Rolf Saxon (born July 7, 1955) is an American actor. He is best known for his role as CIA analyst William "Bill" Donloe in the Mission: Impossible film series, as well as for his voice-over work in numerous video games, movies and TV shows, including as the American narrator of the BBC children's series Teletubbies (1997–2001).
Saxon has also appeared in the BBC television drama The Trials of Oz (1991), the ITV mystery drama Agatha Christie's Poirot (1993), in video games such as the Broken Sword series (1996–2013) and The Witcher (2007), and in films such as Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), Saving Private Ryan (1998), Woman in Gold (2015) and A Hologram for the King (2016), which have received several awards and nominations.Awards and nominations for films, TV series and video games in which Saxon was cast in:
Life and career Rolf Saxon was born at Fort Belvoir in Alexandria, Virginia on 7 July 1955. He has worked with the American Conservatory Theater, California Shakespeare Theater, Berkeley Mime Troupe, and Omphalos Street Theatre Company. After training as an actor, Saxon immediately began appearing on the stage and on television; he made his film debut as Dick Tipton in the BBC adaptation of Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel Little Lord Fauntleroy (1980). Initially known as a television actor, he appeared as attorney Hudson J. Talbot III in the ITV drama Capital City (1989–1990).'Second Quarter Figures', Director: Paul Seed; Writer: Andrew Maclear. "Capital City", Euston Films, episode 1, series 1. Original air date: 26 September 1989 Saxon is best known for his role of CIA analyst William Donloe in Mission: Impossible (1996), a role he would later reprise in Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025). Saxon has also appeared as the narrator for the American dub of the BBC children's series Teletubbies (1997–2001).
Awards and nominations Upon his graduation at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, Saxon was awarded the Gold Medal. While performing with the Omphalos Street Theatre Company at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, he was nominated for the Fringe First Award. Critics praised Saxon's performance as Victor Franz in The Price (2005), earning him the Manchester Evening News Theatre Award for Best Actor in A Leading Role.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1983The Lords of DisciplineRowlandCurse of the Pink Panther2nd speedboat manInvitation to the WeddingPeter1984Nineteen Eighty-FourPatrolman1985The Dirty Dozen: Next MissionRobert E. WrightD.P.Soldier1988A Time of DestinyKentuckyJoyridersFirst American Sailor1992Wild WestYuhudi1996Mission: ImpossibleWilliam Donloe1997Tomorrow Never DiesPhilip JonesCoronation Street Viva Las Vegas Stephano DelaneyVideo1998Saving Private RyanLieutenant Briggs1999Entrapment DirectorTeletubbies: Merry Christmas, Teletubbies! Narrator (American voice)Video2000HonestAlden WheatonEisensteinHollywood ProducerObedienceHerbie ClaytonShortTeletubbies: Christmas in the Snow Narrator (American voice)Video2002Teletubbies: Silly Songs and Funny Dances 2011Creature (loop group)2012All I Think of is YouWilkinsShort2013Being UsMadroneThe Book of DanielNebuchadnezzar2014Alien StrainSheriff Espinosa2015Woman in GoldStan Gould2016A Hologram for the KingJoe TrivoliUncredited2017August FallsMikey2018After Ever AfterHimselfCreative director and co-director2025Mission: Impossible – The Final ReckoningWilliam Donloe
Television Year Title Role Notes1980Little Lord Fauntleroy DickTV movie1981The Gentle TouchDoctor1 episode1982Q.E.D.American AssociateStarting OutMr Moran1 episode1983Play for TodayChemistShades of Darkness Robert ElwellChessgameMike Klobucki1984The First Olympics: Athens 1896Tim ColdfeltUnknownThe TripodsBlack Guard1 episode1985American PlayhouseSoldierTender is the NightAmerican in BarUnknownLace IIHollywood DirectorTV movie1986The Deadly RecruitsMike Klobucki1987PulaskiJerome Summers8 episodes1989BoonLuke Hennessey1 episodeBirds of a FeatherRodney KauffmanTailspin: Behind the Korean Airliner Tragedy FrankTV movie1989–1990Capital CityHudson J. Talbot / Hudson J. Talbot III22 episodes1990She-Wolf of LondonCharlie Bodine2 episodes1991The Upper HandBrian ThomasEpisode: "Old Flames"The Trials of OzProfessor Ronald Dworkin1 Episode1992HostagesPlaskettTV movie1993Agatha Christie's PoirotDr. AmesEpisode: "The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb"Runaway BayDaniel Vincent1 episode1994Love HurtsSam Levison4 episodes1995The Tomorrow PeopleMr. Roach1 episodeSpace Precinct Lieutenant Verro WalkerCrown ProsecutorTom ReidOne for the RoadHankNight Watch Ted FiskTV movieThe AffairCapt. Marks1996London SuiteCarl Dolby1997The Canterville GhostHiram Otis1997–2001TeletubbiesNarratorVoice, United States/PBS Version1999Goodnight SweetheartMurrayEpisode: "Grief Encounter"The Great DetectivesReaderEpisode: "The Simple Art of Philip Marlowe"HippiesJerry GurvitzEpisode: "Protesting Hippies"RKO 281Flunkie #1TV movie2003Ultimate ForceArt SpellmanEpisode: "The List"2005The Eagle: A Crime OdysseySam Johnson2 episodes2006Little BritainUS President2011–2013They Live Among UsFather Buer / Fr. Buer4 episodes
Stage Year Title Role1992Lost in YonkersEddie1995OleannaJohnLaughter on the 23rd FloorMilt1998 The FrogsDionysosA View from the BridgeEddie Carbone 2000The Seven Year ItchRichardThe GraduateMr. Robinson2001 Dinner with FriendsGabe2002The Winter's TalePolixenesPericles, Prince of TyreSimonidesFrankie and Johnny in the Clair De LuneJohnny2003 ChicagoBilly Flynn2004 Blues for Mr. CharlieParnell James2005The PriceVictor FranzDeath and the MaidenGerardo2006Jerry Springer: The OperaJerry SpringerHello DollyVandergelder2007 Babes in ArmsSeymour Flemming2009 The Floating Light Bulb Jerry2011 Danger: Memory!KrollThe ChosenMalter
Video games Year Title Role Notes1996Broken Sword: The Shadow of the TemplarsGeorge StobbartVoice1997Broken Sword II: The Smoking MirrorGeorge Stobbart, The Goat, Robert Foster2000Play with the TeletubbiesNarrator2003Broken Sword: The Sleeping DragonGeorge Stobbart2006Broken Sword: The Angel of Death2007The WitcherLeo2009Broken Sword: The Shadow of the Templars – Director's CutGeorge Stobbart2010Broken Sword II: The Smoking Mirror – Remastered2013Broken Sword 5: The Serpent's CurseGeorge Stobbart, Gehnen, Goat
References
External links
Rolf Saxon at Film Reference