in Season 8 of NCIS as Walter Carmichael, a middle school teacher whose classroom becomes a crime scene where one of his students is kidnapped. [10]

Anderson's most recent (2024) role is being a part of the reboot of the Matlock series on CBS. He plays the husband (Edwin) of Kathy Bates character Matty Matlock. [11]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1979 The Swap Paul
1982 Airplane II: The Sequel Man in white
The Tragedy of King LearDuke of Albany
1985 Movers & Shakers Ray Berg
1987 La Bamba Mr. Ludwig
1988 Critters 2: The Main Course Mr. Morgan
1990 Dark Angel Warren
1992 Memoirs of an Invisible Man Chairman of the House Committee
1994 Forrest Gump Principal
The Puppet Masters Culbertson
1997 After the Game Jimmy Walsh
1998 Permanent Midnight Dr. Olsen
1999 Sonic Impact Alex Holmes
2000 The Independent Ed
The DistanceJohn Harrison
2002 Slackers Charles Patton
2003The CommissionDr. Robert Roeder Shaw
2004 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover George
2005TouchedDr. Reynolds
2006Dirty HabitBishop
2011 Water for Elephants Mr. Hyde
2012 3, 2, 1... Frankie Go Boom Dad (Chris)
Breaking the Girls Professor Nolan
2014 Devil's Due Father Thomas
2016 Do You Take This Man Steven
Ouija: Origin of Evil Mr. Browning
2017Maybe SomedayDouglas Donnelly
2018 Song of Back and Neck Jarred Foxen
2021 Echoes of Violence Conroy
2022 Where the Crawdads Sing Tate Walker old

