Occupation Actor/Screenwriter Spouse Marilynn Marko-Sanders Role Actor | Name Richard Sanders Years active 1971–2006 | |
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Full Name Richard Kinard Sanders Parents Thelma S. Sanders, Henry Irvine Sanders Nominations TV Land Broadcaster(s) of the Year Award Movies and TV shows Similar People Frank Bonner, Gordon Jump, Gary Sandy, Howard Hesseman, Jan Smithers | ||
Richard Kinard Sanders (born August 23, 1940) is an American actor best known for playing the quirky news anchorman Les Nessman on the television sitcom, WKRP in Cincinnati.
Sanders was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the son of Thelma S. and Henry Irvine Sanders. After graduating from Leavenworth High School in Leavenworth, Kansas, he was enrolled in the Fine Arts Department at Carnegie Institute of Technology (now known as Carnegie Mellon University) as an acting major from 1958 to 1962. There he was a classmate of Rene Auberjonois and Aubrey Wilson, among others.
After graduation, Sanders studied Shakespearean theatre in England on a Fulbright Scholarship, and served a stint with the Peace Corps in the states of Paraiba and Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
Sanders joined Gordon Jump and Frank Bonner in reprising his original WKRP role on The New WKRP in Cincinnati in the early 1990s. He has guest appeared on other television shows, including Lou Grant, Kojak, The Rockford Files, Alice, Newhart, Murder, She Wrote, Designing Women, and Married... with Children, and has also acted in the mini-series Roots: The Next Generations, the animated series Inhumanoids, the horror film Lovers Lane, and the Robert De Niro/Cuba Gooding Jr. film Men of Honor.
Besides being an actor, Sanders is a screenwriter, having written, among other works, several episodes of WKRP in Cincinnati. In 1993, he starred in the computer game Day of the Tentacle as the voice of Bernard.
Filmography
Actor
2016
Day of the Tentacle: Remastered (Video Game) as
Bernard Bernoulli (voice)
2006
The Delivery (Short) as
Philippe
2006
Expiration Date as
Municipal Cemetery Administrator
2005
Sly Dog (Short) as
Joe
2005
Circus of Infinity (Short) as
God, Audience
2002
Rose Red (TV Mini Series) as
Mr. Stanton
- Episode #1.2 (2002) - Mr. Stanton
- Episode #1.1 (2002) - Mr. Stanton
2001
The Fugitive (TV Series) as
Judge
- And in That Darkness (2001) - Judge
2000
Shot List (Short) as
Cyril
2000
The John Report with Bob (TV Series) as
Bob's Dad
- Episode #1.2 - Bob's Dad
2000
Men of Honor as
Donny Moor Bartender
2000
Lovers Lane as
Dr. Jack Grefe
1999
Anoosh of the Airways as
Burton Lloydhammer
1999
Batman Beyond (TV Series) as
Mr. Deakins
- Spellbound (1999) - Mr. Deakins (voice)
1998
Nowheresville as
Duane (The Stalker)
1997
Unhappily Ever After (TV Series) as
Mr. Peabody
- Teacher of the Year (1997) - Mr. Peabody
1997
Black Circle Boys as
Mr. Dunkel
1995
Simon & Simon: In Trouble Again (TV Movie) as
Dr. Budwig
1994
The Beans of Egypt, Maine as
Lee / Earlene's Father
1993
Day of the Tentacle (Video Game) as
Bernard Bernoulli (voice)
1991
The New WKRP in Cincinnati (TV Series) as
Les Nessman
- Father of the Groom (1993) - Les Nessman
- Chicago Story (1993) - Les Nessman
- My Fair Nun (1993) - Les Nessman
- Treasure of Sierra Smith (1993) - Les Nessman
- Old Boyfriend (1993) - Les Nessman
- Johnny Goes Hollywood (1993) - Les Nessman
- Fever All Through the Night (1993) - Les Nessman
- Fever in the Morning (1993) - Les Nessman
- Murder by Les (1993) - Les Nessman
- Herb's Lost Weekend (1993) - Les Nessman
