Godspeed Robin Sachs

Robin Sachs, who appeared in movies from Hammer's Vampire Circus (1972) to sci-fi comedy Galaxy Quest (1999) and TV shows from Upstairs, Downstairs to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, died 1 February 2013 at the age of 61. The cause is unknown as of yet.

Robin Sachs was born in London on 5 February 1951. He was the son of actors Leonard Sachs and Eleanor Summerfield. He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA). Following his time at RADA, Mr. Sachs performed with various repertory theatres in the United Kingdom. He eventually appeared on London's West End, in productions of The Astronomer, Gay Lord Quex, Henry IV, and Pericles.  In 1972 he made his film debut in the cult classic Vampire Circus. The same year he appeared in Henry VIII and His Six Wives and in 1977 he appeared in The Disappearance. He made his television debut in the programme Love and Mrs. Lewisham. He was a regular on the series Rob Roy. He also appeared on the shows ITV Playhouse; Upstairs, Downstairs; Ten From the Twenties; Quiller; Centre Play; and Crown Court.

In the Eighties Robin Sachs was a regular on the show Chessgame. He appeared on such programmes as Lady Killers; Brideshead Revisited; Tom, Dick, and Harriet; Number 10; C.A.T.S. Eyes; Rumpole of the Bailey; and A Fine Romance He appeared in the film A Flame to the Phoenix (1985). In the Nineties and into the Naughts Mr. Sachs had a recurring role on Buffy the Vampire Slayer as the evil sorcerer and Giles' archenemy Ethan Rayne. He made his American television debut on an episode of Jake and the Fatman and appeared on such shows as The Bill; Babylon 5; Murder, She Wrote; Diagnosis Murder; Walker, Texas Ranger; Nowhere Man; and Nash Bridges. He appeared in the films Innocent Adultery (1994), Ravager (1997), The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), and Galaxy Quest (1999).

In the Naughts and the Teens Mr. Sachs appeared on such shows as Star Trek: Voyager; Alias; Torchwood; NCIS; and Castle. He appeared in the films as Northfork (2003).

Robin Sachs was an exceedingly talented actor gifted with an amazing voice. In fact, later in his career he provided voices for several different video games. In his work on film, on stage, and in television, he may have been best known for his roles as villains. He played Ethan Rayne on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, an amoral sorcerer  who apparently thrived on chaos.  In the movie Galaxy Quest he played General Roth'h'ar Sarris, the deceitful and sadistic military commander bent on genocide. While he may have been best known for playing villains, Mr. Sachs could play a variety of roles. In the film Ravager he played a micro-surgeon with a drug habit. In Northfork he played a British expatriate living in a small Montana town. Robin Sachs was a talented actor with a great voice, who could play a wide variety of roles.