Sonny Landham
Updated: 12/11/2025, 3:49:50 PM Wikipedia source
William M. "Sonny" Landham III (February 11, 1941 – August 17, 2017) was an American actor. He portrayed Billy Bear in 48 Hrs. (1982), tracker Billy Sole in Predator (1987), and 'Chink' Weber in Lock Up (1989).
Infobox
Born
William M. Landham(1941-02-11)February 11, 1941Canton, Georgia, U.S.
Died
August 17, 2017(2017-08-17) (aged 76)Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
Occupation
Actor
Years active
1969–2009
Tables
· Filmography › Film
1974
Special Order
Role(s)
Teamster #1
Notes
Uncredited
Come Fly with Us
Role(s)
Joe
Happy Days
Role(s)
French Cook
The Love Bus
Role(s)
Amos Johnson
The Switch or How to Alter Your Ego
Role(s)
Huntington Van Huff
Cheese
Role(s)
Political Candidate
1975
The Defiance of Good
Role(s)
Dr. Gabriels Patient
The Big Con
Role(s)
'Tex'
The Passions of Carol
Role(s)
Curt Reynolds
Big Abner
Role(s)
Abner 'Big Abner'
Abigail Leslie is Back in Town
Role(s)
Bo
Illusion of Love
Blood Bath
1976
Virgin Snow
Role(s)
Ben
Slippery When Wet
Role(s)
Dougie Knowles
The Honey Cup
1977
The Trouble with Young Stuff
Role(s)
Lane The Milkman
Big Thumbs
Sylvia
Role(s)
Junkie #1
1978
The Ganja Express
Role(s)
First Yellow Toga Guy
Notes
Uncredited
MisBehavin'
Role(s)
Clyde
1992
Maximum Force
Role(s)
Pimp
1994
Taxi Dancers
Role(s)
Jim 'Diamond Jim'
Savage Land
Role(s)
Lassiter
Night Realm
Role(s)
Verrick
1995
Guns & Lipstick
Role(s)
Albino
Fatal Choice
Role(s)
'Brick'
1996
2090
Role(s)
Indian
Carnival of Wolves
Role(s)
Bodyguard No. 4
Billy Lone Bear
Role(s)
Billy Lone Bear
Notes
Direct-to-video
2007
Disintegration
Role(s)
Boone Cagle
2009
Mental Scars
Role(s)
Chief Bear
Notes
Direct-to-video
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1969 | The Lost Man | Uncredited | |
| 1971 | I Love You | Uncredited | |
| 1974 | Special Order | Teamster | Uncredited |
| Come Fly with Us | Joe | ||
| Happy Days | French Cook | ||
| The Love Bus | Amos Johnson | ||
| The Switch or How to Alter Your Ego | Huntington Van Huff | ||
| Cheese | |||
| The Private Afternoons of Pamela Mann | Political Candidate | ||
| 1975 | The Defiance of Good | Dr. Gabriels Patient | |
| The Big Con | 'Tex' | ||
| The Passions of Carol | Curt Reynolds | ||
| Big Abner | Abner 'Big Abner' | ||
| Abigail Leslie is Back in Town | Bo | ||
| Illusion of Love | |||
| Blood Bath | |||
| 1976 | Virgin Snow | Ben | |
| Slippery When Wet | Dougie Knowles | ||
| The Honey Cup | |||
| 1977 | The Trouble with Young Stuff | Lane The Milkman | |
| Big Thumbs | |||
| Sylvia | Junkie | ||
| 1978 | The Ganja Express | First Yellow Toga Guy | Uncredited |
| MisBehavin' | Clyde | ||
| 1979 | The Warriors | Policeman | |
| 1980 | Gloria | Riverside Drive Man No. 8 | |
| 1981 | Southern Comfort | Hunter | |
| 1982 | Poltergeist | Pool Worker No. 2 | |
| 48 Hrs. | Billy Bear | ||
| 1984 | Fleshburn | Calvin Daggai | |
| 1986 | Firewalker | 'El Coyote' | |
| 1987 | Predator | Special Forces Tracker Billy Sole | |
| 1988 | Action Jackson | Mr. Quick | |
| 1989 | Lock Up | 'Chink' Weber | |
| 1992 | Maximum Force | Pimp | |
| 1993 | Best of the Best 2 | James Lee | |
| Madame | Hector | ||
| 1994 | Taxi Dancers | Jim 'Diamond Jim' | |
| Savage Land | Lassiter | ||
| Night Realm | Verrick | ||
| 1995 | Guns & Lipstick | Albino | |
| Fatal Choice | 'Brick' | ||
| 1996 | 2090 | Indian | |
| Carnival of Wolves | Bodyguard No. 4 | ||
| Billy Lone Bear | Billy Lone Bear | Direct-to-video | |
| 2007 | Disintegration | Boone Cagle | |
| 2009 | Mental Scars | Chief Bear | Direct-to-video |
· Filmography › Television
1984
1984–1985
Role(s)
Call to Glory
Notes
Willy Nighthawk
1985
Role(s)
Sheriff Billy Blackstone
Notes
Episode: "You Don't Hear the One that Gets You"
1986
Notes
Episode: "Fortune Dane"
North Star
Role(s)
Becker
Notes
Television film
1992
Three Days To A Kill
Role(s)
Pepe
Notes
Television film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1981 | B. J. and the Bear | Football Player | Episode: "Beauties and the Beasts" |
| 1984 | The A-Team | Ryker | Episode: "The Island" |
| 1984–1985 | Call to Glory | Willy Nighthawk | 2 episodes |
| 1985 | The Dirty Dozen: Next Mission | Sam Sixkiller | Television film |
| Hardcastle and McCormick | Sheriff Billy Blackstone | Episode: "You Don't Hear the One that Gets You" | |
| 1986 | Fortune Dane | Episode: "Fortune Dane" | |
| The Fall Guy | Jake | Episode: "War of the Wheel" | |
| North Star | Becker | Television film | |
| 1987 | Miami Vice | Toad | Episode: "Viking Bikers from Hell" |
| 1992 | Three Days To A Kill | Pepe | Television film |
| 1993 | Extralarge: Condor Mission | Indian | Television film |
References
- Sun-Sentinelhttps://web.archive.org/web/20170712020017/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/1987-07-31/features/8703030286_1_american-indians-indian-heritage-indian-actors
- The Courier-Journalhttps://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/2017/08/19/sonny-landham-kentucky-dies/582956001/
- Rome News-Tribunehttps://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1KMkAAAAIBAJ&pg=2064%2C4603711
- Independent Political Reporthttp://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2008/07/sonny-landham-calls-for-genocide-of-all-arabs/
- "Actor tries for new role — U.S. senator"https://www.newspapers.com/clip/35404722/the_atlanta_constitution/
- The Herald-Newshttps://www.newspapers.com/clip/29899517
- "Ex-Porn Star Enters Kentucky Governor's Race"https://web.archive.org/web/20080506082839/http://www.local6.com/sh/news/stories/nat-news-154337220020703-140718.html
- "Porn on candidate's resume"https://archive.today/20130122123757/http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2002/06/30/loc_crowley_porn_on.html
- iafd.comhttp://www.iafd.com/person.rme/perfid=SonnyLandham/gender=m/Sonny-Landham.htm
- Deadline Hollywoodhttps://deadline.com/2017/08/sonny-landham-dies-predator-actor-48-hrs-dead-1202152202/
- New York Daily Newshttps://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/tough-guy-actor-sets-sights-senate-article-1.294211
- USA Todayhttps://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2017/08/19/sonny-landham-known-his-warrior-death-predator-dies-76/583672001/
- The Political Cesspoolhttps://www.thepoliticalcesspool.org/jamesedwards/sonny-landham-has-gone-home/
- CNNhttps://web.archive.org/web/20170819141005/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/06/26/political-hot-topics-thursday-june-26-2008/
- "Landham reiterates anti-Arab sentiment on talk show: 'I said no Arabs into this country'"https://web.archive.org/web/20080803174427/http://www.politickerky.com/treypollard/1126/landham-reiterates-anti-arab-sentiment-talk-show-i-said-no-arabs-country
- Independent Political Reporthttp://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2008/07/libertarians-drop-sonny-landham/
- Washington Timeshttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/jun/26/actor-auditions-for-new-role-as-kentucky-senator/
- The Cincinnati Enquirerhttp://www.enquirer.com/editions/2001/08/01/loc_actors_book_to_tell.html
- Varietyhttps://variety.com/2017/film/news/sonny-landham-dies-dead-predator-1202533278/