Robin Sachs (5 February 1951 – 1 February 2013) was an English actor, active in the theatre, television and films. He was also known for his voice-over work in films and video games. Born to a theatrical family, Sachs studied at the

Royal Academy of Dramatic Art The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, also known by its abbreviation RADA (), is a drama school in London, England, which provides vocational conservatoire training for theatre, film, television, and radio. It is based in Bloomsbury, Central London ...

in London, and made a theatrical and screen career, working his way up from supporting parts in the 1970s to leading roles from the 1980s. He made his later career in the United States, and became known for his role of Ethan Rayne in the television series ''

Buffy the Vampire Slayer ''Buffy the Vampire Slayer'' is an American supernatural fiction, supernatural drama television series created by writer and director Joss Whedon. The concept is based on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film), 1992 film, also written by Whedon, a ...

''.

Early life and early career

Sachs was born in London, the elder of two sons of the South African-born actor

Leonard Sachs Leonard Meyer Sachs (26 September 1909 – 15 June 1990) was a South African-born British actor. Life and career Sachs was born in the town of Roodepoort, in the then Transvaal Colony, present day South Africa. He was Jewish. He emigrated ...

and the English actress Eleanor Summerfield.Robin Sachs"
''The Telegraph'', 1 March 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2018. Also online a
"Robin Sachs"
Infobank. Retrieved 26 October 2018 His father was

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

. After leaving school he studied at the

, after which he followed the traditional route of provincial repertory and touring before being cast in supporting roles in West End productions during the 1970s, including Pirandello's '' Henry IV'', with

Rex Harrison Sir Reginald Carey Harrison (5 March 1908 – 2 June 1990) was an English actor. Harrison began his career on the stage at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1924. He made his West End debut in 1936 appearing in the Terence Rattigan play '' French W ...

; ''

Pericles Pericles (; ; –429 BC) was a Greek statesman and general during the Golden Age of Athens. He was prominent and influential in Ancient Athenian politics, particularly between the Greco-Persian Wars and the Peloponnesian War, and was acclaimed ...

'', with Derek Jacobi, and Pinero's '' The Gay Lord Quex'', with

Judi Dench Dame Judith Olivia Dench (born 9 December 1934) is an English actress. Widely considered one of Britain's greatest actors, she is noted for her versatility, having appeared in films and television, as well as for her numerous roles on the stage ...

, directed by

John Gielgud Sir Arthur John Gielgud ( ; 14 April 1904 – 21 May 2000) was an English actor and theatre director whose career spanned eight decades. With Ralph Richardson and Laurence Olivier, he was one of the trinity of actors who dominated the Britis ...

Career

He appeared in leading stage roles, in

Leicester Leicester ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city, Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area, and the county town of Leicestershire in the East Midlands of England. It is the largest city in the East Midlands with a popula ...

in 1979 in Sartre's ''The Assassin'',

Brighton Brighton ( ) is a seaside resort in the city status in the United Kingdom, city of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England, south of London. Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze Age Britain, Bronze Age, R ...

in 1984 in ''Love Affair'' with Siân Phillips, and at the Ashcroft Theatre,

Croydon Croydon is a large town in South London, England, south of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Croydon, a Districts of England, local government district of Greater London; it is one of the largest commercial districts in Greater Lond ...

in 1985 in '' On Approval'' with Polly James and Christopher Biggins, On British television, he was cast in '' Brideshead Revisited''; '' Upstairs, Downstairs''; ''

Rumpole of the Bailey ''Rumpole of the Bailey'' is a British television series created and written by the British writer and barrister John Mortimer. It starred Leo McKern as Horace Rumpole, a middle-aged London barrister who defended a broad variety of clients, ...

''; '' Quiller'' and '' Gentlemen and Players''. In the 1983 series '' Chessgame'' he played the secret agent Hugh Roskill. Sachs's first film role was as Heinrich, a young vampire, in

Hammer A hammer is a tool, most often a hand tool, consisting of a weighted "head" fixed to a long handle that is swung to deliver an impact to a small area of an object. This can be, for example, to drive nail (fastener), nails into wood, to sh ...

