William Sadler ( actor ) - wikipedia William Sadler ( actor ) This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. ( December 2009 ) William Sadler William Thomas Sadler ( 1950 - 04 - 13 ) April 13, 1950 ( age 68 ) Buffalo, New York, U.S. Education State University of New York, Geneseo ( BA ) Cornell University ( MFA ) Occupation Actor Years active 1977 -- present Spouse ( s ) Marni Joan Bakst ( m. 1977 ) Children William Thomas Sadler ( born April 13, 1950 ) is an American film and television actor. His television and motion picture roles have included Chesty Puller in The Pacific, Luther Sloan in Star Trek : Deep Space Nine, Sheriff Jim Valenti in Roswell, convict Heywood in The Shawshank Redemption, Senator Vernon Trent in Hard to Kill, and the Grim Reaper in Bill & Ted 's Bogus Journey, a role for which he won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor, and his role as Colonel Stuart opposite Bruce Willis in Die Hard 2. He played the character of President of the United States, Matthew Ellis, in Iron Man 3, in Marvel 's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and in WHIH Newsfront. He also recurs as Steve McGarrett 's murdered father, John McGarrett, in the 2010 remake of the 1968 television series, Hawaii Five - O. In 2015, Sadler had an appearance in the TV series Z Nation. Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Filmography 3.1 Film 3.2 Television 3.3 Web series 4 References 5 External links Early life Sadler was born in Buffalo, New York, the son of Jane and William Sadler. He is of mostly Scottish descent, with smaller amounts of English and German ancestry. From an early age, he took to performing in front of an audience. Playing a variety of stringed instruments, Sadler found hometown success during his high - school years at Orchard Park High School. He took on the persona as Banjo Bill Sadler, a banjo - playing singer who cracked jokes while playing. After graduating from high school, he enrolled in SUNY Geneseo. Following that, he spent two years at Cornell University where he earned his master 's degree in Acting with a minor in Speech Communications. He is a certified speech teacher and practiced in accents. Career This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. ( December 2017 ) Sadler took his first post-school role in Florida and soon relocated to Boston, moving in with his sister while scrubbing the floors of a lobster boat by day and cutting his acting chops at night. Slowly working up the nerve to take a shot at the big time in New York, a chance meeting with an old schoolmate on a trip into the city resulted in Sadler 's casting in an off - off - Broadway production of Chekhov 's Ivanov. After a brief turn at the Trinity Square Repertory Company in Providence, Rhode Island, Sadler moved back to New York and rented an apartment in the East Village, beginning 12 years in which he appeared in over 75 productions, including originating the role of `` Sgt. Toomey '' in the Broadway run of Neil Simon 's Biloxi Blues, opposite Matthew Broderick in 1985. Sadler is best known for his roles in the 1990 action film Die Hard 2 as Colonel Stuart, as Heywood in the 1994 prison drama The Shawshank Redemption, the Grim Reaper in the 1991 comedy Bill & Ted 's Bogus Journey and as Brayker in Demon Knight. He was also a series regular on the television series Roswell as Sheriff Jim Valenti and in Wonderfalls as Darrin Tyler. Other film credits include Trespass, K - 9, Project X, Disturbing Behavior, Kinsey, The Battle of Shaker Heights, Purple Heart, Jimmy and Judy and August Rush. Sadler 's TV guest appearances include In the Heat of the Night, Roseanne, Tru Calling, Tour of Duty, CSI, Numb3rs, and Law & Order : Criminal Intent. He had a recurring role on Star Trek : Deep Space Nine as Luther Sloan, a member of a covert organization called Section 31. He appeared in three episodes of Star Trek : Deep Space Nine in its final two seasons. In 