Actor profile

Jay O. Sanders

16th April 1953 Austin, Texas, USA Acting

Jay Olcutt Sanders (born April 16, 1953) is an American film, theatre and television actor and playwright. He frequently appears in plays off-Broadway at The Public Theatre. He has received a Drama Desk Award and a New York Drama Critics' Circle Award. Sanders made his off-Broadway debut in a Shakespeare in the Park production of Henry V in 1976. He originated the role of Bradley in Sam Shepard's Buried Child (1978). He made his Broadway debut in the play Loose Ends (1979). He returned to Broadway in The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (1983), Saint Joan (1993), Pygmalion (2007), Girl from the North Country (2020), and Purlie Victorious (2023). He made his feature film debut in the comedy Starting Over (1979). He had notable roles in films such as Cross Creek (1983), Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988), Glory (1989), JFK (1991), Hostages (1992), Angels in the Outfield (1994), Music of the Heart (1999), Tumbleweeds (1999), and Revolutionary Road (2008). He took recurring roles in television series including Law & Order: Criminal Intent, The Good Wife, Person of Interest, Blindspot, and Sneaky Pete. He has served as the narrator for the shows Wide Angle, Nova, and Secrets of the Dead. Description above from the Wikipedia article Jay O. Sanders, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

135 Movies 37 TV Shows 1 In Production 173 Credits

Filmography

Movies & TV Shows

Queens of Combat: Rome's Female Gladiators poster

Queens of Combat: Rome's Female Gladiators 28th January 2026 as Narrator

The Rise & Fall of the Colosseum poster

The Rise & Fall of the Colosseum 8th October 2025 as Narration

Girl From the North Country poster

Girl From the North Country 21st November 2024 as Nick Laine

His Three Daughters poster

His Three Daughters 5th September 2024 as Vincent

Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch poster

Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch 24th May 2024 as Ol' Cap'n Cotchipee

Outrage poster

Outrage 1st December 2023 as Frank Brand

When You Finish Saving the World poster

When You Finish Saving the World 20th January 2023 as Roger

BARDO, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths poster

BARDO, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths 27th October 2022 as Ambassador Jones

The Road to Galena poster

The Road to Galena 8th July 2022 as John Baird

Incidental Moments of the Day poster

Incidental Moments of the Day 10th September 2020 as Richard Apple

And So We Come Forth poster

And So We Come Forth 1st July 2020 as Richard Apple

Tapes poster

Tapes 17th June 2020

What Do We Need to Talk About? poster

What Do We Need to Talk About? 29th April 2020 as Richard Apple

Regular Singing poster

Regular Singing 21st April 2020 as Richard Apple

Sorry poster

Sorry 21st April 2020 as Richard Apple

Sweet and Sad poster

Sweet and Sad 21st April 2020 as Richard Apple

That Hopey Changey Thing poster

That Hopey Changey Thing 21st April 2020 as Richard Apple

The Assistant poster

The Assistant 31st January 2020 as Boss (voice)

NOVA: Decoding da Vinci poster

NOVA: Decoding da Vinci 13th November 2019 as Narrator (voice)

Uncle Vanya poster

Uncle Vanya 23rd August 2019 as Vanya

DC Noir poster

DC Noir 29th April 2019 as Sgt. Peters

Saving the Dead Sea poster

Saving the Dead Sea 19th April 2019

Secrets of the Dead: The Nero Files 20th February 2019 as Narrator (voice)

The Violin Alone poster

The Violin Alone 29th January 2019 as Narrator (voice)

Broken Places poster

Broken Places 15th October 2018 as Narrator (voice)

NOVA: Prediction by the Numbers poster

NOVA: Prediction by the Numbers 28th February 2018 as Narrator (voice)

NOVA: First Face of America poster

NOVA: First Face of America 7th February 2018 as Narrator (voice)

Vice 1st January 2018 as Governor

Ghosts of Stonehenge poster

Ghosts of Stonehenge 11th October 2017 as Narrator (voice)

Holocaust Escape Tunnel poster

Holocaust Escape Tunnel 19th April 2017 as Narrator (voice)

The Gabriels: Election Year in the Life of One Family, Play Three: Women of a Certain Age poster

The Gabriels: Election Year in the Life of One Family, Play Three: Women of a Certain Age 24th March 2017 as George Gabriel

The Gabriels: Election Year in the Life of One Family, Play Two: What Did You Expect? poster

