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Sam Anderson

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This article is about the American actor. For other people, see Samuel Anderson.
Sam Anderson
Anderson in 2006
Born (1947-04-02) April 2, 1947 (age 77)
Clark, South Dakota, U.S.
Alma materUniversity 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]

Early life

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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

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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

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1979 The Swap Paul
1982 Airplane II: The Sequel Man in white
The Tragedy of King Lear Duke 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 Distance John Harrison
2002 Slackers Charles Patton
2003 The Commission Dr. Robert Roeder Shaw
2004 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover George
2005 Touched Dr. Reynolds
2006 Dirty Habit Bishop
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
2017 Maybe Someday Douglas Donnelly
2018 Song of Back and Neck Jarred Foxen
2021 Echoes of Violence Conroy
2022 Where the Crawdads Sing Tate Walker old

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1978 Police Story Jaques Episode: "The Broken Badge"
1979–1981 WKRP in Cincinnati Various roles 4 episodes
1980 The Stockard Channing Show Arnold Episode: "Catch a Falling Star"
1983 St. Elsewhere Mr. McGrath Episode: "Dog Day Hospital"
Gloria Mr. Copley Episode: "An Uncredited Woman"
Murder 1, Dancer 0 Paul Iberville TV movie
Remington Steele Store manager Episode: "Altared Steele"
Policewoman Centerfold Druggist TV movie
1984 Blue Thunder Benjamin Kelty Episode: "Arms Race"
T. J. Hooker Leo Santee Episode: "Death Strip"
Mama Malone Stanley, the announcer 11 episodes
E/R Mr. Dobbs Episode: "All's Well That Ends"
Hill Street Blues Kenny Sterling Episode: "Last Chance Salon"
1985 Hotel Lon Schaeffer Episode: "Fallen Idols"
Magnum, P.I. Ray Jones / John Doe Episode: "Ms. Jones"
Dallas Inspector Frank Howard 2 episodes
Tales from the Darkside Dr. Synapsis Episode: "Bigalow's Last Smoke"
Hunter Vinny Cochran Episode: "Case X"
Newhart Larry's supporter Episode: "Candidate Larry"
Simon & Simon Ellis Episode: "Down-Home Country Blues"
Eye to Eye Walter Briggs Episode #1.6
1986 Hardcastle and McCormick Teddy Peters Episode: "McCormick's Bar and Grill"
Valerie Customer Episode: "This Son for Hire"
Rowdies George Modell TV movie
You Again? Judge Episode: "Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Traffic Lights"
The Golden Girls Meyer Episode: "'Twas the Nightmare Before Christmas"
1986–1992 Growing Pains Principal Willis Dewitt 13 episodes
1986–1992 Perfect Strangers Mr. Sam Gorpley / Harrison Harper 37 episodes
1987 Cagney & Lacey Mike Episode: "Easy Does It"
What's Happening Now!! Ingraham Episode: "Raj on the Double"
The Charmings Dr. Peters Episode: "Pilot"
Buck James Elias Turner Episode: "Sins of the Father"
1988 21 Jump Street Dan Finger Episode: "School's Out"
1989 Star Trek: The Next Generation Assistant manager Episode: "The Royale"
Hooperman Dr. Lazlo Episode: "Dog Day Afternoon, Morning and Night"
Alien Nation Thomas Edison Episode: "The Game"
1990 & 1991 Uncle Buck Kroger 2 episodes
1991 Married People Beiderman Episode: "You Were Right and I Was..."
1991–1993 L.A. Law D.D.A. Bill Graphia 4 episodes
1992 The New WKRP in Cincinnati Floyd Castro Episode: "Mama Was a Rolling Stone"
Jake and the Fatman Arnie Crane Episode: "Nightmare"
1992–1995 Picket Fences FBI Agent Donald Morrell 7 episodes
1993 A Place to Be Loved Judge Thomas S. Kirk Television film
Danger Theatre Andre the Gourmet Episode: "An Old Friend for Dinner"
Melrose Place Agent Hill 2 episodes
1993–1996 Murder, She Wrote Various roles 4 episodes
1994 In the Heat of the Night Drew Ward Episode: "Maybelle Returns"
Confessions: Two Faces of Evil Father Dominic TV movie
The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. Simon Wolfe Episode: "Brooklyn Dodgers"
The Stand Whitney Horgan Miniseries
Thunder Alley Mr. Riley Episode: "Speak No Evil"
1994 & 2000 Diagnosis: Murder Dr. Hjortsberg / Ernie Pitt 3 episodes
1994–2007 ER Dr. Jack Kayson 20 episodes
1995 Pointman Phil Lettamar Episode: "Trading Up in the Pale Moonlight"
Live Shot Marvin Seaborne 13 episodes
1996 The Man Next Door Dwight Cooley TV movie
Nowhere Man The Man Episode: "Through a Lens Darkly"
Norma Jean & Marilyn Doctor TV movie
The Cape Kevin Davis, Capcom Episode: "Pilot"