2007, he played Carlton Fog on ABC 's Traveler, and in 2008 he appeared in both NBC 's Medium as well as Fox Television 's Fringe. The 1989 pilot episode of the HBO horror anthology series Tales from the Crypt featured Sadler in its lead role. In March 2011, Sadler made a guest appearance in NBC 's Chase. Sadler portrayed Julius Caesar in the contemporary adaptation of William Shakespeare 's Julius Caesar on Broadway alongside Denzel Washington at the Belasco Theatre. Recently, he finished shooting with American independent filmmakers Dylan Bank and Morgan Pehme on the film Nothing Sacred. Sadler portrayed the robot Victor in the 2010 video game, Fallout : New Vegas. Sadler played Lee Underwood in Greetings from Tim Buckley, a film on Tim and Jeff Buckley, which premiered at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival. Sadler appeared as President of the United States of America Matthew Ellis in Iron Man 3 that was released in May 2013. In 2015, he was part of the Texas Frightmare Weekend, and starred in Ava 's Possessions, which was screened at SXSW. Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1982 Hanky Panky Hotel Clerk 1986 Off Beat Dickson Project X Dr. Carroll 1989 K - 9 Car Salesman Don 1990 Hard to Kill Senator Vernon Trent Die Hard 2 Colonel Stuart The Hot Spot Frank Sutton 1991 Bill & Ted 's Bogus Journey Grim Reaper / English Family Member Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor Rush Monroe Trespass Don Perry 1993 Freaked Dick Brian 1994 The Shawshank Redemption Heywood 1995 Tales From the Crypt : Demon Knight Brayker Bordello of Blood The Mummy Solo Colonel Frank Madden / Improved Solo RocketMan William `` Wild Bill '' Overbeck 1998 Ambushed Jim Natter Disturbing Behavior Dorian Newberry Reach the Rock Quinn 1999 Stealth Fighter Adm. Frank Peterson The Green Mile Klaus Detterick Skippy Ringo 2002 Another Life Man Short film 2003 The Battle of Shaker Heights Abraham ' Abe ' Ernswiler Kinsey Kenneth Braun 2005 Devour Ivan Reisz Confess Senator Roger Lampert Purple Heart Colonel Allen 2006 Jimmy and Judy Uncle Rodney Premium Cole Carter Unspoken Dad The Wine Bar Bartender Short film 2007 A New Wave Mr. Dewitt August Rush Thomas Novacek The Mist Jim Grondin 2008 Eagle Eye William Shaw The Good Student Honest Phil Palmer 2009 Stream Dr. Shelby Short film Shadowheart Thomas Conners Direct - to - video The Hills Run Red Wilson Wyler Concannon Last Day of Summer Mr. Crolick Beyond All Boundaries Lt. Col. Lewis `` Chesty '' Puller Voice Role Short film Red & Blue Marbles Melvin Smarty Bob Fallout : New Vegas Victor Video game, Voice Switchback Tom O'Roarke 2011 Silent But Deadly John Capper Open Gate Robert 2012 Man on a Ledge Frank Cassidy and Valet See Girl Run Marty Greetings from Tim Buckley Lee Underwood 2013 Iron Man 3 President Matthew Ellis Machete Kills Sheriff Doakes The Suspect Sheriff Dixon 2014 Freedom Plimpton 2016 The Duel Lawrence Sullivan Ross, Governor of Texas The Hollow Sheriff Beau McKinney 2017 Living Among Us Samuel 2019 Grudge The Highwaymen Post-production Television Year Title Role Notes 1977 The CBS Festival of Lively Arts for Young People Episode : `` Henry Winkler Meets William Shakespeare '' 1978 The Great Wallendas Dieter Schmidt Television film 1981 Charlie and the Great Balloon Chase Joey Television film Nurse Dr. George Bradford Episode : `` Margin for Error '' 1982 The Neighborhood Television film Newhart Guest Episode : `` Lady & the Tramps '' AfterMash Joe Warner 1985 Assaulted Nuts Various 1986 The Equalizer Rick Dillon / Kevin Moore Episode : `` Shades of Darkness '' Private Eye Charlie Fontana Television film / pilot Tour of Duty Major Rigby Episode : `` Dislocations '' 1987 -- 88 Private Eye Lieutenant Charlie Fontana 7 episodes In the Heat of the Night Ritchie Epman Episodes : `` Blind Spot : Part 1 '' & `` Blind Spot : Part 2 '' St. Elsewhere Episode : `` The Abby Singer Show '' Cadets Colonel Tom Sturdivant Dear John