Richard Sanders (actor)
Updated: 12/11/2025, 4:34:14 PM Wikipedia source
Richard Sanders (born August 23, 1940) is a retired American actor and screenwriter. He played quirky news anchorman Les Nessman on the CBS sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati (1978–1982). Most of his acting career has been on television.
Infobox
Born
(1940-08-23) August 23, 1940 (age 85)
Occupation(s)
Actor, screenwriter
Years active
1971–2006
Known for
WKRP in Cincinnati
Occupations
Actor, screenwriter
Tables
· Filmography › Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1977 | Billy Jack Goes to Washington | Jerry | |
| 1980 | The Nude Bomb | German Delegate | |
| 1983 | Valley Girl | Drivers' Ed Teacher | |
| 1991 | Neon City | Dickie Devine | |
| 1994 | The Beans of Egypt, Maine | Lee, Earlene's Father | |
| 1997 | Black Circle Boys | Mr. Dunkel | |
| 1999 | Anoosh of the Airways | Burton Lloydhammer | |
| 1999 | Lovers Lane | Dr. Jack Grefe | |
| 2000 | Men of Honor | Donny Moor, The Bartender | |
| 2000 | Nowheresville | Duane | |
| 2006 | Expiration Date | Municipal Cemetery Administrator |
· Filmography › Television
1971
They've Killed President Lincoln!
Role(s)
Dr. Leale
Notes
Television film
1974
Lincoln: Trial by Fire
Role(s)
Minister John Adams
1977
Good Against Evil
Role(s)
The Doctor
Role(s)
Samuel Romney
Notes
Episode: "The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls"
1978
Keefer
Role(s)
Bemmel
The Gypsy Warriors
Role(s)
German Scientist
Bud and Lou
Role(s)
The Doctor
1978–1982
Role(s)
WKRP in Cincinnati
Notes
Les Nessman
1979
1980
Trouble in High Timber Country
Role(s)
Lester
1982
1983
1984
1984–1985
Role(s)
Spencer
Notes
Benjamin Beanley
1984-1987
Role(s)
Murder, She Wrote
Notes
Gerald Richards, Arnold Megrim
1985
1986
1986-1989
Role(s)
Growing Pains
Notes
Dr. Rosenfeld, Luther
1987
1987–1988
Role(s)
You Can't Take It with You
Notes
Paul Sycamore
1988
Perry Mason: The Case of the Avenging Ace
Role(s)
Chester Lackberry
Notes
Television film
1989
Role(s)
Dr. Dark
Notes
Episode: "The Absent-Minded Professor: Trading Places"
1990
1991–1993
Role(s)
The New WKRP in Cincinnati
Notes
Les Nessman
2000
The John Report with Bob
Role(s)
Bob's Dad
Notes
Episode #1.2
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1971 | They've Killed President Lincoln! | Dr. Leale | Television film |
| 1974 | Lincoln: Trial by Fire | Minister John Adams | |
| 1974 | The Doctors | The Bartender | 4 episodes |
| 1977 | McCloud | Matt Clayton | Episode: "London Bridges" |
| 1977 | Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn | Travis | Television film |
| 1977 | Good Against Evil | The Doctor | |
| 1977 | Lou Grant | Richard T. Harvey | Episode: "Hostages" |
| 1977 | Barnaby Jones | Joe Keller | Episode: "The Wife Beater" |
| 1977 | Kojak | Drunk | Episode: "A Strange Kind of Love" |
| 1977 | Rafferty | Reverend Campbell | Episode: "The Wild Child" |
| 1977 | The Rockford Files | Samuel Romney | Episode: "The Mayor's Committee from Deer Lick Falls" |
| 1978 | Ruby and Oswald | FBI Agent Kelley | Television film |
| 1978 | Keefer | Bemmel | |
| 1978 | The Gypsy Warriors | German Scientist | |
| 1978 | Bud and Lou | The Doctor | |
| 1978–1982 | WKRP in Cincinnati | Les Nessman | 88 episodes |
| 1979 | Roots: The Next Generations | Captain | Episode: "Part III (1914–1918)" |
| 1979 | Ike | Correspondant | Episode: "Part II" |
| 1979 | Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker | Mr. Fogarty | Television film |
| 1980 | Trouble in High Timber Country | Lester | |
| 1980 | Fantasy Island | The Race Track Announcer | 2 episodes |
| 1982 | ABC Weekend Special | Mr. Lester Little | Episode: "The Joke's on Mr. Little" |
| 1982 | Gloria | Barry Farnum | Episode: "The Taxman Cometh" |
| 1983 | It Takes Two | Arthur Frain | Episode: "Anniversary" |
| 1983 | The Invisible Woman | Orville | Television film |
| 1983 | Alice | Arnold | Episode: "Alice's Blind Date" |
| 1983 | Goodnight, Beantown | Chester | Episode: "Peace on Earth" |
| 1984 | Simon & Simon | Ed Laughlin | Episode: "The Wrong Stuff" |
| 1984 | Newhart | Cecil Breech | Episode: "Leave It to the Beavers" |
| 1984–1985 | Spencer | Benjamin Beanley | 13 episodes |
| 1984-1987 | Murder, She Wrote | Gerald Richards, Arnold Megrim | 2 episodes |
| 1985 | Berrenger's | Frank Chapman | 8 episodes |
| 1985 | Who's the Boss? | Bob Wormser | 2 episodes |
| 1986 | Riptide | Pierce Fenner | Episode: "A Matter of Policy" |
| 1986 | Knots Landing | Harry Nold | Episode: "The Legacy" |
| 1986 | ALF | Hogarth | Episode: "Pennsylvania 6-5000" |
| 1986 | Inhumanoids | Dr. Derek Bright | Voice, 8 episodes |
| 1986-1989 | Growing Pains | Dr. Rosenfeld, Luther | 2 episodes |
| 1987 | Easy Street | Ravenkeep | Episode: "The Mad Gardener" |
| 1987 | Nothing in Common | Dooley | Episode: "Gone Fishing" |
| 1987 | Married... with Children | Mr. Conner | Episode: "Sixteen Years and What Do You Get" |
| 1987–1988 | You Can't Take It with You | Paul Sycamore | 4 episodes |
| 1988 | The Law & Harry McGraw | Burton Rumley | Episode: "Beware the Ides of May" |
| 1988 | Duet | Bob | Episode: "Funny Valentine" |
| 1988 | Perry Mason: The Case of the Avenging Ace | Chester Lackberry | Television film |
| 1989 | Night Court | City Auditor Clark Edwards | 2 episodes |
| 1989 | The Magical World of Disney | Dr. Dark | Episode: "The Absent-Minded Professor: Trading Places" |
| 1990 | 227 | Dean Thurston | Episode: "Nightmare on 227" |
| 1990 | Charles in Charge | Professor Smalley | Episode: "Let's Quake a Deal" |
References
- Brooklyn Eaglehttps://brooklyneagle.com/articles/2021/08/23/august-23-on-this-day-in-1944-paris-freed/
- Behind The Voice Actorshttps://www.behindthevoiceactors.com/video-games/Day-of-the-Tentacle/Bernard/
- Seattle Timeshttps://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/woodinvilles-richard-sanders-talks-about-wkrp-in-cincinnati/?fbclid=IwAR0F68bqoZcOElDVJCMzzcOq-wbn1FYo4flfqE4HrLqIeez8jSKxFm-MFMo