's '' Vampire Circus'' (1972)."Robin Sachs"
British Film Institute. Retrieved 26 October 2018 He played Thomas Culpepper, Catherine Howard's lover in '' Henry VIII and his Six Wives'' (1973), and featured in '' The Disappearance'' (1977) alongside Donald Sutherland. In the early 1990s, Sachs moved to

Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...

after being cast as a guest star in the television series ''

Jake and the Fatman ''Jake and the Fatman'' is an American crime drama television series starring William Conrad as prosecutor J. L. (Jason Lochinvar) "Fatman" McCabe and Joe Penny as investigator Jake Styles. Created by Dean Hargrove and Joel Steiger, the ser ...

'' and played Adam Carrington in the

miniseries In the United States, a miniseries or mini-series is a television show or series that tells a story in a predetermined, limited number of episodes. Many miniseries can also be referred to, and shown, as a television film. " Limited series" is ...

'' Dynasty: The Reunion''. He remained based in the US, guest starring in television shows including ''The Return of Ironside'' with Raymond Burr (1993). Among his later films were

Steven Spielberg Steven Allan Spielberg ( ; born December 18, 1946) is an American filmmaker. A major figure of the New Hollywood era and pioneer of the modern blockbuster, Spielberg is widely regarded as one of the greatest film directors of all time and is ...

's '' The Lost World: Jurassic Park'' (1997) and

Steven Soderbergh Steven Andrew Soderbergh ( ; born January 14, 1963) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, and editor. A pioneer of modern Independent film, independent cinema, Soderbergh later drew acclaim for formally inventiv ...

's remake of ''

Ocean's Eleven ''Ocean's Eleven'' is a 2001 heist comedy film directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Ted Griffin. A remake of the 1960 film of the same name, it serves as the first installment in the ''Ocean's'' franchise. The film features an ense ...

'' (2001). He appeared in several science-fiction programmes on television, including '' Star Trek: Voyager'' and '' Torchwood'', and in 1999 played General Sarris in the satirical comedy '' Galaxy Quest'', co-starring

Tim Allen Timothy Alan Dick (born June 13, 1953), known professionally as Tim Allen, is an American actor and comedian. He is known for playing Tim "The Toolman" Taylor on the ABC sitcom ''Home Improvement'' (1991–1999) for which he won a Golden Gl ...

and

Sigourney Weaver Susan Alexandra ( ; born October 8, 1949), better known by her stage name Sigourney Weaver, is an American actress. Prolific in film since the late 1970s, she is known for her pioneering portrayals of action heroines in Blockbuster (entertainme ...

. In 2002, he was cast as Peter Brazier, head of Nexexcon in ''

Megalodon ''Otodus megalodon'' ( ; meaning "big tooth"), Common name, commonly known as megalodon, is an extinction, extinct species of giant mackerel shark that lived approximately 23 to 3.6 million years ago (Mya), from the Early Miocene to the Earl ...

''. In his last film appearance, '' Northfork'' (2002), he played Cup of Tea, the leader of the vestigial community of a town about to be flooded. Sachs became known for his role as the sorcerer Ethan Rayne in the American television series ''

'', and for voicing Zaeed Massani in the ''

Mass Effect ''Mass Effect'' is a military science fiction media franchise created by Casey Hudson. The franchise depicts a distant future where humanity and several alien civilizations have colonized the galaxy using technology left behind by Elder race, a ...

'' video game franchise, Admiral Saul Karath in '' Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic'', Sergeant Roderick in ''

SpongeBob SquarePants ''SpongeBob SquarePants'' is an American animated television series, animated comedy television series created by marine science educator and animator Stephen Hillenburg for Nickelodeon. It first aired as a sneak peek after the 1999 Kids' C ...

'' and Xoloti in '' Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom''. In recognition of his popularity as a voice artist, following his death, a ''Mass Effect 3'' multiplayer challenge was enacted during the last weekend of February 2013, called "Operation Tribute".

Personal life

Sachs was twice married: from 1979 to 1991 to Siân Phillips, and from 1995 to 2006 to the American actress Casey DeFranco. Both marriages were dissolved. He died of a

heart attack A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when Ischemia, blood flow decreases or stops in one of the coronary arteries of the heart, causing infarction (tissue death) to the heart muscle. The most common symptom ...

on 1 February 2013.