The Gabriels: Election Year in the Life of One Family, Play Two: What Did You Expect? 23rd March 2017 as George Gabriel

The Gabriels: Election Year in the Life of One Family, Play One: Hungry poster

The Gabriels: Election Year in the Life of One Family, Play One: Hungry 22nd March 2017 as George Gabriel

Catfight poster

Catfight 3rd March 2017 as Angry Guy

NOVA: Why Trains Crash poster

NOVA: Why Trains Crash 22nd February 2017 as Narrator (voice)

NOVA: Secrets of the Sky Tombs poster

NOVA: Secrets of the Sky Tombs 4th January 2017 as Narrator (voice)

Secrets of the Dead: Graveyard of the Giant Beasts poster

Secrets of the Dead: Graveyard of the Giant Beasts 2nd November 2016 as Narrator (voice)

NOVA: Iceman Reborn poster

NOVA: Iceman Reborn 17th February 2016 as Narrator (voice)

NOVA: Mystery Beneath the Ice poster

NOVA: Mystery Beneath the Ice 20th January 2016 as Narrator (voice)

NOVA: Life's Rocky Start poster

NOVA: Life's Rocky Start 13th January 2016 as Narrator (voice)

NOVA: Secret Tunnel Warfare poster

NOVA: Secret Tunnel Warfare 6th January 2016 as Narrator (voice)

Inside Einstein's Mind: The Enigma of Space and Time poster

Inside Einstein's Mind: The Enigma of Space and Time 25th November 2015 as Narrator (voice)

Secrets of the Dead: The Real Trojan Horse poster

Secrets of the Dead: The Real Trojan Horse 13th October 2015 as Narrator (voice)

NOVA: Secrets of Noah's Ark poster

NOVA: Secrets of Noah's Ark 7th October 2015 as Narrator (voice)

Dawn of Humanity poster

Dawn of Humanity 10th September 2015 as Narrator (voice)

NOVA: The Great Math Mystery poster

NOVA: The Great Math Mystery 15th April 2015 as Narrator (voice)

Northern Borders poster

Northern Borders 16th January 2015 as Agent Sanders

The Mystery of Mona Lisa poster

The Mystery of Mona Lisa 9th July 2014 as Narrator (voice)

The Gathering Swarms poster

The Gathering Swarms 21st May 2014 as Narrator (voice)

NOVA: Cold Case JFK poster

NOVA: Cold Case JFK 13th November 2013 as Narrator (voice)

NOVA: Ground Zero Supertower poster

NOVA: Ground Zero Supertower 11th September 2013 as Self - Narrator (voice)

The River 5th April 2013 as Phil

NOVA: Who Killed Lindbergh's Baby? poster

NOVA: Who Killed Lindbergh's Baby? 1st January 2013 as Narrator (voice)

The Man Who Saved the World poster

The Man Who Saved the World 22nd October 2012 as Narrator (voice)

NOVA: Secrets of the Viking Sword poster

NOVA: Secrets of the Viking Sword 10th October 2012 as Narrator (voice)

Earth from Space poster

Earth from Space 6th May 2012 as Narrator (voice)

A Novel Romance poster

A Novel Romance 11th November 2011 as Walter Evans

I'm Coming Over 14th August 2011 as Walter

Green Lantern poster

Green Lantern 14th June 2011 as Carl Ferris

Adventures in Plymptoons! 30th May 2011 as Self

The Jewel poster

The Jewel 4th March 2011 as Mr. Rothman

Edge of Darkness poster

Edge of Darkness 28th January 2010 as Whitehouse

Riddles of the Sphinx poster

Riddles of the Sphinx 19th January 2010 as Narrator (voice)

Secrets of Stonehenge poster

Secrets of Stonehenge 2nd January 2010 as Narrator (voice)

I Hate Valentine's Day poster

I Hate Valentine's Day 27th June 2009 as Tim the Delivery Guy

The Undying poster

The Undying 1st January 2009 as Dr. Russell Lassiter

Revolutionary Road poster

Revolutionary Road 19th December 2008 as Bart Pollock

Cadillac Records poster

Cadillac Records 5th December 2008 as Mr. Feder

NOVA: Arctic Dinosaurs poster

NOVA: Arctic Dinosaurs 7th October 2008 as Narrator (voice)

The Dissection of Thanksgiving poster

The Dissection of Thanksgiving 1st October 2008 as Cliff

Kill the Day 7th April 2008 as Dr. Susskind

NOVA: Judgement Day - Intelligent Design on Trial poster

NOVA: Judgement Day - Intelligent Design on Trial 18th September 2007 as Narrator (voice)