- Nancy's Old Man (1993) - Les Nessman
- Flimm Flam Man (1992) - Les Nessman
- Moss Dies (1992) - Les Nessman
- Strange Bedfellows (1992) - Les Nessman
- Loveland to Look At (1992) - Les Nessman
- Play Razor for Me (1992) - Les Nessman
- Nancy in Charge (1992) - Les Nessman
- Studs of the Airwaves (1992) - Les Nessman
- Can't We Get Along? (1992) - Les Nessman
- Sex, Lies & Videotape (1992) - Les Nessman
- Retreading on Thin Ice (1992) - Les Nessman
- Razor's Edge (1992) - Les Nessman
- Donovan, Don't Leave Us (1992) - Les Nessman
- Spies Like Us (1992) - Les Nessman
- Where's Jack (1992) - Les Nessman
- Chicken a La Russe (1992) - Les Nessman
- Herb's Got a Guy (1992) - Les Nessman
- Number One Fan (1992) - Les Nessman
- Mama Was a Rolling Stone (1992) - Les Nessman
- Long Live the King (1992) - Les Nessman
- Jennifer and the Prince (1992) - Les Nessman
- Razor D Rules (1992) - Les Nessman
- You Are My Sunshine, My Only Sunshine (1992) - Les Nessman
- Hip Hop KRP (1992) - Les Nessman
- Venus, We Hardly Knew Ya (1992) - Les Nessman
- Good Ole Radio Days (1991) - Les Nessman
- The Real Thing (1991) - Les Nessman
- Here Comes Everybody: Part 2 (1991) - Les Nessman
- Here Comes Everybody: Part 1 (1991) - Les Nessman
- Cincinnati's Favorite Couple (1991) - Les Nessman
- The Cincinnati Kids (1991) - Les Nessman
- Lotto Fever (1991) - Les Nessman
- Then Came Nessman (1991) - Les Nessman
- Every Move a Work of Art (1991) - Les Nessman
- Where Are We Going? (1991) - Les Nessman
- Where Are We? (1991) - Les Nessman
1991
Neon City as
Dickie Devine
1990
Gravedale High (TV Series) as
Ben Franklin
- Goodbye Gravedale (1990) - Ben Franklin
1990
Designing Women (TV Series) as
Dr. Elliot Newhouse / Elmer Peace
- A Class Act (1990) - Dr. Elliot Newhouse
- Tornado Watch (1990) - Elmer Peace
1990
Coach (TV Series) as
Warren Graustark
- The Break-Up (1990) - Warren Graustark
1990
Charles in Charge (TV Series) as
Professor Smalley
- Let's Quake a Deal (1990) - Professor Smalley
1990
227 (TV Series) as
Dean Thurston
- Nightmare on 227 (1990) - Dean Thurston
1986
Growing Pains (TV Series) as
Dr. Rosenfeld / Luther
- Show Ninety: Who Knew? (1989) - Dr. Rosenfeld
- The Anniversary That Never Was (1986) - Luther
1989
The Magical World of Disney (TV Series) as
Dr. Dark
- The Absent-Minded Professor: Trading Places (1989) - Dr. Dark
1989
Night Court (TV Series) as
City Auditor Clark Edwards
- Clip Show: Part 2 (1989) - City Auditor Clark Edwards
- Clip Show: Part 1 (1989) - City Auditor Clark Edwards
1987
You Can't Take It with You (TV Series) as
Paul Sycamore
- For Whom the Phone Rings (1988) - Paul Sycamore
- The Trial of Martin Vanderhof (1987) - Paul Sycamore
- Like Mother, Like Son (1987) - Paul Sycamore
- Episode #1.10 (1987) - Paul Sycamore
1988
Perry Mason: The Case of the Avenging Ace (TV Movie) as
Chester Lackberry
1988
Duet (TV Series) as
Bob
- Funny Valentine (1988) - Bob
1988
The Law and Harry McGraw (TV Series)
- Beware the Ides of May (1988)
1987
Married... with Children (TV Series) as
Mr. Conner
- Sixteen Years and What Do You Get (1987) - Mr. Conner
1987
Nothing in Common (TV Series) as
Dooley
- Gone Fishing (1987) - Dooley
1987
Easy Street (TV Series) as
Ravenkeep
- The Mad Gardener (1987) - Ravenkeep
1986
InHumanoids (TV Series) as
Dr. Derek Bright
- Auger- for President? (1986) - Dr. Derek Bright (voice)
- The Masterson Team (1986) - Dr. Derek Bright (voice)
- Primal Passions (1986) - Dr. Derek Bright (voice)
- The Evil Eye (1986) - Dr. Derek Bright (voice)
