WILLIAM SANDERSON

Most actors probably wouldn’t see the value in specializing in parts that could be best described as “prairie scum.” But William Sanderson, who is starring in his second season on the hit HBO series “Deadwood” as skittery hotel proprietor E.B. Farnum, has built an impressive career that usually finds him taking on the parts of simple-minded backwoodsman and snide ne’er-do-wells.

Still, just because “Deadwood” follows Sanderson’s memorable roles in projects like “Gods and Generals,” “Lonesome Dove” and his hilarious turn as Larry, the quirky backwoodsman, on the long-running sitcom “Newhart,” don’t mistake the man for the parts he plays. A native of Memphis, Tennessee and a lifelong Elvis fan, Sanderson also has a law degree, and studied acting in New York with theatre legends Herbert Berghof and William Hickey. One of his earliest film roles was as the brilliant toy maker in Ridley Scott’s science-fiction classic “Blade Runner,” and his TV appearances also include guest starring roles on “ER,” “The X-Files,” “The Practice” and “Without a Trace.”

In fact, Sanderson is equally at home with any type of acting assignment, though these days he is most recognizable as Farnum, whom Entertainment Weekly recently said “could have been plucked from one of the venal river towns Huck Finn visits.” “I believe the fans of the show would refer to E.B. as a ‘weasel,’” Sanderson admits. While E.B. might be a far cry from the warm and friendly Sanderson, the actor doesn’t mind being identified with the characters he has played: “I’d rather be typecast than not cast at all,” he says. “I’ve had roles where I’ve played redeeming characters, but they all pay the bills.”

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