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Henry G. Sanders

Henry G. Sanders

Actor · Born August 18, 1942 (84) · Houston, Texas, USA

Henry Gayle Sanders is an American actor known for his TV roles as Prosper Denton on Queen Sugar, Samuel Carter on 9-1-1, Uncle Chester on Hap & Leonard, Cedric on the miniseries DMZ, and Robert E. On Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman as well as the TV movie of the same name. He's known for his film roles as Arthur Holloway in Samaritan, Pastor Jack in Roman J. Israel Esq., Cager Lee in Selma, Red Henderson in Whiplash, Martin in Rocky Balboa, Cesar's Trainer in Play It to the Bone, and Sandy in Bull Durham. He has also had roles in a number of TV movies. He's guest starred on numerous TV shows including Shameless, American Horror Story, Grey's Anatomy, The Mentalist, CSI, Cold Case, Eleventh Hour, Heartland, Commander in Chief, Joan of Arcadia, The West Wing, Boomtown, NYPD Blue, Moesha, Sliders, ER, Murphy Brown, The Young and the Restless, L.A. Law, Alf, Matlock, Married... with Children, Beauty and the Beast, Moonlighting, Cagney & Lacey, Highway to Heaven, What's Happening Now?, 227, Hunter, Hill Street Blues, Miami Vice, Knots Landing, Night Court, Knight Rider, Diff'rent Strokes, St. Elsewhere, The Greatest American Hero, The Jeffersons, Good Times, and The Rockford Files.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 18, 1942 (84)
From
Houston, Texas, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
72 on MovieCove · 109 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 15% in 30 days

What are Henry G. Sanders' films like?

Across their 15 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Survival.

Genres

Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 27th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 64th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 20th percentile
: browse their Crime movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
21%
Survival
21%
Bonds
19%
Self
18%
Power
13%
Society
9%
Family bonds5 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression2 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 12 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 4 · Charged 7 · Intense 2

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 6 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 7 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 10 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

3 analyzed roles
Hero
1 of 3
Threshold guardian
1 of 3
Mentor
1 of 3

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
10
Tense
8
Hopeful
5
Contemplative
4
Warm
2
Other
8

How their films linger

Hopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy2
  • Bittersweet9
  • Ambiguous3
  • Other1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Henry G. Sanders' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 54 of their 72 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (27).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Henry G. Sanders' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

109 credits, 72 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • I Don't Know(2024)

    as Brad

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Samaritan(2022)

    as Arthur Holloway

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Charming the Hearts of Men(2021)

    as Abel

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Family Feud (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as 2096 Descendant

  • 9-1-1(2018)

    Show 5 episodes · as Samuel Carter

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Roman J. Israel, Esq.(2017)

    as Pastor Jack

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Blue: The American Dream(2020)

    as China Banks

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Queen Sugar(2016)

    Show as Prosper Denton

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all shows

  • Selma(2014)

    as Cager Lee

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Whiplash(2014)

    as Red Henderson

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Crimes of the Mind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Judge Maynard

  • American Horror Story(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Royale · as Willie

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Shameless(2011)

    Show 1 episode · as Jelly

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • You Again(2010)

    as Chaplain

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Eleventh Hour(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Sam Tewsbury

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The Mentalist(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Willie Shubert

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Blues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Pop Boudreaux

  • Heartland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 1 episode · as Rev. Jacob Grier

  • Rocky Balboa(2006)

    as Martin

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Berkeley (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Production Design · as Gadsen

  • Commander in Chief(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Gavin Kester

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Grey's Anatomy(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Hudson

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Cold Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Ronnie Collins

  • Joan of Arcadia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Security Guard God

  • Manhood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Police Officer

  • Boomtown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Police Sergeant Miller

  • Little John(2002)

    as Merle

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Division (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Frankie

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Bill Gibson

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Play It to the Bone(1999)

    as Cesar's Trainer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Snoops (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Michael Williams

  • The West Wing(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Ambassador Tiki

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman: The Movie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Robert E.

  • Carnival of Souls(1998)

    as Officer Soby

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Inheritance(1997)

    as Blacksmith

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Moesha(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Clifford Brown

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all shows

  • Sliders(1995)

    Show 1 episode · as Harold

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • In the Line of Duty: Kidnapped(1995)

    as Ellis Watley

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • ER(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Phillip

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Ride with the Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Dr. Dailey

  • Dying to Love You(1993)

    as Attorney

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • The Switch(1993)

    as Hank

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman(1993)

    Show 106 episodes · as Robert E.

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Kuffs(1992)

    as Building Owner

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Child's Play 3(1991)

    as Major

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • My Brother's Wedding (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Beat-up man

  • Session Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Louie

  • Rainbow Drive(1990)

    as Marvin Burgess

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Perry Mason: The Case of the Musical Murder(1989)

    as Harry

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Father Dowling Mysteries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as City Hall Guard

  • Dead Solid Perfect (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as TV Director

  • Bull Durham(1988)

    as Sandy

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Made in Heaven(1987)

    as Henry

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • No Man's Land(1987)

    as Heath

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Beauty and the Beast(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Rescue Captain

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • The Man Who Fell to Earth(1987)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Married... with Children(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Murray

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Tonight's the Night(1987)

    as Disc Jockey

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Johnnie Mae Gibson: FBI(1986)

    as Al Melden

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • ALF(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as George

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Heart of the City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Starman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Coach Carl Newman

  • L.A. Law(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Judge Andrew Robertson · as Robinson Lowry

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all shows

  • The Ladies Club(1985)

    as Cop No. 3 (as Henry Sanders)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Matlock(1986)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mitchell Sands · as Willie Gaines

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • A Time to Live(1985)

    as Fred

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Kicks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Garage Attendant

  • Moonlighting(1985)

    Show 1 episode · as Investigator #1 (as Henry Sanders) · as Train Passenger in Dream Sequence

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Deadly Messages (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Gym Attendant

  • The Atlanta Child Murders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 2 episodes · as Judge Clarence Cooper

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Skycap

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Highway to Heaven(1984)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Hunter(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Police PR Man

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all shows

  • Miami Vice(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Trick Baby

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Choose Me(1984)

    as Hospital Administrator

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Concrete Beat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Lt. Lucas

  • Weekend Pass (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Officer Henry

  • Night Court(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Leo Bell

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Hobson's Choice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Tubby Wadlow

  • Scarecrow and Mrs. King(1983)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Breathless(1983)

    as Man with Pipe

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Wait Till Your Mother Gets Home!(1983)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Something So Right (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Officer

  • St. Elsewhere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Neil Baldwin - Guard

  • Knight Rider(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Hotel Security Guard

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Endangered Species(1982)

    as Dr. Ross

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Cagney & Lacey(1981)

    Show 2 episodes · as Det. Cummings / Sgt. Trask

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all shows

  • The Ambush Murders(1982)

    as Old Con

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Deadly Sunday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Johnny

  • Leon's Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    as Policeman

  • The Greatest American Hero(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Policeman

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all shows

  • Hill Street Blues(1981)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jerome

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Callie & Son(1981)

    as Tanner

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Palmerstown, U.S.A. (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Knots Landing(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Casey Hale · as Stan

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • The Incredible Journey of Doctor Meg Laurel(1979)

    as Harve

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Killer of Sheep(1978)

    as Stan

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Boss' Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Charles

  • Kingston: Confidential (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Independence Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Charles

  • Panama Red (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as John

  • The Jeffersons(1975)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • Baby Needs a New Pair of Shoes(1974)

    as Sam Kingston (as Henry Sanders)

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Rebel(1973)

    as James Henderson

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Good Times(1974)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Five on the Black Hand Side(1973)

    as Barber Shop Patron (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • The Devil's Garden (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Cult Member with Cigar

  • Hallmark Hall of Fame (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · as Merlle

Career shape

Star power in the 95th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 107 titles from 1951 to 2024; peak year 2022.

Biggest box office

Killer of Sheep (1978)

$577K worldwide

Highest rated

Killer of Sheep (1978)

Midcredits 89th

Most popular right now

Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993)

Film career

19512024

Peak 2022 · steadily prominent in film for years. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting107 of 107: 106 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score57thOther crew1 of 107: 0 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1950s1 · acting1970s14 · acting1980s46 · acting1990s19 · acting2000s15 · 15 acting · 1 crew2010s10 · acting2020s2 · acting

Billing

usually 19th · top billed in 7% of 15 roles
7489

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Henry G. Sanders' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 46th percentile, the median of all 39; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 33rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

33rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

27thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

30thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 72 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up21
  • 50th to 74th24
  • 25th to 49th16
  • Below 25th11

Shape of the crowd

34 of their 72 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser34
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed25

Most divisive · actor

Blue: The American Dream (2020)

97th percentile spread · 56% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Whiplash (2014)

Midcredits 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the acting 62/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 42. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Henry G. Sanders' work okay for kids?

Across a limited sample of up to 4 MovieCove titles with content scores.

Their medianMedian of all films
Sex & Nudity4 titlesmedian 31 · mildMedian of all films: 32

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted.

Who does Henry G. Sanders work with?

People who share at least 2 of Henry G. Sanders' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Bobby Roth shares the most, 5.

Directors

Actors

Composers and editors