Ben Episode : `` The Younger Girl '' 1989 Roseanne Dwight Episodes : `` Dan 's Birthday Bash '', `` Saturday '' Hooperman Lanny Hardin Episode : `` Look Homeward, Dirtbag '' Unconquered Television film Murphy Brown Colonel Fitzpatrick Episode : `` Off the Job Experience '' Hard Time on Planet Earth Officer Rollman Episode : `` The Way Home '' Gideon Oliver Franklin Finney Episode : `` By the Waters of Babylon '' 1989 1994 Tales from the Crypt Niles Talbot The Grim Reaper Episode : `` The Man Who Was Death '' Episode : `` The Assassin '' 1990 The Face of Fear Anthony Prine Television film 1991 Two - Fisted Tales Mr. Rush ( Presenter ) pilot The Last to Go Treat Television film Tagget Yuri Chelenkoff Television film 1993 Night Driving Eddy Television short film Jack Reed : Badge of Honor Anatole Television film 1994 Bermuda Grace Sam Grace Television film Roadracers Sarge Television film 1995 The Omen Dr. Linus pilot The Outer Limits Frank Hellner Episode : `` Valerie 23 '' Poltergeist : The Legacy Shamus Bloom Episode : The Fifth Sepulcher 1998 -- 99 Star Trek : Deep Space Nine Luther Sloan Episodes : `` Inquisition '', `` Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges '', `` Extreme Measures '' 1999 Witness Protection Sharp Television film 1999 -- 2002 Roswell Sheriff Jim Valenti 58 episodes 2003 Ed Lee Leetch Episode : `` The Case '' Law & Order : Criminal Intent Kyle Devlin Episode : `` Graansha '' Project Greenlight Himself Season 2 ; unknown episodes Wonderfalls Darrin Tyler Thirteen episodes JAG Saul Wainwright Episode : `` Retrial '' 2005 Third Watch Scotty Murray Episode : `` Forever Blue '' Tru Calling Travis Episode : `` Enough '' Law & Order : Trial by Jury Paul Rice Episode : `` Blue Wall '' Law & Order Kevin Drucker Episode : `` Life Line '' 2006 CSI : Crime Scene Investigation Karl `` Red '' Cooper Episode : `` Killer '' The Path to 9 / 11 Neil Herman Miniseries 2007 Numb3rs J. Everett Tuttle Episode : `` Democracy '' The Black Donnellys Munst Episode : `` All of Us Are in the Gutter '' Jesse Stone : Sea Change Gino Fish Television film Traveler Carlton Fog 7 episodes 2008 Medium John Edgemont Episode : `` Girls Ai n't Nothing But Trouble '' 2008, 2011 Fringe Doctor Sumner Episodes : `` The Equation '', `` Alone in the World '' 2009 Jesse Stone : Thin Ice Gino Fish Television film Jesse Stone : No Remorse Gino Fish Television film Criminal Minds Ray Finnegan Episode : `` Reckoner '' The Pacific Lt. Col. Lewis `` Chesty '' Burwell Puller, USMC Miniseries 2010 - 2015 Hawaii Five - 0 John McGarrett Various episodes : seasons 1 - 5 2011 White Collar Brett Gelles Season 3 : Episode `` Where There 's a Will '' 2011 Person of Interest Seamus O'Mara Episode : `` Pilot '' Jesse Stone : Innocents Lost Gino Fish Television film 2012 Damages Helmut Torben 6 episodes Jesse Stone : Benefit of the Doubt Gino Fish Television film 2013 666 Park Avenue Nate McKenny Episodes : `` The Elysian Fields '', `` Lazarus - Part 1 '' Elementary Ian Gale Episode : `` Blood Is Thicker '' Homeland Michael Higgins Episode : `` The Yoga Play '' The Blacklist Sam Episode : `` General Ludd ( No. 108 ) '' 2014 Madam Secretary George Peters Episode : `` Pilot '' The Flash Simon Stagg Episode : `` Fastest Man Alive '' 2015 WHiH Newsfront - With Christine Everhart President Matthew Ellis 2 episodes ; Web series Edge Big Bill Television film Jesse Stone : Lost in Paradise Gino Fish Television film Z Nation Sam Custer Episode : `` Zombie Road '' Blue Bloods Armin Janko Episode : `` Absolute Power '' 2015 -- 2016 Marvel 's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. President Matthew Ellis 3 episodes 2017 When We Rise Chuck Cooper 2017 -- present Power Tony Teressi Web series Year Title Role Notes 2016 WHIH Newsfront President Matthew Ellis 2 episodes 2017 Day 5 Sandman References Jump up ^ `` ' Bill & Ted 's ' Grim Reaper Is a Vegetarian and Songwriter ''. The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010 - 09 - 30. Jump up ^ William Sadler Biography TVGuide.com Jump up ^ `` Genealogy of Sadler 's paternal family ''. Retrieved January 30, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Genealogy of Sadler 's maternal family ''. Retrieved January 30, 2016. Jump up ^ Bill Sadler biography, aol.com ; accessed February 18, 2016. Jump up ^ `` Keck 's Exclusives : NBC 's Chase Casts Annie 's Dad ''. TVGuide.com. Retrieved January 18, 2011. Jump up ^ `` Anthrax bassist Frank Bello joins Penn Badgely 's Jeff Buckley film ''. HitFix. August 23, 2011. Retrieved October 2, 2012. Jump up ^ Kurchak, Sarah ( August 15, 2012 ). `` TIFF 2012 Adds Greetings From Tim Buckley, Spike Lee 's Bad 25 Michael Jackson Doc, Skrillex Soundtrack ''. Spinner. Retrieved October 2, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Texas Frightmare Weekend 2015 Adds `` DEMON KNIGHT '' star William Sadler ! ``. Fangoria. June 26, 2012. Retrieved November 5, 2012. Jump up ^ `` Ava 's Possession ''. DC. June 26, 2012. Retrieved November 5, 2012. Jump up ^ Blue Bloods `` Absolute Power '' episode, imdb.com ; accessed February 18, 2016. External links William Sadler on IMDb Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor Marty Feldman ( 1974 / 75 ) Jay Robinson ( 1976 ) Alec Guinness ( 1977 ) Burgess Meredith ( 1978 ) Arte Johnson ( 1979 ) Scatman Crothers ( 1980 ) Burgess Meredith ( 1981 ) Richard Lynch ( 1982 ) John Lithgow ( 1983 ) Tracey Walter ( 1984 ) Roddy McDowall ( 1985 ) Bill Paxton ( 1986 ) Richard Dawson ( 1987 ) Robert Loggia ( 1988 ) Thomas F. Wilson ( 1989 / 90 ) William Sadler ( 1991 ) Robin Williams ( 1992 ) Lance Henriksen ( 1993 ) Gary Sinise ( 1994 ) Brad Pitt ( 1995 ) Brent Spiner ( 1996 ) Vincent D'Onofrio ( 1997 ) Ian McKellen ( 1998 ) Michael Clarke Duncan ( 1999 ) Willem Dafoe ( 2000 ) Ian McKellen ( 2001 ) Andy Serkis ( 2002 ) Sean Astin ( 2003 ) David Carradine ( 2004 ) Mickey Rourke ( 2005 ) Ben Affleck ( 2006 ) Javier Bardem ( 2007 ) Heath Ledger ( 2008 ) Stephen Lang ( 2009 ) Andrew Garfield ( 2010 ) Andy Serkis ( 2011 ) Clark Gregg ( 2012 ) Ben Kingsley ( 2013 ) Richard Armitage ( 2014 ) Adam Driver ( 2015 ) John Goodman ( 2016 ) Patrick Stewart ( 2017 ) WorldCat Identities BNE : XX1163551 BNF : cb140248369 ( data ) GND : 1017964475 ISNI : 0000 0000 7823 5564 LCCN : no97018070 VIAF : 36519532 Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_Sadler_(actor)&oldid=862918108 '' Categories : 1950 births Living people 20th - century American male actors 21st - century American male actors American male film actors American male television actors American male voice actors American people of English descent American people of German descent American people of Scottish descent Cornell University alumni Male actors from Buffalo, New York State University of New York at Geneseo alumni Hidden categories : BLP articles lacking sources from December 2009 All BLP articles lacking sources Articles with hCards All articles with unsourced statements Articles with unsourced statements from February 2016 Articles needing additional references from December 2017 All articles needing additional references Articles with unsourced statements from December 2017 Articles with unsourced statements from October 2015 Wikipedia articles with BNE identifiers Wikipedia articles with BNF identifiers Wikipedia articles with GND identifiers Wikipedia articles with ISNI identifiers Wikipedia articles with LCCN identifiers Wikipedia articles with VIAF identifiers Talk Contents About Wikipedia Afrikaans Asturianu تۆرکجه Čeština Deutsch Español فارسی Français 한국어 Bahasa Indonesia Italiano Nederlands 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Русский Suomi Svenska Українська Tiếng Việt 中文 14 more Edit links This page was last edited on 7 October 2018, at 15 : 20 ( UTC ). 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Question: who plays the grim reaper in bill and ted
Answer: William Thomas Sadler