Greetings from the Shore poster

Greetings from the Shore 28th August 2007 as Commodore Callaghan

Happenstance poster

Happenstance 4th May 2007 as Bob

The Valley of Light poster

The Valley of Light 28th January 2007 as Howard

Wedding Daze poster

Wedding Daze 9th September 2006 as Sheriff

Half Nelson poster

Half Nelson 11th August 2006 as Russ Dunne

The Day After Tomorrow poster

The Day After Tomorrow 26th May 2004 as Frank Harris

Hair High poster

Hair High 17th April 2004 as Football Announcer (voice)

Abby Singer poster

Abby Singer 28th October 2003 as Kevin's Father

D.C. Sniper: 23 Days of Fear poster

D.C. Sniper: 23 Days of Fear 17th October 2003 as Douglas Duncan

Salem Witch Trials poster

Salem Witch Trials 24th December 2002 as Thomas Putnam

Dead Dog poster

Dead Dog 17th October 2001 as Frank Edmonds

The Last Brickmaker in America poster

The Last Brickmaker in America 23rd September 2001 as Mike Potter

Boss of Bosses poster

Boss of Bosses 3rd June 2001 as Joseph O'Brien

Along Came a Spider poster

Along Came a Spider 6th April 2001 as Kyle Craig

My Husband's Double Life poster

My Husband's Double Life 12th March 2001 as Patrick Hennessy Welsh

Picnic poster

Picnic 16th April 2000 as Howard Bevens

Wild Costa Rica poster

Wild Costa Rica 1st January 2000 as Narrator

Earthly Possessions poster

Earthly Possessions 29th December 1999 as Zack Emery

Tumbleweeds poster

Tumbleweeds 24th November 1999 as Dan Miller

Music of the Heart poster

Music of the Heart 29th October 1999 as Dan Paxton

ATF poster

ATF 6th September 1999 as Sam Sinclair

The Secret Life of Girls poster

The Secret Life of Girls 29th May 1999

The Jack Bull poster

The Jack Bull 17th April 1999 as Atty. Gen. Metcalfe

The Confession poster

The Confession 26th March 1999 as Jack Renoble

The Odd Couple II poster

The Odd Couple II 9th April 1998 as Leroy

Wrestling with Alligators poster

Wrestling with Alligators 18th January 1998 as Rick

For Richer or Poorer poster

For Richer or Poorer 11th December 1997 as Samuel Yoder

The Matchmaker poster

The Matchmaker 3rd October 1997 as Senator John McGlory

Kiss the Girls poster

Kiss the Girls 29th September 1997 as FBI Agent Kyle Craig

Daylight poster

Daylight 6th December 1996 as Steven Crighton

The Prosecutors poster

The Prosecutors 2nd December 1996 as DA Alan Baker

Silver Strand poster

Silver Strand 23rd November 1995 as Lucas Hughes

Three Wishes poster

Three Wishes 27th October 1995 as Coach Schramka

Down Came a Blackbird poster

Down Came a Blackbird 22nd October 1995 as Jan Talbeck

The Big Green poster

The Big Green 29th September 1995 as Jay Huffer

Kiss of Death poster

Kiss of Death 21st April 1995 as Federal Agent

Angels in the Outfield poster

Angels in the Outfield 15th July 1994 as Ranch Wilder

Nobody's Children poster

Nobody's Children 3rd March 1994 as Joe Stevens

State of Emergency poster

State of Emergency 21st February 1994 as Dr. Jeffrey Forrest

Rio Shannon poster

Rio Shannon 14th August 1993 as John Cleary

My Boyfriend's Back poster

My Boyfriend's Back 6th August 1993 as Sheriff McCloud

Hostages poster

Hostages 23rd September 1992 as Terry Anderson

JFK poster

JFK 20th December 1991 as Lou Ivon

Meeting Venus poster

Meeting Venus 18th September 1991 as Stephen Taylor

Defenseless poster

Defenseless 23rd August 1991 as Bull Dozer

V.I. Warshawski poster

V.I. Warshawski 26th July 1991 as Murray Ryerson

Mr. Destiny poster

Mr. Destiny 12th October 1990 as Jackie Earle

Revealing Evidence: Stalking the Honolulu Strangler poster

Revealing Evidence: Stalking the Honolulu Strangler 3rd June 1990 as Tom Marshall

