Jay O. Sanders
Born
April 16, 1953 (72 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Austin, Texas, USA
Jay Olcutt Sanders (born April 16, 1953) is an American actor. He is noted for his TV roles as Bill Weller on Blindspot, Jack Bryant on Manhunt, Chief Tom Lidell on The Sinner, Det. John Maynard on Widows, Capt. Joseph Hannah on Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and mob lawyer Steven Kordo in NBC's detective series Crime Story (1986-1988), as well as his film roles on The Day After Tomorrow (2004), Green Lantern (2011), and the Alex Cross films starring Morgan Freeman.
He has appeared in many other notable films, including Glory (1989), Mr. Destiny (1990), JFK (1991), Angels in the Outfield (1994), The Big Green (1995), Daylight (1996), The Matchmaker (1997), For Richer or Poorer (1997), Tumbleweeds (1999), Music of the Heart (1999), Half Nelson (2006), Cadillac Records (2008), and Revolutionary Road (2008).
He is also known as the narrator for the PBS series Wide Angle from 2002–2009 and has served as narrator for a number of Nova episodes and documentary specials starting in 2007.
He is the voice of D.S. McKenna in the Red Dead Redemption video game series.
Known For
Girl From the North Country
Nick Laine
2024
His Three Daughters
Vincent
2024
Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch
Ol' Cap'n Cotchipee
2024
Decoding the Universe
Narrator · (2 episodes)
2024
Outrage
Frank Brand
2023
When You Finish Saving the World
Roger
2023
BARDO, False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths
Ambassador Jones
2022
The Road to Galena
John Baird
2022
Incidental Moments of the Day
Richard Apple
2020
And So We Come Forth
Richard Apple
2020
Tapes
2020
What Do We Need to Talk About?
Richard Apple
2020
That Hopey Changey Thing
Richard Apple
2020
Regular Singing
Richard Apple
2020
Sweet and Sad
Richard Apple
2020
Sorry
Richard Apple
2020
Stars in the House
Self · (1 episode)
2020
The Assistant
Boss (voice)
2020
NOVA: Decoding da Vinci
Narrator (voice)
2019
Uncle Vanya
Vanya
2019
DC Noir
Sgt. Peters
2019
Saving the Dead Sea
2019
Secrets of the Dead: The Nero Files
Narrator (voice)
2019
The Violin Alone
Narrator (voice)
2019
Broken Places
Narrator (voice)
2018
NOVA: Prediction by the Numbers
Narrator (voice)
2018
NOVA: First Face of America
Narrator (voice)
2018
Vice
Governor
2018
Ghosts of Stonehenge
Narrator (voice)
2017
Manhunt
Jack Bryant · (7 episodes)
2017
NOVA: Holocaust Escape Tunnel
Narrator (voice)
2017
The Gabriels: Election Year in the Life of One Family, Play Three: Women of a Certain Age
George Gabriel
2017
The Gabriels: Election Year in the Life of One Family, Play Two: What Did You Expect?
George Gabriel
2017
The Gabriels: Election Year in the Life of One Family, Play One: Hungry
George Gabriel
2017
NOVA: Why Trains Crash
Narrator (voice)
2017
NOVA: Secrets of the Sky Tombs
Narrator (voice)
2017
Secrets of the Dead: Graveyard of the Giant Beasts
Narrator (voice)
2016
Catfight
Angry Guy
2016
NOVA: Iceman Reborn
Narrator (voice)
2016
NOVA: Mystery Beneath the Ice
Narrator (voice)
2016
NOVA: Life's Rocky Start
Narrator (voice)
2016
NOVA: Secret Tunnel Warfare
Narrator (voice)
2016
Inside Einstein's Mind: The Enigma of Space and Time
Narrator (voice)
2015
Chicago Med
Cray · (1 episode)
2015
Secrets of the Dead: The Real Trojan Horse
Narrator (voice)
2015
NOVA: Secrets of Noah's Ark
Narrator (voice)
2015
Blindspot
Bill Weller · (10 episodes)
2015
Dawn of Humanity
Narrator (voice)
2015
Sneaky Pete
Sam · (15 episodes)
2015
NOVA: The Great Math Mystery
Narrator (voice)
2015
Northern Borders
Agent Sanders
2015
The Mystery of Mona Lisa
Narrator (voice)
2014
The Gathering Swarms
Narrator (voice)
2014
True Detective
Billy Lee Tuttle · (2 episodes)
2014
NOVA: Cold Case JFK
Narrator (voice)
2013
NOVA: Ground Zero Supertower
Self - Narrator (voice)
2013
The River
Phil
2013
NOVA: Who Killed Lindbergh's Baby?
Narrator (voice)
2013
Earth from Space
Narrator (voice)
2012
The Man Who Saved the World
Narrator (voice)
2012
NOVA: Secrets of the Viking Sword
Narrator (voice)
2012
A Novel Romance
Walter Evans
2011
Pan Am
Douglas Vanderway · (3 episodes)
2011
Person of Interest
Special Counsel · (9 episodes)
2011
Unforgettable
Jonathan Hedstrom · (1 episode)
2011
I'm Coming Over
Walter
2011
Green Lantern
Carl Ferris
2011
Adventures in Plymptoons!