Filmography

Films

* '' Vampire Circus'' (1972) – Heinrich * '' Henry VIII and His Six Wives'' (1972) – Thomas Culpeper * '' East Lynne'' (1976, TV Movie) – Richard Hare * '' The Disappearance'' (1977) – Young Man * '' Richard II'' (1978, TV Movie) – Bushy * '' A Flame to the Phoenix'' (1983) – Gavin McCrae * '' Deadly Recruits'' (1986, TV Movie) – Hugh Roskill * '' The Alamut Ambush'' (1986, TV Movie) – Hugh Roskill * '' Cold War Killers'' (1986, TV Movie) – Hugh Roskill * '' The Return of Ironside'' (1993, TV Movie) – Nicholas Metzinger * '' Innocent Adultery'' (1994) – Himself * '' The Lost World: Jurassic Park'' (1997) – Paul Bowman * '' Ravager'' (1997) – Dr Shepard * '' Babylon 5: In the Beginning'' (1998, TV Series) – Coplann * '' Galaxy Quest'' (1999) – Sarris * ''

'' (2001) – Seller * ''

'' (2004) – Peter Brazier * '' Northfork'' (2003) – Cup of Tea * '' Resident Evil: Damnation'' (2012) – Ataman / Ivan Judanovich (voice) (final film role)

Television series

* '' Love and Mr Lewisham'' (1972) – Mr Edwin Peake Baynes * '' ITV Playhouse'' (1972) – Hugh Randolph * '' Upstairs, Downstairs'' (1973) – Robert * '' Ten from the Twenties'' (1975) – Harry Lance * '' Quiller'' (1975) – Dieter * '' Centre Play'' (1975) – Adam * ''

Crown Court The Crown Court is the criminal trial court, court of first instance in England and Wales responsible for hearing all indictable offences, some Hybrid offence, either way offences and appeals of the decisions of magistrates' courts. It is ...

'' (1976) – Himself * '' Rob Roy'' (1977) – Frank Osbaldistone * '' Ladykillers'' (1981) – Gervais Rentoul * '' Brideshead Revisited'' (1981) - Oxford student. * '' Diamonds'' (1983) – Charles Nielsen * '' Tom, Dick and Harriet'' (1983) – Marcel * '' Chessgame'' (1983) – Hugh Roskill * '' C.A.T.S. Eyes'' (1985) – James Latchmere * ''

'' (1987) – Hugo Lutterworth * '' A Fine Romance'' (1989) – Count Ivan Rakosi * '' Gentlemen and Players'' (1989) – Journalist * ''

The Bill ''The Bill'' is a British police procedural television series, broadcast on ITV (TV network), ITV from 16 October 1984 until 31 August 2010. The programme originated from a one-off drama, "Woodentop (The Bill), Woodentop" (part of the ''Storyb ...

'' (1991) – Prosecuting Counsel * ''

'' (1991) – Greg Hatton * '' Dynasty: The Reunion'' (1991) –

Adam Carrington Adam Alexander Carrington is a fictional character from the ABC prime time soap opera ''Dynasty'', created by Richard and Esther Shapiro. Introduced at the beginning of the series' third season, the role was originated by Gordon Thomson in 19 ...

* '' Herman's Head'' (1991) – Simon * '' Box Office America'' (1992) – Himself – Host * ''

Murder, She Wrote ''Murder, She Wrote'' is an American crime drama television series, created by Peter S. Fischer, Richard Levinson and William Link, starring Angela Lansbury, and produced and distributed by Universal Television for the CBS network. The series f ...

'' (1993) – Martin Kramer * '' Diagnosis: Murder'' (1994) – Art Thief * ''

Fantastic Four The Fantastic Four, often abbreviated as FF, is a superhero team appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. The team debuted in '' The Fantastic Four'' #1 ( cover-dated November 1961), helping usher in a new level of realism i ...