- Negative Polarity (1986) - Dr. Derek Bright (voice)
- Cult of Darkness (1986) - Dr. Derek Bright (voice)
- The Surma Plan (1986) - Dr. Derek Bright (voice)
- Cypheroid (1986) - Dr. Derek Bright (voice)
1986
ALF (TV Series) as
Hogarth
- Pennsylvania 6-5000 (1986) - Hogarth
1986
Knots Landing (TV Series) as
Harry Nold
- The Legacy (1986) - Harry Nold
1986
Blacke's Magic (TV Series) as
Harry Sneed
- The Revenge of the Esperanza (1986) - Harry Sneed
1986
Riptide (TV Series) as
Pierce Fenner
- A Matter of Policy (1986) - Pierce Fenner
1984
Murder, She Wrote (TV Series) as
Gerald Richards / Arnold Megrim
- Trial by Error (1986) - Gerald Richards
- We're Off to Kill the Wizard (1984) - Arnold Megrim
1985
Who's the Boss? (TV Series) as
Bob Wormser
- It Happened One Summer: Part 2 (1985) - Bob Wormser
- It Happened One Summer: Part 1 (1985) - Bob Wormser
1984
Spencer (TV Series) as
Benjamin Beanley
- Grandpa the Lover (1985) - Benjamin Beanley
- Wayne's Nose Job (1985) - Benjamin Beanley
- Crazy Girl (1985) - Benjamin Beanley
- Doris and the Tutor (1985) - Benjamin Beanley
- Voices in the Hall (1985) - Benjamin Beanley
- Millie's Affair (1985) - Benjamin Beanley
- The Grandparents Move In (1985) - Benjamin Beanley
- The Drive-In (1985) - Benjamin Beanley
- The World's Worst Date (1984) - Benjamin Beanley
- Fast Times (1984) - Benjamin Beanley
- Spencer Joins the Army (1984) - Benjamin Beanley
- The Divorcee (1984) - Benjamin Beanley
- Pilot (1984) - Benjamin Beanley
1985
Berrenger's (TV Series) as
Frank Chapman
- Maelstrom (1985) - Frank Chapman
- Roll Tape (1985) - Frank Chapman
- Best Laid Plans (1985) - Frank Chapman
- Power Play (1985) - Frank Chapman
- Fame & Misfortune (1985) - Frank Chapman
- Of Boardrooms & Bedrooms (1985) - Frank Chapman
- For Gloria's Benefit (1985) - Frank Chapman
- Overture (1985) - Frank Chapman
1984
Newhart (TV Series) as
Cecil Breech
- Leave It to the Beavers (1984) - Cecil Breech
1984
Simon & Simon (TV Series) as
Ed Laughlin
- The Wrong Stuff (1984) - Ed Laughlin
1983
Goodnight, Beantown (TV Series) as
Chester
- Peace on Earth (1983) - Chester
1983
Found Money (TV Movie)
1983
Alice (TV Series) as
Arnold
- Alice's Blind Date (1983) - Arnold
1983
Valley Girl as
Drivers' Ed Teacher
1983
The Invisible Woman (TV Movie) as
Orville
1983
It Takes Two (TV Series) as
Arthur Frain
- Anniversary (1983) - Arthur Frain
1982
Gloria (TV Series) as
Barry Farnum
- The Taxman Cometh (1982) - Barry Farnum
1978
WKRP in Cincinnati (TV Series) as
Les Nessman / Mother Nessman
- The Impossible Dream (1982) - Les Nessman / Mother Nessman
- To Err Is Human (1982) - Les Nessman
- Up and Down the Dial (1982) - Les Nessman
- The Creation of Venus (1982) - Les Nessman
- Dear Liar (1982) - Les Nessman
- Fire (1982) - Les Nessman
- Circumstantial Evidence (1982) - Les Nessman
- I'll Take Romance (1982) - Les Nessman
- Changes (1982) - Les Nessman
- Pills (1982) - Les Nessman
- Jennifer and Johnny's Charity (1982) - Les Nessman
- You Can't Go Out of Town Again (1982) - Les Nessman
- The Consultant (1981) - Les Nessman
- Love, Exciting and New (1981) - Les Nessman
- Jennifer and the Will (1981) - Les Nessman
- Three Days of the Condo (1981) - Les Nessman
- Who's on First? (1981) - Les Nessman
- Straight from the Heart (1981) - Les Nessman
- Rumors (1981) - Les Nessman
- The Union (1981) - Les Nessman
- An Explosive Affair: Part 2 (1981) - Les Nessman
- An Explosive Affair: Part 1 (1981) - Les Nessman
- Clean Up Radio Everywhere (1981) - Les Nessman
- Til Debt Do Us Part (1981) - Les Nessman