Glory poster

Glory 15th December 1989 as Gen. George Crockett Strong

Cold Sassy Tree poster

Cold Sassy Tree 16th October 1989 as Clayton McAllister

Just Like in the Movies poster

Just Like in the Movies 4th October 1989 as Ryan Legrand

The Prince of Pennsylvania poster

The Prince of Pennsylvania 10th October 1988 as Trooper Joe

Tucker: The Man and His Dream poster

Tucker: The Man and His Dream 12th August 1988 as Kirby

The Revolt of Mother 17th February 1988 as Adam Penn

The Misfit Brigade poster

The Misfit Brigade 2nd July 1987 as Tiny

A Doctor's Story poster

A Doctor's Story 23rd April 1984 as Dr. Curtis

Cross Creek poster

Cross Creek 21st September 1983 as Charles Rawlings

Eddie Macon's Run poster

Eddie Macon's Run 23rd March 1983 as Rudy Potts

Living Proof: The Hank Williams Jr. Story poster

Living Proof: The Hank Williams Jr. Story 8th March 1983 as Dick Willey

Hanky Panky poster

Hanky Panky 4th June 1982 as Katz

Starstruck poster

Starstruck 14th October 1981 as Mr. Miller

The Day Christ Died poster

The Day Christ Died 26th March 1980 as Peter

Starting Over poster

Starting Over 5th October 1979 as Larry

Decoding the Universe poster

Decoding the Universe 22nd May 2024 as Narrator

Stars in the House poster

Stars in the House 16th March 2020 as Self

Manhunt poster

Manhunt 1st August 2017 as Jack Bryant

Chicago Med poster

Chicago Med 17th November 2015 as Cray

Blindspot poster

Blindspot 21st September 2015 as Bill Weller

Sneaky Pete poster

Sneaky Pete 7th August 2015 as Sam

True Detective poster

True Detective 12th January 2014 as Billy Lee Tuttle

Pan Am poster

Pan Am 25th September 2011 as Douglas Vanderway

Person of Interest poster

Person of Interest 22nd September 2011 as Special Counsel

Unforgettable poster

Unforgettable 20th September 2011 as Jonathan Hedstrom

Body of Proof poster

Body of Proof 29th March 2011 as Harvey Brady

Blue Bloods poster

Blue Bloods 24th September 2010 as Jimmy Reagan

The Good Wife poster

The Good Wife 22nd September 2009 as Judge Hal Ferris

Damages poster

Damages 24th July 2007 as Calder Security Executive

Salem Witch Trials poster

Salem Witch Trials 2nd March 2003 as Thomas Putnam

Widows poster

Widows 6th August 2002 as Detective John Maynard

Law & Order: Criminal Intent poster

Law & Order: Criminal Intent 30th September 2001 as Joseph Hannah

Secrets of the Dead poster

Secrets of the Dead 15th May 2000 as Narrator (voice)

Wonderland poster

Wonderland 30th March 2000 as Ed Butowski

Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years poster

Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years 21st September 1995 as Xander

The Outer Limits poster

The Outer Limits 26th March 1995 as Ed Barkley

New York Undercover poster

New York Undercover 8th September 1994 as Howard

Law & Order poster

Law & Order 13th September 1990 as Defense Attorney Alan Fenwick

Northern Exposure poster

Northern Exposure 12th July 1990 as Dr. John Summer

Booker poster

Booker 24th September 1989 as Gordon Rudd

Roseanne poster

Roseanne 18th October 1988 as Ziggy

Crime Story poster

Crime Story 19th September 1986 as Steve Kordo

L.A. Law poster

L.A. Law 15th September 1986 as Detective Michael Phillips

Spenser: For Hire poster

Spenser: For Hire 20th September 1985 as Father Crawford

Miami Vice poster

Miami Vice 16th September 1984 as Det. Tim Duryea

Kate & Allie poster

Kate & Allie 19th March 1984 as Tim Merr

Nature poster

Nature 10th October 1982 as Narrator (voice)

Texas poster

Texas 4th August 1980 as Seth

The Scarlet Letter poster

The Scarlet Letter 3rd March 1979 as Robert Salter

NOVA poster

NOVA 3rd March 1974 as Self - Narrator (voice)

ABC Afterschool Special poster

ABC Afterschool Special 4th October 1972 as Mr. Miller

Hallmark Hall of Fame poster

Hallmark Hall of Fame 24th December 1951 as Howard

Remain poster

Coming soon

Remain 4th February 2027