Darrell Sandeen
Encyclopedia
Darrell Sandeen was a character actor
who specialized in playing menacing or offbeat people. Perhaps his best-known role was as corrupt cop "Buzz" Meeks in L.A. Confidential.
Sandeen started as a stage actor on Broadway, appearing in the original casts of Young Abe Lincoln, Can-Can
, Here's Love
, a revival of Guys and Dolls, A Joyful Noise, and The Fig Leaves are Falling. He can be heard on three cast albums.
Moving to Hollywood, he appeared on such television shows as Bonanza
and Route 66
. He was featured in L.A. Confidential, Blazing Saddles
, and They Call Me Bruce?
. Sandeen continued acting until shortly before his death; later roles included appearing as a possible conspirator in the Kennedy assassination in Interview with the Assassin
, playing opposite porn star Mary Carey in Pervert!
, and playing Homeless Al in String Theory. Sandeen remained active in theatre as part of the Musical Theatre Guild in Los Angeles
.
Sandeen died on January 22, 2009, of complications following a stroke
.
Character actor
A character actor is one who predominantly plays unusual or eccentric characters. The Oxford English Dictionary defines a character actor as "an actor who specializes in character parts", defining character part in turn as "an acting role displaying pronounced or unusual characteristics or...
who specialized in playing menacing or offbeat people. Perhaps his best-known role was as corrupt cop "Buzz" Meeks in L.A. Confidential.
Sandeen started as a stage actor on Broadway, appearing in the original casts of Young Abe Lincoln, Can-Can
Can-Can (musical)
Can-Can is a musical with music and lyrics by Cole Porter, and a book by Abe Burrows. The story concerns the showgirls of the Montmartre dance halls during the 1890s....
, Here's Love
Here's Love
Here's Love is a musical with a book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson.Based on the classic film Miracle on 34th Street, it tells the tale of a skeptical little girl who doubts the existence of Santa Claus. When the real Kris Kringle inadvertently is hired to represent jolly St...
, a revival of Guys and Dolls, A Joyful Noise, and The Fig Leaves are Falling. He can be heard on three cast albums.
Moving to Hollywood, he appeared on such television shows as Bonanza
Bonanza
Bonanza is an American western television series that both ran on and was a production of NBC from September 12, 1959 to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 430 episodes, it ranks as the second longest running western series and still continues to air in syndication. It centers on the...
and Route 66
Route 66 (TV series)
Route 66 is an American TV series in which two young men traveled across America. The show ran weekly on CBS from 1960 to 1964. It starred Martin Milner as Tod Stiles and, for two and a half seasons, George Maharis as Buz Murdock. Maharis was ill for much of the third season, during which time Tod...
. He was featured in L.A. Confidential, Blazing Saddles
Blazing Saddles
Blazing Saddles is a 1974 satirical Western comedy film directed by Mel Brooks. Starring Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder, the film was written by Brooks, Andrew Bergman, Richard Pryor, Norman Steinberg, and Al Uger, and was based on Bergman's story and draft. The movie was nominated for three...
, and They Call Me Bruce?
They Call Me Bruce?
They Call Me Bruce? is a 1982 comedy action film starring Johnny Yune and Margaux Hemingway.The film was written by Tim Clawson and was directed by Elliott Hong...
. Sandeen continued acting until shortly before his death; later roles included appearing as a possible conspirator in the Kennedy assassination in Interview with the Assassin
Interview with the Assassin
Interview with the Assassin is a 2002 drama/"mockumentary" starring Raymond J. Barry and Dylan Haggerty.-Plot:An unemployed cameraman, Ron Kobeleski , is asked by his reclusive neighbor, a retired Marine named Walter Ohlinger who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, to document a startling...
, playing opposite porn star Mary Carey in Pervert!
Pervert!
Pervert! is a 2005 comedy horror film directed by Jonathan Yudis. It is a tribute to the films of Russ Meyer.-Plot:College student James arrives from New Orleans at a desert ranch owned by his father, Hezekiah to help out. Soon after arriving, James is hit on by Hezekiah's wife, Cheryl , and...
, and playing Homeless Al in String Theory. Sandeen remained active in theatre as part of the Musical Theatre Guild in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
.
Sandeen died on January 22, 2009, of complications following a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
.