'' (1994) – Silver Surfer / Norrin Radd / Physician / Street Fanatic * ''

Walker, Texas Ranger ''Walker, Texas Ranger'' is an American action fiction, action Crime drama, crime television series created by Leslie Greif and Paul Haggis. It was inspired by the film ''Lone Wolf McQuade'', with both the film and the series starring Chuck Norr ...

'' (1995) – Philippe Brouchard * '' Nowhere Man'' (1996) – Alexander Hale / The Voice * '' Pacific Blue'' (1996) – Wilson Dupree * ''

Baywatch Nights ''Baywatch Nights'' is an American science-fiction mystery drama television series that aired in syndication from 1995 to 1997. Created by Douglas Schwartz, David Hasselhoff, and Gregory J. Bonann, the series is a spin-off from the telev ...

'' (1996) – Malcolm O'Neal * '' Nash Bridges'' (1996) – Yuri Vashkov * '' F/X: The Series'' (1998) – Sebastian * ''

Babylon 5 ''Babylon 5'' is an American space opera television series created by writer and producer J. Michael Straczynski, under the Babylonian Productions label, in association with Straczynski's Synthetic Worlds Ltd. and Warner Bros. Domestic Tel ...

'' (1994–1998) – Na'Tok / Warleader Na'Kal / Hedronn * ''

'' (1997-2000) – Ethan Rayne * '' Star Trek: Voyager'' (2001) – General Valen * '' Alias'' (2005) – Hans Dietrich * ''

'' (2006) – Sergeant Sam Roderick (voice) * '' Torchwood'' (2011) – British Professor * ''

Castle A castle is a type of fortification, fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by Military order (monastic society), military orders. Scholars usually consider a ''castle'' to be the private ...

'' (2012) – Announcer * '' NCIS'' (2012) – MI5 Inspector Andrew Challis

Television miniseries

* '' Number 10'' (1983) – Sir Edward Hamilton

Shorts

* '' An Unbending People'' (2011) – (voice)

Video games

* '' Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic'' (2003) – Admiral Saul Karath (voice) * '' Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds'' (2003) – Ethan Rayne / The First (voice) * '' The Bard's Tale'' (2004) – (voice) * '' GoldenEye: Rogue Agent'' (2004) – (voice) * '' Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six: Lockdown'' (2005) – (voice) * '' Dragon Age: Origins'' (2009) – Lord Pyral Harrowmont / Murdock / Experienced Human Male / Redcliffe Messenger / Landsmeet Noble / Bandit Leader / Howe Estate Guard / Denerim Soldier / Orzammar Grey Warden / Circle Tower Templar (voice) * '' Mass Effect 2'' (2010) – Zaeed Massani (voice) * '' Dragon Age: Origins – Awakening'' (2010) – Seneschal Varel / Narrator / Statue of War (voice) * '' Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days'' (2010) – (voice) * '' Majin and the Forsaken Kingdom'' (2010) – Xoloti (English version, voice) * ''

Mass Effect 3 ''Mass Effect 3'' is a 2012 action role-playing game developed by BioWare and published by Electronic Arts. The third major entry in the ''Mass Effect'' series and the final installment of the original trilogy, it was released in March 2012 for ...

'' (2012) – Zaeed Massani (voice)

Audiobooks

Sachs narrated some 80

audiobook An audiobook (or a talking book) is a recording of a book or other work being read out loud. A reading of the complete text is described as "unabridged", while readings of shorter versions are abridgements. Spoken audio has been available in sch ...

s, both fiction and nonfiction. These included: * '' The Tiger's Wife'' – Narration * '' A World Undone'' – Narration * '' Our Kind of Traitor'' – Narration * '' The Snowman'' – Narration * '' The Redbreast'' – Narration * '' The Devil's Star'' – Narration

Documentary shorts

* '' Greece: Secrets of the Past'' – Pericles * ''Ubuntu'' – Voice Over

Television documentary series

* '' The World of Hammer'' – Heinrich (archive audio)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Sachs, Robin 1951 births 2013 deaths Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art English male film actors English male television actors English male video game actors English male voice actors English people of South African-Jewish descent English expatriate male actors in the United States Male actors from London People from Hammersmith 20th-century English male actors 21st-century English male actors Actors from the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham