Sadler's chameleon-like ability to create characters has won him many diverse roles on stage, film, and TV. The handsome actor first registered with film audiences as the villainous Colonel Stewart in the Bruce Willis action pic "Die Hard 2: Die Harder" (1990). Classically trained, Sadler started out in theater, amassing over 75 professional appearances in his 12-year New York stage career. This phase culminated with him originating the role of Sgt. Toomey in Neil Simon's Broadway hit "Biloxi Blues" (1985) for which he received several awards.
Sadler was a vivid presence in Walter Hill's hard-boiled crime drama "Trespass" (1992) as an adventurous fireman whose obsession with gold leads to disaster. He made an even more lasting impression with his wonderfully comic portrayal of the Grim Reaper in "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey" (1991). He locked horns with the formidable Steven Seagal in "Hard to Kill" (1990), but "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994) displayed him bringing a sense of humor and hope to the role of a hardened killer.
Significant Others
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Wife: Marni Joan Bakst. Met performing on the New York stage; married in 1977; have one child together
Education
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Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, acting, MFA
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State University of New York, Genesee, Genesee, NY
Milestones
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1975 Off-Broadway debut, "Ivanov"
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1978 TV debut, "The Great Wallendas," the NBC docudrama about the famous family of acrobats
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1982 Film debut, "Hanky Panky"
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1985 Broadway debut, "Biloxi Blues"
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1987 Cast as regular in short-lived NBC detective series "Private Eye"
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1991 Played the Grim Reaper in the comedy sequel "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey"
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1994 Had a memorable supporting role in the acclaimed feature "The Shawshank Redemption," directed by Frank Darabont
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1995 Co-starred in "Tales From the Crypt Presents Demon Knight"
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1996 Had featured role as the mummy in "Tales From the Crypt Presents Bordello of Blood"
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1998 Acted on stage playing a US Army investigator in "Burning Blue"
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1998 Played the school handyman in "Disturbing Behavior"
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1999 Cast as the sheriff of Roswell, NM on the sci-fi drama "Roswell" (The WB, 1999-2001; UPN, 2001-2002)
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1999 Reteamed with Darabont for "The Green Mile"
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2003 Starred in "The Battle of Shaker Heights"
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2004 Starred in Bill Condon's "Kinsey" opposite Liam Neeson, who portrayed Alfred Kinsey
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2007 Reteamed with director Darabont for Stephen King's "The Mist"
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Stage debut in Colorado Shakespeare Festival production of "Hamlet"