- Nothing to Fear But- (1981) - Les Nessman
- A Simple Little Wedding (1981) - Les Nessman
- Out to Lunch (1981) - Les Nessman
- Secrets of Dayton Heights (1981) - Les Nessman
- I Am Woman (1981) - Les Nessman
- Ask Jennifer (1981) - Les Nessman
- Dr. Fever and Mr. Tide: Part 2 (1981) - Les Nessman
- Dr. Fever and Mr. Tide: Part 1 (1981) - Les Nessman
- Venus and the Man (1981) - Les Nessman
- Frog Story (1981) - Les Nessman
- Daydreams (1981) - Les Nessman
- The Painting (1981) - Les Nessman
- Baby, It's Cold Inside (1981) - Les Nessman
- Bah, Humbug (1980) - Les Nessman
- A Mile in My Shoes (1980) - Les Nessman
- Hotel Oceanview (1980) - Les Nessman
- The Baby (1980) - Les Nessman
- Real Families (1980) - Les Nessman
- Jennifer Moves (1980) - Les Nessman
- The Airplane Show (1980) - Les Nessman
- Most Improved Station (1980) - Les Nessman
- Venus Rising (1980) - Les Nessman
- Filthy Pictures: Part 2 (1980) - Les Nessman
- Filthy Pictures: Part 1 (1980) - Les Nessman
- The Doctor's Daughter (1980) - Les Nessman
- In Concert (1980) - Les Nessman
- Les' Groupie (1980) - Les Nessman
- The Americanization of Ivan (1980) - Les Nessman
- Put Up or Shut Up (1980) - Les Nessman
- Herb's Dad (1980) - Les Nessman
- A Family Affair (1980) - Les Nessman
- God Talks to Johnny (1979) - Les Nessman
- Sparky (1979) - Les Nessman
- Jennifer's Home for Christmas (1979) - Les Nessman
- Bailey's Big Break (1979) - Les Nessman
- Baby, If You've Ever Wondered (1979) - Les Nessman
- The Patter of Little Feet (1979) - Les Nessman
- Mike Fright (1979) - Les Nessman
- Carlson for President (1979) - Les Nessman
- Jennifer Falls in Love (1979) - Les Nessman
- Bad Risk (1979) - Les Nessman
- Baseball (1979) - Les Nessman
- For Love or Money: Part 2 (1979) - Les Nessman
- For Love or Money: Part 1 (1979) - Les Nessman
- Fish Story (1979) - Les Nessman
- Young Master Carlson (1979) - Les Nessman
- I Do, I Do- for Now (1979) - Les Nessman
- Who Is Gordon Sims? (1979) - Les Nessman
- Commercial Break (1979) - Les Nessman
- I Want to Keep My Baby (1979) - Les Nessman
- Never Leave Me, Lucille (1979) - Les Nessman
- Johnny Comes Back (1979) - Les Nessman
- Goodbye Johnny (1979) - Les Nessman
- Tornado (1979) - Les Nessman
- The Contest Nobody Could Win (1979) - Les Nessman
- A Date with Jennifer (1979) - Les Nessman
- Love Returns (1978) - Les Nessman
- Turkeys Away (1978) - Les Nessman
- Bailey's Show (1978) - Les Nessman
- Hold Up (1978) - Les Nessman
- Hoodlum Rock (1978) - Les Nessman
- Les on a Ledge (1978) - Les Nessman
- Pilot: Part 2 (1978) - Les Nessman
- Pilot: Part 1 (1978) - Les Nessman
1982
ABC Weekend Specials (TV Series) as
Mr. Lester Little
- The Joke's on Mr. Little (1982) - Mr. Lester Little
1980
Fantasy Island (TV Series) as
Race Track Announcer
- The Devil and Mandy Breem/Instant Millionaire (1980) - Race Track Announcer
1980
Trouble in High Timber Country (TV Movie) as
Lester
1980
The Nude Bomb as
German Delegate
1979
Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker (TV Movie) as
Mr. Fogarty
1979
Ike: The War Years (TV Mini Series) as
Correspondent
- Part II (1979) - Correspondent
1979
Roots: The Next Generations (TV Mini Series) as
Captain
- Part III (1914-1918) (1979) - Captain
1978
Bud and Lou (TV Movie) as
Doctor
1978
The Gypsy Warriors (TV Movie) as
German Scientist
1978
Keefer (TV Movie) as
Bemmel
1978
James at 16 (TV Series)
- Listless Fever (1978)
1978
Ruby and Oswald (TV Movie) as
Agent Kelley
1977
The Rockford Files (TV Series) as
Samuel Romney
- The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls (1977) - Samuel Romney