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1978 Police Story JaquesEpisode: "The Broken Badge"
1979–1981 WKRP in Cincinnati Various roles4 episodes
1980 The Stockard Channing Show ArnoldEpisode: "Catch a Falling Star"
1983 St. Elsewhere Mr. McGrathEpisode: "Dog Day Hospital"
Gloria Mr. CopleyEpisode: "An Uncredited Woman"
Murder 1, Dancer 0Paul IbervilleTV movie
Remington Steele Store managerEpisode: "Altared Steele"
Policewoman Centerfold DruggistTV movie
1984 Blue Thunder Benjamin KeltyEpisode: "Arms Race"
T. J. Hooker Leo SanteeEpisode: "Death Strip"
Mama Malone Stanley, the announcer11 episodes
E/R Mr. DobbsEpisode: "All's Well That Ends"
Hill Street Blues Kenny SterlingEpisode: "Last Chance Salon"
1985 Hotel Lon SchaefferEpisode: "Fallen Idols"
Magnum, P.I. Ray Jones / John DoeEpisode: "Ms. Jones"
Dallas Inspector Frank Howard2 episodes
Tales from the Darkside Dr. SynapsisEpisode: "Bigalow's Last Smoke"
Hunter Vinny CochranEpisode: "Case X"
Newhart Larry's supporterEpisode: "Candidate Larry"
Simon & Simon EllisEpisode: "Down-Home Country Blues"
Eye to Eye Walter BriggsEpisode #1.6
1986 Hardcastle and McCormick Teddy PetersEpisode: "McCormick's Bar and Grill"
Valerie CustomerEpisode: "This Son for Hire"
RowdiesGeorge ModellTV movie
You Again? JudgeEpisode: "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Traffic Lights"
The Golden Girls MeyerEpisode: "'Twas the Nightmare Before Christmas"
1986–1992 Growing Pains Principal Willis Dewitt13 episodes
1986–1992 Perfect Strangers Mr. Sam Gorpley / Harrison Harper37 episodes
1987 Cagney & Lacey MikeEpisode: "Easy Does It"
What's Happening Now!! IngrahamEpisode: "Raj on the Double"
The Charmings Dr. PetersEpisode: "Pilot"
Buck James Elias TurnerEpisode: "Sins of the Father"
1988 21 Jump Street Dan FingerEpisode: "School's Out"
1989 Star Trek: The Next Generation Assistant managerEpisode: "The Royale"
Hooperman Dr. LazloEpisode: "Dog Day Afternoon, Morning and Night"
Alien Nation Thomas Edison Episode: "The Game"
1990 & 1991 Uncle Buck Kroger2 episodes
1991 Married People BeidermanEpisode: "You Were Right and I Was..."
1991–1993 L.A. Law D.D.A. Bill Graphia4 episodes
1992 The New WKRP in Cincinnati Floyd CastroEpisode: "Mama Was a Rolling Stone"
Jake and the Fatman Arnie CraneEpisode: "Nightmare"
1992–1995 Picket Fences FBI Agent Donald Morrell7 episodes
1993 A Place to Be Loved Judge Thomas S. KirkTelevision film
Danger Theatre Andre the GourmetEpisode: "An Old Friend for Dinner"
Melrose Place Agent Hill2 episodes
1993–1996 Murder, She Wrote Various roles4 episodes
1994 In the Heat of the Night Drew WardEpisode: "Maybelle Returns"
Confessions: Two Faces of EvilFather DominicTV movie
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. Simon WolfeEpisode: "Brooklyn Dodgers"
The Stand Whitney HorganMiniseries
Thunder Alley Mr. RileyEpisode: "Speak No Evil"
1994 & 2000 Diagnosis: Murder Dr. Hjortsberg / Ernie Pitt3 episodes
1994–2007 ER Dr. Jack Kayson20 episodes
1995 Pointman Phil LettamarEpisode: "Trading Up in the Pale Moonlight"
Live Shot Marvin Seaborne13 episodes
1996The Man Next DoorDwight CooleyTV movie
Nowhere Man The ManEpisode: "Through a Lens Darkly"
Norma Jean & Marilyn DoctorTV movie
The Cape Kevin Davis, CapcomEpisode: "Pilot"
Aaahh!!! Real Monsters Farrig / Kid #1Episode: "Festival of the Festering Moon/Simon's Big Score"
High Incident GulliksenEpisode: "Who'll Stop the Bombs?"
Boston Common President Butterfield / Wesley Butterfield7 episodes
Millennium Agent Jack PiersonEpisode: "522666"
1997 The Jeff Foxworthy Show Mr. HertfordEpisode: "Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricks"
The Sleepwalker Killing Roth LaneTelevision film
The Visitor Army GeneralEpisode: "The Devil's Rainbow"
Fame L.A. Larry PetersEpisode: "Seize the Day"
Rugrats Salesman / AnnouncerEpisode: "Ransom of Cynthia/Turtle Recall"
The Pretender Dr. CurtisEpisode: "Over the Edge"
1998 The Pentagon Wars Congressman #2Television film
Chicago Hope Howard SherwoodEpisode: "Liver, Hold the Mushrooms"
From the Earth to the Moon Thomas O. Paine 2 episodes
The X-Files LeamusEpisode: "The Pine Bluff Variant"
Prey Dr. Ian Copeland2 episodes
Friends Dr. HaradEpisode: "The One Hundredth"
Fantasy Island Mr. GableEpisode: "Wishboned"
1999 Ally McBeal Mark HarrisonEpisode: "In Dreams"
NetForce FoxTV movie
Profiler Ken HarkerEpisode: "Seduction"
2000 Two Guys and a Girl Dr. HarveyEpisode: "Love Shack"
The West Wing John LaSalleEpisode: "Shibboleth"
2000–2001 Angel Holland Manners8 episodes
2001 The Fighting Fitzgeralds Judge FlanaganEpisode: "One Angry Man"
JAG Consulate General Raymond DartEpisode: "Guilt"
2002 First Monday Kristen Bremerton's AttorneyEpisode: "Age of Consent"
The Chronicle Dr. Emmanuel FickasEpisode: "I See Dead Fat People"
Everybody Loves Raymond Special Agent Thomas GarfieldEpisode: "Lucky Suit"
The Court White House Counsel ReinhartEpisode: "Life Sentence"
Family Law Carlisle TuckerEpisode: "Admissions"
Wolf Lake Arthur Van HalenEpisode: "If These Wolves Could Talk"
Pasadena Dr. Paul Darwell3 episodes
CSI: Miami Scott SommerEpisode: "Golden Parachute"
Presidio Med Andy SloanEpisode: "Pick Your Battles"
2003 Judging Amy Gordon KirbyEpisode: "The Best Interests of the Child"
Without a Trace Congressman WhitehurstEpisode: "Kam Li"
Boomtown Scott Dawson2 episodes
Miracles Cinda's FatherEpisode: "Mother's Daughter"
Secret SantaMr. GibsonTelevision film
2003–2004 Married to the Kellys Bill Kelly21 episodes
2004 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Dr. MercerEpisode: "Ch-Ch-Changes"
2005 Boston Legal Boston LegalEpisode: "From Whence We Came"
Malcolm in the Middle Police CommissionerEpisode: "Billboard"
Medium Dr. Eliot PetersonEpisode: "Time Out of Mind"
2005–2010 Lost Bernard Nadler 21 episodes
2006 Cold Case Ted RobinsonEpisode: "Joseph"
CSI: NY Dr. RichardsEpisode: "And Here's to You, Mrs. Azrael"
2007 K-Ville Mr. DuboisEpisode: "Pilot"
2009 Leverage Henry RetzingEpisode: "The Snow Job"
Grey's Anatomy Michael WhitmanEpisode: "Before and After"
Criminal Minds Dr. RawlingsEpisode: "House on Fire"
2010 The Forgotten Train engineerEpisode: "Train Jane"
Memphis Beat Councilman OrlandEpisode: "Don't Be So Cruel"
NCIS Walter CarmichaelEpisode: "Worst Nightmare"
2012 Hawaii Five-0 Owen SutherlandEpisode: "Ka Ho' Oponopono"
Work It Dr. Keith SorensonEpisode: "Shake Your Moneymaker"
Harry's Law Judge William RothmanEpisode: "Judge William Rothman"
Men at Work James WilsonEpisode: "Inventing Milo"
NCIS: Los Angeles Senator Dick OsborneEpisode: "Dead Body Politic"
Scandal Melvin FeenEpisode: "Spies Like Us"
2013 Dallas Dr. David Gordon2 episodes
2013–2014 Justified Lee Paxton9 episodes
2014 Castle Principal DunnanEpisode: "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
Grimm Rolek Porter / Old Man2 episodes
Chasing Life Gerald Rayburn
Bones Hugo Sanderson
2016 Damien Professor Igor ReneusEpisode: "The Beast Rises"
2017 Doubt Judge Jonah PorterEpisode: "Then and Now"
This Is Us Judge Walter CrowderEpisode: "The Most Disappointed Man"
2018 American Woman Raymond TurnerEpisode: "Changes and the New Normal"
2019 How to Get Away with Murder Thomas FitzgeraldEpisode: "I'm the Murderer"
2023 Painkiller Raymond Sackler6 episodes
2024 Matlock Edwin4 episodes

Awards and nominations

Ovation Awards

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References

  1. https://www.inforum.com/lifestyle/arts-and-entertainment/north-dakota-actor-playing-kathy-bates-husband-in-matlock-calls-the-show-a-gift
  2. "Sam Anderson" . Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  3. Stafford, Nikki (2004). Once Bitten: An Unofficial Guide to the World of Angel. ECW Press. p. 148. ISBN   978-1-5502-2654-6.
  4. "Sam Anderson". roadtheatre.org. The Road Theatre Company.
  5. "North Dakota actor playing Kathy Bates' husband in 'Matlock' calls the show 'a gift'" . Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  6. 1 2 Arkatov, Janice (February 8, 1992). "Sam Anderson Finds 'Nirvana' on His Road to Fame and Fortune". Los Angeles Times.
  7. Stafford, Nikki (2006). Finding Lost: The Unofficial Guide. ECW Press. p. 295. ISBN   978-1-5549-0276-7.
  8. Rosenfield, Kat; Boone, Brian (May 6, 2017). "The cast of Forrest Gump has changed a lot since 1994". Looper.com.
  9. "A century at the Burtness". Grand Forks Herald. September 8, 2010.
  10. "Exclusive: Which Lost Castaway Is Crashing onto NCIS?". TVGuide.com. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  11. "Sam Anderson Role on Matlock".
  12. "Ovation Nominees". October 20, 2009.