He attended the State University of New York and earned an MFA degree from Cornell. He began his acting career on the New York stage, where he appeared in some 75 productions over a 12-year period, earning him the Obie and Villager awards.

His extensive stage experience culminated in his performance in the original Broadway cast of Neil Simon's Tony Award-winning show "Biloxi Blues." For his portrayal of Drill Sergeant Toomey, William received a Drama Desk Award nomination, and the Dramalogue and Actor's Equity Award.

His varied feature film work includes the diabolical (naked Tai Chi!) villain Colonel Stewart in "Die Hard 2," the dim-witted inmate Heywood in the critically acclaimed "The Shawshank Redemption," and the Grim Reaper in "Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey." He appeared in "Disturbing Behavior," directed by David Nutter of "Roswell" and alongside fellow cast member Brendan Fehr. Additional film credits include "Trespass," "Rocket Man," "The Hot Spot," "Hard to Kill" and "Rush." William has also appeared in "The Green Mile" starring Tom Hanks, and the HBO movie "Witness Protection" starring Forest Whittaker and Tom Sizemore.

On TV, William has appeared in hit series such as "Roseanne," "Newhart," "Murphy Brown," "St. Elsewhere," "The Outer Limits," and the premiere episode of "Tales from the Crypt," for which he garnered a CableACE nomination. He also had a recurring role on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine."

Born April 13 (Aries) in New York State, Sadler enjoyed a rural upbringing on a 13-acre farm near Buffalo. Though he currently lives in Los Angeles for the filming of "Roswell," Sadler and his wife Marni Bakst (a descendent of Leon Bakst, the Russian ballet designer who worked with Najinsky) spend as much time as possible in their antique farmhouse, built in 1790, in upstate New York. They have a daughter and a cat. Having started out doing standup and as 'Banjo Bill Sadler' when he was young, Sadler is an accomplished musician, singer, and songwriter and a very outgoing and funny guy. He is also very active in politics and liberal causes.

From the WB Roswell Press packet; thanks to Ms. Carolyn.

The Character of Sheriff Valenti

Sheriff Jim Valenti (Jr.) began as the villain of "Roswell," relentlessly employing any means to find out the "truth" about Max. Sheriff Valenti has proved himself able and willing to use threats, imprisonment and other abuses of his power as a law enforcement officer to try and coerce whatever information he can out of all the major characters. Sheriff Valenti is also intelligent and resourceful, as he proved when he exposed Ms. Topolsky as a FBI agent.

Beyond this one-dimensional menacing presence, Sheriff Valenti is also a driven man, haunted by the ridicule his father, a former Sheriff of Roswell, was subjected to for believing that an alien spacecraft had crashed in 1947, and that there were survivors of that crash. Therefore, the mystery surrounding the shooting at the Crashdown Café, and the alleged role Max played in the aftermath of that shooting represent the only solid piece of evidence to support the existence of aliens. This was his father's obsession and undoing, and while he fears ending up like his father, stripped of his badge and locked away in a home, he has a burning desire to know the truth about Max and his friends.

Sheriff Valenti has also been shown to be a concerned - if preoccupied -- single parent to his son, Kyle. He is very proud of his son, the school's star athlete and 'all-American boy.' The two things that mean the most to him in the world are his son and his job as Sheriff. Valenti is an honest man and a good person and above corruption. Apparently his marriage broke up when Kyle was very young, for reasons never stated, and he has had no contact with his ex-wife Michelle. His character was humanized even further when he started dating Maria DeLuca’s mother Amy, and the two of them carried on like a pair of teenagers.

In a very moving story, Valenti visits his father (John Cullum) in a nursing home and apologizes to him and asks him about the past. He tries to reconnect with him when he realizes his father wasn't crazy, but actually had discovered the truth. As the season progressed, the Sheriff kept trying to find out what was going on and to warn and help Max and his friends, but they did not trust him. A turning point came when he found the alien orb - and then returned it to Max as a gesture of trust. He goes to help rescue Liz after she is kidnapped from Nasedo, and then helps to break Max out of the White Room.

In their escape, he is astonished to discover that Michael and Isabel are aliens as well. In the final confrontation with Agent Pierce, his son Kyle is shot (accidentally by Valenti himself) and is dying. He pleads with Max to help his son. Max heals him and earns Valenti's undying support and devotion. Kyle is less than impressed, blaming Max for getting him in the situation where he was shot in the first place and causing all his trouble.

During the second season, Valenti does his best to protect Max, Isabel, Tess and Michael, using his position as Sheriff to try to cover for them whenever they are in danger of discovery. His son Kyle is angry with the aliens upsetting his life and with his father's ever growing involvement with them, and his respect and affection for them. When Nasedo is killed, Valenti even takes Tess in to live in his house. Valenti's attempts to help and shield the four aliens result in his being suspended as Sheriff for a time and coming under ever-greater suspicion. Amy DeLuca continues to befriend and support him, much to his embarrassed pleasure and bemusement.

Character sketch by Jerry D.; updated by MyrnaLynne.