Sam Anderson - Actor (2024)

Sam Anderson - Actor (1)

Actor

Birth Date: May 13, 1945

Age: 79 years old

Birth Place: Wahpeton, North Dakota

Sam Anderson - Actor (2)

Sam Anderson is an archetypal TV character actor, the sort of Everyman who appeared on dozens of shows long before his breakout role as Bernard on the cult favorite "Lost" (ABC 2004-2010) made more viewers take notice. Whether teaching the elements of character acting, directing a play or appearing as one of the many secondary characters he embraced on television and film, Sam Anderson embodies the quiet importance of the character actor.

Born in Wahpeton, North Dakota in 1945, Sam Anderson got his degree from the University of North Dakota before setting out for Hollywood in the late 1970s. Sam's four years teaching theatre at a community college was to be the backbone for his ongoing acting workshops later in his life. He began his acting career with small one shot roles but then got his first real break on "WKRP in Cincinnati" (CBS 1978-82), on which he played several guest roles over the course of its run. Anderson credited the show's creator, Hugh Wilson, with understanding and supporting the importance of actors who could make supporting characters into more than just background color. Throughout the 1980s, Anderson worked regularly in television and made occasional appearances in films, including the Richie Valens biopic "La Bamba" (1987). During this period, he had a recurring role in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (Syndicated 1987-1994) as the assistant manager of the Royale Hotel, which made him a regular on the convention circuit.

During the 1990s, Anderson took on recurring roles in three prominent series, the Alan Thicke vehicle "Growing Pains" (ABC 1985-1992), the samll town comedy-drama "Picket Fences" (CBS 1992-96) and the slapstick family sitcom "Perfect Strangers" (ABC 1986-1993). He expanded his repertoire with voice work on video games and animated series, including "Rugrats" (Nickelodeon 1991-2004), and also appeared in the blockbuster hit "Forrest Gump" (1994). Anderson ran acting workshops at various colleges in the Los Angeles area and in 2004 took became Co-Artistic Director for The Road Theatre Company in Los Angeles. That same year, he began his recurring role as former dentist Bernard Nadler on "Lost" (ABC 2004-2010). He continued to take on character roles in such shows as "NCIS: Los Angeles" (CBS 2009- ) and "Scandal" (ABC, 2012- ), and did an increasing amount of film work, including roles in the drama "Water for Elephants" (2011) and the horror film "Devil's Due"(2014).

Credits

Sam Anderson - Actor (3)

Echoes of Violence

Actor

Conroy

Movie

2021

Sam Anderson - Actor (4)

Cry Rosa

Actor

Dale

Show

2018

DoubtStreamGuest StarJudge Jonah PorterSeries201755%This Is UsStreamGuest StarJudge Walter CrowderSeries201694%DamienStreamGuest StarProfessor Igor ReneusSeries201614%Ouija: Origin of EvilStreamActorMr. BrowningMovie201683%

Sam Anderson - Actor (9)

Do You Take This Man

Actor

Steven

Movie

2016

Sam Anderson - Actor (10)

Drown

Actor

Tom

Movie

2015

Sam Anderson - Actor (11)

Pathu Enrathukulla

Actor

Movie

2015

Sam Anderson - Actor (12)

Ettuthikkum Madhayaanai

Actor

Movie

2015

Chasing LifeStreamGuest StarGerald RayburnSeries2014

Sam Anderson - Actor (14)

Devil's Due

Actor

Father Thomas

Movie

2014

Sam Anderson - Actor (15)

Maybe Someday

Actor

Douglas Donnelly

Movie

2014

Sam Anderson - Actor (16)

Breaking the Girls

Actor

Professor Nolan

Movie

2013

ScandalStreamGuest StarSeries201293%Work ItGuest StarSeries2012

Sam Anderson - Actor (19)

3, 2, 1... Frankie Go Boom

Actor

Chris

Movie

2012

GrimmStreamGuest StarRolek PorterSeries201189%

Sam Anderson - Actor (21)

Millisecond

Actor

Show

2011

Sam Anderson - Actor (22)

Water for Elephants

Actor

Mr. Hyde

Movie

2011

Hawaii Five-0StreamGuest StarSeries2010JustifiedStreamGuest StarSeries201097%NCIS: Los AngelesStreamGuest StarSeries2009CastleStreamGuest StarSeries200982%LeverageStreamGuest StarHenry RetzingSeries200892%

Sam Anderson - Actor (28)

Canal Road

Actor

Show

2008

Sam Anderson - Actor (29)

The Prairie Pirates

Actor

Uh-Huh

Movie

2007

Sam Anderson - Actor (30)

Dirty Habit

Actor

Bishop

Movie

2006

Criminal Minds: EvolutionStreamGuest StarSeries2005BonesStreamGuest StarHugo SandersonSeries200590%Grey's AnatomyStreamGuest StarSeries200584%Boston LegalStreamGuest StarWalter FifeSeries200486%LostStreamGuest StarBernard NadlerSeries200486%CSI: NYStreamGuest StarDr. RichardsSeries2004

Sam Anderson - Actor (37)

Married to the Kellys

Actor

Bill Kelly

Show

2003

Cold CaseStreamGuest StarSeries2003NCISStreamGuest StarWalter CarmichaelSeries2003Without a TraceStreamGuest StarSeries2002

Sam Anderson - Actor (41)

Presidio Med

Guest Star

Show

2002

CSI: MiamiStreamGuest StarSeries2002

Sam Anderson - Actor (43)

The Court

Guest Star

Show

2002

Sam Anderson - Actor (44)

First Monday

Guest Star

Show

2002

Sam Anderson - Actor (45)

Slackers

Actor

Charles Patton

Movie

2002

Sam Anderson - Actor (46)

Wolf Lake

Guest Star

Show

2001

Sam Anderson - Actor (47)

Perfect Game

Actor

Steven

Movie

2000

Sam Anderson - Actor (48)

Sonic Impact

Actor

Alex Holmes

Movie

2000

AngelStreamGuest StarSeries1999The West WingStreamGuest StarJohn LaSalleSeries199981%Family LawGuest StarSeries1999Judging AmyGuest StarSeries1999Fantasy IslandStreamGuest StarSeries1998From the Earth to the MoonStreamActorThomas PaineMiniseries1998Two Guys and a GirlGuest StarSeries199833%

Sam Anderson - Actor (56)

Prey

Guest Star

Show

1998

Sam Anderson - Actor (57)

Fame L.A.

Guest Star

Show

1997

Ally McBealGuest StarSeries199761%

Sam Anderson - Actor (59)

From the Files of Unsolved Mysteries: The Sleepwalker Killing

Actor

Roth Lane

Movie

1997

MillenniumGuest StarSeries1996The PretenderStreamGuest StarSeries1996Everybody Loves RaymondStreamGuest StarSpecial Agent Thomas GarfieldSeries1996

Sam Anderson - Actor (63)

The Cape

Guest Star

Show

1996

Boston CommonActorSeries199633%Boston CommonGuest StarSeries199633%

Sam Anderson - Actor (66)

High Incident

Guest Star

Show

1996

Sam Anderson - Actor (67)

The Man Next Door

Actor

Dwight Cooley

Movie

1996

JAGStreamGuest StarSeries1995

Sam Anderson - Actor (69)

Live Shot

Actor

Marvin Seaborn

Show

1995

Nowhere ManGuest StarSeries1995PointmanGuest StarSeries1995FriendsStreamGuest StarDr. HaradSeries199478%ERStreamGuest StarDr. Jack KaysonSeries1994Chicago HopeGuest StarSeries1994

Sam Anderson - Actor (75)

After the Game

Actor

Jimmy Walsh

Movie

1994

Sam Anderson - Actor (76)

Confessions: Two Faces of Evil

Actor

Movie

1994

Forrest GumpStreamActorPrincipalMovie199471%The X-FilesStreamGuest StarLeamusSeries199374%

Sam Anderson - Actor (79)

A Place to Be Loved

Actor

Judge Thomas S. Kirk

Movie

1993

Picket FencesStreamGuest StarSeries199282%RugratsStreamGuest VoiceSalesman/AnnouncerSeries1991Dark AngelStreamActorWarrenMovie199038%Critters 2StreamActorMr. MorganMovie198838%Star Trek: The Next GenerationStreamGuest StarAssistant ManagerSeries198792%

Sam Anderson - Actor (85)

Star Trek: The Next Generation 2.0

Guest Star

Show

1987

Jake and the FatmanGuest StarSeries198721 Jump StreetStreamGuest StarDan FingerSeries1987

Sam Anderson - Actor (88)

The Charmings

Guest Star

Show

1987

Perfect StrangersStreamActorSeries1986Perfect StrangersStreamGuest StarSeries1986The Hogan FamilyGuest StarSeries1986Growing PainsStreamGuest StarSeries1985The Golden GirlsStreamGuest StarMr. MeyerSeries1985Murder, She WroteStreamGuest StarDan the ElectricianSeries1984HunterStreamGuest StarVinny CochranSeries1984E/RGuest StarSeries198468%

Sam Anderson - Actor (97)

Mama Malone

Actor

Stanley

Show

1984

HotelGuest StarSoap1983NewhartStreamGuest StarSeries1982

Sam Anderson - Actor (101)

Joe Dancer III

Actor

Movie

1981

Magnum, P.I.StreamGuest StarRay Jones/John DoeSeries1980

Photos

Sam Anderson - Actor (103)Sam Anderson - Actor (104)Sam Anderson - Actor (105)Sam Anderson - Actor (106)Sam Anderson - Actor (107)Sam Anderson - Actor (108)Sam Anderson - Actor (109)Sam Anderson - Actor (110)Sam Anderson - Actor (111)Sam Anderson - Actor (112)Sam Anderson - Actor (113)Sam Anderson - Actor (114)Sam Anderson - Actor (115)Sam Anderson - Actor (116)Sam Anderson - Actor (117)Sam Anderson - Actor (118)Sam Anderson - Actor (119)Sam Anderson - Actor (120)Sam Anderson - Actor (121)Sam Anderson - Actor (122)Sam Anderson - Actor (123)Sam Anderson - Actor (124)Sam Anderson - Actor (125)Sam Anderson - Actor (126)

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News aboutSam Anderson

September 23, 3:41 pm Spoiler Alert When Is the Next Episode of ‘Matlock’? Series Doesn’t Return Until OctoberSeptember 19, 8:00 am Before ‘ER,’ George Clooney Was on ‘E/R’ — Here’s Who Else Worked on Both ShowsAugust 6, 2023 ‘Perfect Strangers’ Ended 30 Years Ago: What Did the Sitcom’s Cast Do Next?

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Sam Anderson - Actor (2024)

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