Remote Controlled: 'Deadwood' star takes role in HBO's new 'True Blood'
By Gerald M. Gay
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 09.07.2008
It took a bit of sprucing up for William Sanderson to move from plotting in "Deadwood" to patrolling the undead on the brand new HBO series, "True Blood."
"I've shaved and cut my hair," said Sanderson, who plays Sheriff Bud Dearborn in the Alan Ball vampire drama, premiering tonight. "I've played a lot of renegade misfits in my career. I saw this as a chance to play a different kind of character."
Dearborn protects and defends the tiny town of Bon Temps, La. He is one of a large cast of characters adjusting to the new reality that vampires are alive and well and, thanks to a newly created synthetic blood substitute, living openly among the living.
The series is based on the Sookie Stackhouse books written by Charlaine Harris.
Sanderson spoke to the Star by phone last month from his home in Pennsylvania.
You mentioned in a previous call that you were in Tucson recently.
"I was there about a year and a half ago. (Actor) Tim Olyphant's father has a home in Tucson and a ranch south of Tucson. I went to visit Bisbee with him and spoke to one of his classes. I talk to Tim's dad more than Tim."
What are your thoughts on Alan Ball?
"I love Alan. He has a reputation of being a decent person. He talks like a human. He is from the South. Being from the South myself, I trusted him. When you mention Alan's name to anyone in Hollywood, they know him as a great writer. He carries a lot of weight in the industry.
"He knows my character better than anybody. There is not a lot of Sheriff Dearborn in the books."
Do you think your role in "Deadwood" helped get the role in "True Blood"?
"I wouldn't have this show if it wasn't for David Milch and 'Deadwood.' I had that job for three years, and I think HBO must have brought me in for this series because of that. Like, I did my job on 'Deadwood' and somebody had seen me. Alan said he never saw the show. I make jokes saying that is why I got this job."
Did you read any of the books to prepare?
"I did read what I could about (Dearborn). I studied him, but not verbatim. I didn't want to get too married to the character in the book. I just made sure to listen to the directors, Alan especially."
What was it like on set?
"It is a different world. Everyone is younger than me, so I might have seemed unhip. They were respectful, but I think that I am a self-repeating old bore. It has a great crew and cast, some talented young actors."
Last we heard, HBO was dismantling the "Deadwood" set. Do you ever get to see your old cast mates?
"I try to. A lot of them are working. I had lunch with Ian (McShane) a few months ago in L.A. He has been back and forth to England. They are all busy, but I'd like to see more of them."
● Contact reporter Gerald M. Gay at 573-4137 or ggay@azstarnet.com
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