Himself
2011
Body of Proof
Harvey Brady · (1 episode)
2011
The Jewel
Mr. Rothman
2011
Nova: Building the Great Cathedrals
Self - Narrator
2010
Blue Bloods
Jimmy Reagan · (1 episode)
2010
Edge of Darkness
Whitehouse
2010
Riddles of the Sphinx
Narrator (voice)
2010
Secrets of Stonehenge
Narrator (voice)
2010
The Good Wife
Judge Hal Ferris · (2 episodes)
2009
I Hate Valentine's Day
Tim the Delivery Guy
2009
The Undying
Dr. Russell Lassiter
2009
Revolutionary Road
Bart Pollock
2008
Cadillac Records
Mr. Feder
2008
NOVA: Arctic Dinosaurs
Narrator (voice)
2008
The Dissection of Thanksgiving
Cliff
2008
Kill the Day
Dr. Susskind
2008
NOVA: Judgement Day - Intelligent Design on Trial
Narrator (voice)
2007
Greetings from the Shore
Commodore Callaghan
2007
Happenstance
Bob
2007
The Valley of Light
Howard
2007
Wedding Daze
Sheriff
2006
Half Nelson
Russ Dunne
2006
The Day After Tomorrow
Frank Harris
2004
Hair High
Football Announcer (voice)
2004
Abby Singer
Kevin's Father
2003
D.C. Sniper: 23 Days of Fear
Douglas Duncan
2003
Salem Witch Trials
Thomas Putnam
2002
Widows
Detective John Maynard · (4 episodes)
2002
Dead Dog
Frank Edmonds
2001
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Harry Rowan, Sr. · (1 episode)
2001
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Joseph Hannah · (8 episodes)
2001
The Last Brickmaker in America
Mike Potter
2001
Boss of Bosses
Joseph O'Brien
2001
Along Came a Spider
Kyle Craig
2001
My Husband's Double Life
Patrick Hennessy Welsh
2001
My Husband's Double Life
Timothy Michael Kingsbury
2001
Secrets of the Dead
Narrator (voice) · (1 episode)
2000
Picnic
Howard Bevens
2000
Wonderland
Ed Butowski · (1 episode)
2000
Wild Costa Rica
Narrator
2000
Tumbleweeds
Dan Miller
1999
Music of the Heart
Dan Paxton
1999
ATF
Sam Sinclair
1999
The Secret Life of Girls
1999
The Jack Bull
Atty. Gen. Metcalfe
1999
The Confession
Jack Renoble
1999
Earthly Possessions
Zack Emery
1999
The Odd Couple II
Leroy
1998
Wrestling with Alligators
Rick
1998
For Richer or Poorer
Samuel Yoder
1997
The Matchmaker
Senator John McGlory
1997
Kiss the Girls
FBI Agent Kyle Craig
1997
Daylight
Steven Crighton
1996
The Prosecutors
DA Alan Baker
1996
Silver Strand
Lucas Hughes
1995
Three Wishes
Coach Schramka
1995
Down Came a Blackbird
Jan Talbeck
1995
The Big Green
Jay Huffer
1995
Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years
Xander · (1 episode)
1995
Kiss of Death
Federal Agent
1995
The Outer Limits
Ed Barkley · (1 episode)
1995
New York Undercover
Howard · (1 episode)
1994
Angels in the Outfield
Ranch Wilder
1994
Nobody's Children
Joe Stevens
1994
State of Emergency
Dr. Jeffrey Forrest
1994
Rio Shannon
John Cleary
1993
My Boyfriend's Back
Sheriff McCloud
1993
Hostages
Terry Anderson
1992
JFK
Lou Ivon
1991
Meeting Venus
Stephen Taylor
1991
Defenseless
Bull Dozer
1991
V.I. Warshawski
Murray Ryerson
1991
Mr. Destiny
Jackie Earle
1990
Law & Order
Nick Taska / Bill Fallon · (1 episode)
1990
Law & Order
Defense Attorney Alan Fenwick · (1 episode)
1990
Northern Exposure
Dr. John Summer · (1 episode)
1990
Revealing Evidence - Stalking the Honolulu Strangler
Tom Marshall
1990
Glory
Gen. George Crockett Strong
1989
Cold Sassy Tree
Clayton McAllister
1989
Just Like in the Movies
Ryan Legrand
1989
Booker
Gordon Rudd · (1 episode)
1989
Roseanne
Ziggy · (2 episodes)
1988
The Prince of Pennsylvania
Trooper Joe
1988
Tucker: The Man and His Dream
Kirby
1988
The Misfit Brigade
Tiny
1987
Crime Story
Steve Kordo · (24 episodes)
1986
L.A. Law
Detective Michael Phillips · (1 episode)
1986
Spenser: For Hire
Father Crawford · (1 episode)
1985
Miami Vice
Det. Tim Duryea · (1 episode)
1984
A Doctor's Story
Dr. Curtis
1984
Kate & Allie
Tim Merr · (1 episode)
1984
Cross Creek
Charles Rawlings
1983
Eddie Macon's Run
Rudy Potts
1983
Living Proof: The Hank Williams Jr. Story
Dick Willey
1983
Nature
Narrator (voice) · (5 episodes)
1982
Hanky Panky
Katz
1982
Starstruck
Mr. Miller
1981
Texas
Seth · (3 episodes)
1980
The Day Christ Died
Peter
1980
Starting Over
Larry
1979
The Scarlet Letter
Robert Salter · (4 episodes)
1979
NOVA
Narrator (voice) · (39 episodes)
1974
ABC Afterschool Special
Mr. Miller · (1 episode)
1972
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Howard · (1 episode)
1951