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A Conversation with Lost’s Sam Anderson
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Sam Anderson as Bernard in ABC's "Lost"
Having acted in well over a hundred television episodes over the past three decades, character Sam Anderson is one of those guys that you know you’ve seen before, even if you can’t put your finger on him. Some people might remember him as Principle DeWitt on “Growing Pains.” Others might recall him as FBI Agent Morrell on “Picket Fences.” Still others know him as Holland Manners from “Angel.” But legions of fans recognize Sam Anderson as Bernard Nadler on ABC’s smash hit, “Lost.”
Mike Parker – You are originally from a small town in North Dakota, you graduated from the University of North Dakota, and you’ve taught drama at the college level. I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that you probably got your first taste of acting on the stage rather than in front of the camera.
Sam Anderson – I happened to have a magical experience in high school in my small hometown in North Dakota. My drama teacher was spectacular. She fostered my desire to act, and she gave me a lot of hope. I went on the University of North Dakota and had some terrific drama professors there as well. Because it was a smaller school I got to play a lot of roles that may not have been available to me at a larger school. I went off to do rep theater stuff during the summers, then I went to New York, which wasn’t for me, and eventually ended up in California.
Parker – What sparked the jump from theater to film and television?
Anderson – I was in LA doing theater. A casting director saw me in a play, and by happenstance knew of a role that was written at the last minute for “WKRP in Cincinnati.” He referred me to the casting director for the show and I got the job. They wrote a different role for me each year on the show. Word of mouth helped to spread my name around. I was a character actor and I didn’t want to get type cast, so for a little while I stopped doing comedy and started playing psychos in TV dramas. Now I get to do a little of every thing. I still do theater when I can. It feeds my soul. I’m doing “The Bird and Mr. Banks” right now in Hollywood. It is a spectacular piece of theatre.
Parker – You hold advanced degrees in Theatre, American Literature and Creative Writing, and I understand you are a member of the Mystery Writers of America. So, what’s up with that?
Anderson – I started out with a love for writing and I have a Master’s in Creative Writing. I realized I was spending a lot of time on set waiting for things to be set up, so rather than so outside and smoke I decided to bring my laptop with me and started writing again. I am a huge mystery fan. I went to a seminar by the MWA which featured a panel discussion between television mystery writers and mystery novel writers. As it turns out each of the television writers on that panel had killed me off on different shows.
I am about 70% done with the latest draft of my current mystery. Once I finish I’ll shop it to some publishers. I’m what we like to call in the industry, ‘pre-published.’
Parker – You’ve done more than 100 roles during your career in film and television. Right now the role that getting the most attention is that of Bernard Nadler on ABC’s popular series, “Lost.”
Anderson – The producers of Lost are so secretive about the show that when they brought me in to read for the part, that I didn’t even know what role I was auditioning for. I didn’t discover who I was going to play until I was hired. I was stunned when I found out I was rose’s husband.
Parker – You’re doing a guest starring role in TNT’s new hit series, “Leverage,” with Timothy Hutton. Can you talk about that?
Anderson – It’s as much fun as anything I have done. Leverage is so well written and so well played. The cast is just wonderful to work with. The guy I play is a far cry from Bernard. He is a bad guy; as bad as they come and unapologetically so. I hope everyone tunes in to watch, because it is just a fun, fun show.
Parker – As a well-known character actor, what influences you in the roles you choose to play?
Anderson – I always look for something that is different that what I have just done. I look for things that are meaningful. As a father I try to avoid doing things that are exploitative or that pander to our darker side. I’ve always been a big mystery and horror films, but now when I walk through Blockbuster the shelves seem to be lined with what I call torture-porn. The whole thing of how may body parts can we rip open… I’m not there. I enjoy doing television because it gives you so much more to choose from, now. The standard of quality has really gone way up. Shooting Lost or Leverage is like shooting a big-budget movie.
The Seven Questions
1. What’s your favorite sound?
Anderson – A child’s laughter.
2. What makes you happy?
Anderson – Justice.
3. What makes you angry?
Anderson – Ignorance.
4. What is the secret of success?
Anderson – Being open to and prepared for new possibilities.
5. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, living or dead, who would it be?
Anderson – Gandhi.
6. What is the epitaph that is written on your tombstone?
Anderson – “He lived and loved well.”
7. When you get to heaven, what is the first thing you want to hear God say to you?
Anderson – “Well done.”
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