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Martyn Sanderson
★ Acting

Martyn Sanderson

1938 – 2009 · Granity, New Zealand · Active 1974–2009

Martyn Sanderson is best known for his role in the 1988 cult classic Never Say Die, where he brings a distinctive flair to the film's offbeat humor and eccentric characters. His performance captures the essence of the late 1980s exploitation cinema, a time when genre films thrived on outrageous plots and unconventional storytelling. Sanderson's work in Never Say Die contributes to the film's charm, making it a noteworthy entry in the realm of cult and grindhouse cinema.

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Never Say Die

Never Say Die

1988 ★ 5.5
as Farmer

Both Alf and his wife Melissa have returned home to New Zealand after being homesick. After a delay in customs that irritates Alf, the two return to their old home which has just had the utilities switched back on. As they arrive the house is destroyed in a gas explosion. Paranoid Alf goes to report his suspicions that the explosion was deliberate to his nemesis on the New Zealand Police, Inspector Evans. Evans thinks Alf is upset and imagining things. Alf later survives a car crash where his brakes were cut, however an examination of Alf's car lead Evans to believe that shrapnel from the house explosion cut the brake line. Alf and Melissa escape to a country house where Alf's increasing paranoia leads him to establish a line of tripwires around the property that drop noise making kitchen utensils. Alf also arms himself with a small bore rabbit hunting rifle. They are joined by a hunter who eschews shooting bunnies and instead shoots at Lisa until Alf kills him with his rifle. Evans still thinks Alf is paranoid but is mystified as the unzeroed sights on Alf's weapon and its small calibre makes Alf's one shot one kill of the hunter a remote possibility. Everyone finally realises Alf is right when a helicopter drops two assassins with fully automatic weapons who destroy the property that leads to a cross country chase across the Land of the Long White Cloud featuring nonstop car chases, assassination attempts and continuous references to 007.

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Career Highlights Top 6 by popularity · TMDB

Filmography

49 credits
2000s 3 credits
2001
Cow as Long
Movie ★ 8.0
2001
Movie ★ 8.4
1990s 14 credits
1996
Chicken as Bryce Tilfer
Movie ★ 5.7
1996
Movie ★ 6.3
1995
Savage Play as Henry
Movie ★ 8.0
1995
Dirty Creature as Mr. Lasalles
Movie
1995
TV ★ 7.0
1995
TV ★ 7.0
1995
TV ★ 7.0
1994
The Last Tattoo as Ralph Simpson
Movie ★ 5.6
1994
Movie ★ 5.6
1993
Drag as Steven
Movie ★ 5.5
1993
Desperate Remedies as Maori Warrior
Movie ★ 5.6
1992
Shortland Street as Noel Sturgess
TV ★ 5.3
1991
Old Scores as Acid Aitken
Movie ★ 8.0
1990
An Angel at My Table as Frank Sargeson
Movie ★ 7.0
1980s 16 credits
1988
Movie ★ 5.5
1988
Movie ★ 4.6
1987
Movie
1987
The Harp in the South as Hughie Darcy
Movie ★ 9.0
1987
The Harp in the South as Hughie Darcy
TV
1986
Sylvia as Inspector Gulland
Movie ★ 7.3
1985
Movie ★ 6.2
1985
Trial Run as Alan West
Movie ★ 6.0
1984
Wild Horses as Jones
Movie ★ 6.0
1984
Utu as Vicar
Movie ★ 7.0
1983
The Lost Tribe as Bill Thorne
Movie ★ 4.0
1982
Bad Blood as Les North
Movie ★ 7.0
1982
The Scarecrow as Ned as Adult (voice)
Movie ★ 5.7
1981
TV ★ 5.0
1980
Movie ★ 6.7
1980
Movie ★ 4.0
1970s 5 credits
1979
Keskidee Aroha as Narrator
Movie
1977
Solo as Jules Catweazle
Movie ★ 6.0
1977
Movie ★ 9.0
1977
Wild Man as Snake
Movie ★ 10.0
1977
The Governor as General Sir Duncan Cameron
TV
Crew Credits
1990s 2 credits
1990
Movie ★ 7.5
1990
Movie ★ 7.5
1980s 2 credits
1986
Movie ★ 6.5
1984
Movie ★ 4.2
1970s 7 credits
1979
Keskidee Aroha Screenplay
Movie
1979
Movie
1979
Movie
1977
Movie ★ 9.0
1977
Wild Man Writer
Movie ★ 10.0
1977
Solo Screenplay
Movie ★ 6.0
1974
The Hum Writer
Movie