Aaahh!!! Real Monsters Farrig / Kid #1 Episode: "Festival of the Festering Moon/Simon's Big Score"
High Incident Gulliksen Episode: "Who'll Stop the Bombs?"
Boston Common President Butterfield / Wesley Butterfield 7 episodes
Millennium Agent Jack Pierson Episode: "522666"
1997 The Jeff Foxworthy Show Mr. Hertford Episode: "Can't Teach an Old Dog New Tricks"
The Sleepwalker Killing Roth Lane Television film
The Visitor Army General Episode: "The Devil's Rainbow"
Fame L.A. Larry Peters Episode: "Seize the Day"
Rugrats Salesman / Announcer Episode: "Ransom of Cynthia/Turtle Recall"
The Pretender Dr. Curtis Episode: "Over the Edge"
1998 The Pentagon Wars Congressman #2 Television film
Chicago Hope Howard Sherwood Episode: "Liver, Hold the Mushrooms"
From the Earth to the Moon Thomas O. Paine 2 episodes
The X-Files Leamus Episode: "The Pine Bluff Variant"
Prey Dr. Ian Copeland 2 episodes
Friends Dr. Harad Episode: "The One Hundredth"
Fantasy Island Mr. Gable Episode: "Wishboned"
1999 Ally McBeal Mark Harrison Episode: "In Dreams"
NetForce Fox TV movie
Profiler Ken Harker Episode: "Seduction"
2000 Two Guys and a Girl Dr. Harvey Episode: "Love Shack"
The West Wing John LaSalle Episode: "Shibboleth"
2000–2001 Angel Holland Manners 8 episodes
2001 The Fighting Fitzgeralds Judge Flanagan Episode: "One Angry Man"
JAG Consulate General Raymond Dart Episode: "Guilt"
2002 First Monday Kristen Bremerton's Attorney Episode: "Age of Consent"
The Chronicle Dr. Emmanuel Fickas Episode: "I See Dead Fat People"
Everybody Loves Raymond Special Agent Thomas Garfield Episode: "Lucky Suit"
The Court White House Counsel Reinhart Episode: "Life Sentence"
Family Law Carlisle Tucker Episode: "Admissions"
Wolf Lake Arthur Van Halen Episode: "If These Wolves Could Talk"
Pasadena Dr. Paul Darwell 3 episodes
CSI: Miami Scott Sommer Episode: "Golden Parachute"
Presidio Med Andy Sloan Episode: "Pick Your Battles"
2003 Judging Amy Gordon Kirby Episode: "The Best Interests of the Child"
Without a Trace Congressman Whitehurst Episode: "Kam Li"
Boomtown Scott Dawson 2 episodes
Miracles Cinda's Father Episode: "Mother's Daughter"
Secret Santa Mr. Gibson Television film
2003–2004 Married to the Kellys Bill Kelly 21 episodes
2004 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Dr. Mercer Episode: "Ch-Ch-Changes"
2005 Boston Legal Boston Legal Episode: "From Whence We Came"
Malcolm in the Middle Police Commissioner Episode: "Billboard"
Medium Dr. Eliot Peterson Episode: "Time Out of Mind"
2005–2010 Lost Bernard Nadler 21 episodes
2006 Cold Case Ted Robinson Episode: "Joseph"
CSI: NY Dr. Richards Episode: "And Here's to You, Mrs. Azrael"
2007 K-Ville Mr. Dubois Episode: "Pilot"
2009 Leverage Henry Retzing Episode: "The Snow Job"
Grey's Anatomy Michael Whitman Episode: "Before and After"
Criminal Minds Dr. Rawlings Episode: "House on Fire"
2010 The Forgotten Train engineer Episode: "Train Jane"
Memphis Beat Councilman Orland Episode: "Don't Be So Cruel"
NCIS Walter Carmichael Episode: "Worst Nightmare"
2012 Hawaii Five-0 Owen Sutherland Episode: "Ka Ho' Oponopono"
Work It Dr. Keith Sorenson Episode: "Shake Your Moneymaker"
Harry's Law Judge William Rothman Episode: "Judge William Rothman"
Men at Work James Wilson Episode: "Inventing Milo"
NCIS: Los Angeles Senator Dick Osborne Episode: "Dead Body Politic"
Scandal Melvin Feen Episode: "Spies Like Us"
2013 Dallas Dr. David Gordon 2 episodes
2013–2014 Justified Lee Paxton 9 episodes
2014 Castle Principal Dunnan Episode: "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
Grimm Rolek Porter / Old Man 2 episodes
Chasing Life Gerald Rayburn
Bones Hugo Sanderson
2016 Damien Professor Igor Reneus Episode: "The Beast Rises"
2017 Doubt Judge Jonah Porter Episode: "Then and Now"
This Is Us Judge Walter Crowder Episode: "The Most Disappointed Man"
2018 American Woman Raymond Turner Episode: "Changes and the New Normal"
2019 How to Get Away with Murder Thomas Fitzgerald Episode: "I'm the Murderer"
2023 Painkiller Raymond Sackler 6 episodes
2024 Matlock Edwin 4 episodes

Awards and nominations

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Ovation Awards

  • 2019: Nominated for Lead Actor in a Play for the role of Ichabod Banks in the Road Theatre Company production of The Bird and Mr. Banks[12]

References

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  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. ^ a b 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.
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