1977
Rafferty (TV Series) as
Rev. Campbell
- The Wild Child (1977) - Rev. Campbell
1977
Kojak (TV Series) as
Drunk
- A Strange Kind of Love (1977) - Drunk
1977
Barnaby Jones (TV Series) as
Joe Keller
- The Wife Beater (1977) - Joe Keller
1977
Lou Grant (TV Series) as
Richard T. Harvey
- Hostages (1977) - Richard T. Harvey
1977
Good Against Evil (TV Movie) as
The Doctor
1977
Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn (TV Movie) as
Travis
1977
Billy Jack Goes to Washington as
Jerry - Dan's Friend
1977
McCloud (TV Series) as
Clayton
- London Bridges (1977) - Clayton
1976
Dial A-L-C-O-H-O-L (TV Series)
1976
Victory at Entebbe (TV Movie) as
Passenger (uncredited)
1976
Midway (TV version only) (uncredited)
1975
Three Days of the Condor as
Sarge (uncredited)
1974
The Doctors (TV Series) as
Bartender
- Episode #1.2909 (1974) - Bartender (uncredited)
- Episode #1.2908 (1974) - Bartender (credit only)
- Episode #1.2893 (1974) - Bartender (uncredited)
- Episode #1.2892 (1974) - Bartender (uncredited)
1974
Lincoln: Trial by Fire (TV Movie) as
Minister Adams
1972
David: Off and On (Documentary short) as
David's Dad
1971
They've Killed President Lincoln! (TV Movie) as
Dr. Leale
Writer
1992
The New WKRP in Cincinnati (TV Series) (3 episodes)
- Fever All Through the Night (1993)
- Fever in the Morning (1993)
- Long Live the King (1992)
1990
The Famous Teddy Z (TV Series) (written by - 1 episode)
- Engineer Bob (1990) - (written by)
1983
Found Money (TV Movie)
1979
WKRP in Cincinnati (TV Series) (written by - 5 episodes)
- The Impossible Dream (1982) - (written by)
- The Airplane Show (1980) - (written by)
- Most Improved Station (1980) - (written by)
- Commercial Break (1979) - (written by)
- A Date with Jennifer (1979) - (written by)
Producer
1979
The Wooden Gun (producer)
Soundtrack
-
WKRP in Cincinnati (TV Series) (1 episode, 1979) (performer - 5 episodes, 1979 - 1981)
- Nothing to Fear But- (1981) - (performer: "The Great Pretender" - uncredited)
- Bah, Humbug (1980) - (performer: "Sh-Boom" - uncredited)
- Les' Groupie (1980) - (performer: "Chances Are" - uncredited)
- Sparky (1979) - (performer: "Big Fat Muffin" - uncredited)
- Jennifer's Home for Christmas (1979) - (performer: "Good King Wenceslas" - uncredited)
- Commercial Break (1979) - ("Ferryman's Funerals", uncredited)
Self
2005
TV Land's Top Ten (TV Series documentary) as
Self
- Holiday Moments (2005) - Self
1980
Solid Gold (TV Series) as
Self
- Co-Hosts Richard Sanders & Tim Reid (1980) - Self
- Pilot (1980) - Self
1979
The Hollywood Squares (Daytime) (TV Series) as
Self - Panelist
- Episode dated 14 April 1980 (1980) - Self - Panelist
- Episode dated 31 December 1979 (1979) - Self - Panelist
- Episode dated 15 October 1979 (1979) - Self - Panelist
1980
All-Star Family Feud Special (TV Series) as
Self - Celebrity Contestant
- Special #8: Dallas vs. Benson; WKRP vs. Angie (1980) - Self - Celebrity Contestant
1979
The Mike Douglas Show (TV Series) as
Self - Actor
- Episode #19.41 (1979) - Self - Actor
Archive Footage
2021
History of the Sitcom (TV Series documentary) as
Les Nessman
- Working for Laughs (2021) - Les Nessman
1991
The New WKRP in Cincinnati (TV Series) as
Les Nessman
- How Did We Get Here? (1991) - Les Nessman
1982
The Bob Braun Show (TV Series) as
Self - Actor
- Episode dated 29 January 1982 (1982) - Self - Actor
1979
WKRP in Cincinnati (TV Series) as
Les Nessman
- Mama's Review (1979) - Les Nessman
References
Richard Sanders (actor) Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA