Biography for
Jay O. Sanders More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

16 April 1953, Austin, Texas, USA

Birth Name

Jay Olcutt Sanders

Height

6' 4" (1.93 m)

Spouse

Maryann Plunkett

(1 October 1991 - present) 1 child

Trivia

Attended the acting conservatory at SUNY Purchase (State University of New York at Purchase).

Son Jamie born in 1994.

The virile, large-sized character actor began off-Broadway in Shakespearean roles, with "Henry V", "Measure for Measure" and "Twelfth Night", among his credits in the late 70s, as well as the original NY productions of Sam Shepard's "Buried Child" and Michael Weller's "Loose Ends".

Has narrated more than fifty audio-books over the years, including the best-selling "My Losing Season" by Pat Conroy and Dean R. Koontz's "Dragon Tears" and "Mr. Murder". Popular novelists William Gibson, Tony Hillerman, 'William Least- Heat Moon' and Joyce Carol Oates are among his readings. He and his wife, Maryann Plunkett, did some storytelling together on Lawrence Sanders' "Private Pleasures". They also appeared opposite each other on Broadway in the acclaimed 1993 production of George Bernard Shaw's "Saint Joan".

His family is very arts-oriented and invested in matters of social conscience. His father was Executive Director of Cleveland's famed "Karamu House" in the mid-60s. An amateur violinist and noted square dance caller, he also spent time as a top administrator for the AFSC (American Friends Service Committee), the Peace Corps (in Colombia), UNICEF, Westchester Council of the Arts, and was editor of "The Friends Journal". Equally active in both arenas, his mother was an internationally known choral director, peace activist and emissary, as well as a noted television commentator and interviewer relating to the Women's Movement and the issues of aging. His younger brother, Fred Sanders, also became an actor and his two sisters, Marta Sanders and Elizabeth Sanders, are both singers.

Played the recurring role of John Goodman's biker buddy "Ziggy" on the sitcom classic "Roseanne" (1988).

Where Are They Now

(August 2004) Playing "Falstaff" in an off-Broadway production of "Lone Star Love", a musical adaptation of William Shakespeare's "The Merry Wives of Windsor", set in post-Civil War Texas.

(March 2006) (Extended through June) Playing George W. Bush in the award-winning production of David Hare's "Stuff Happens", at The Public Theater in New York City, New York.

(August 2007) Playing "Bottom" in William Shakespeare's "Midsummer's Night Dream", at the Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park in New York City.