Strapping, broad-faced actor who has been a regular presence on stage, films and TV since the early 1980s. After graduating from SUNY Purchase, Sanders moved to NYC where he began appearing regularly in off-Broadway productions before making his Broadway debut, opposite Kevin Kline and Christine Lahti, in Michael Weller's "Loose Ends" (1979-80). That same year he made his feature debut with a small role in Alan J. Pakula's "Starting Over". Sanders has gone on to appear in a number of notable period films including Francis Ford Coppola's "Tucker: A Man and His Dream" (1988), as one of several mechanics helping the title character realize his vision; "Glory" (1989), as a Union general; and Oliver Stone's "JFK" (1991), as a member of Jim Garrison's (Kevin Costner) staff. On the small screen, Sanders could be found in several TV-movies, miniseries and failed series. Some of his TV highlights have included "The Day Christ Died" (CBS, 1980), playing Peter to Chris Sarandon's Jesus, and "Cold Sassy Tree" (TNT, 1989). In addition to his film and TV work, Sanders has also remained active in theater.
- Also Credited As:
Jay Olcutt Sanders, Jay Sanders
- Born:
April 16, 1953 in Austin, Texas, USA
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Job Titles:
Actor, Acting teacher
Family
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Son: James Plunkett Sanders. born in March 1994
Education
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State University of New York, Purchase, Purchase, New York, theater arts, BFA, 1976
Milestones
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1979 Broadway debut in Michael Weller s Loose Ends
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1979 Feature acting debut, Starting Over
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1980 Starred as Orsino in the David Mamet-directed Twelfth Night at the Circle Rep Theater in NY
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1980 TV-movie debut, The Day Christ Died
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1986 TV miniseries debut, Rage of Angels: The Story Continues
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1987 Cast as a regular on the short-lived series, Private Eye
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1987 Cast in a recurring on the stylized cop and gangster show, Crime Story
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1997 Cast as FBI Agent Kyle Craig in Kiss the Girls, based on the novel by James Patterson
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1998 Appeared in Neil Simon s The Odd Couple II
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1999 Starred with Janet McTeer in Tumbleweeds
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2001 Again played FBI Agent Kyle Craig in James Patterson s Along Came a Spider
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2004 Played Jack Hall s (Dennis Quaid) boss in The Day After Tomorrow
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2006 Cast opposite Ryan Gosling in Half Nelson, a feature adaptation of helmer Ryan Fleck s Sundance-winning short film Gowanus, Brooklyn
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Lived throughout the USA and South America
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Member of the first graduating class of SUNY Purchase s theater arts program
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Moved to New York City; made NY theater debut in Shakespeare in the Park productions of Henry V and Measure for Measure
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TV series debut, AfterMASH