Sander's acting career commenced in the 1970s with notable performances in television series such as The Siege of Golden Hill (1975) and A Bunch of Fives (1977),marking the beginning of his journey as a main character. Throughout the first half of the 1980s, he made recurring appearances in the popular TV series Angels (1982),followed by a minor role in the TV movie Monsignor Quixote, starring the renowned actor Alec Guinness. During this period, Sanders also acted in guest roles for various TV shows and minor parts in films like Dead Lucky and Bellman and True. The 1980s saw him focus on non-blockbuster movies, including TV productions like Witchcraft, as well as making guest appearances in different TV series, one of which being the notable Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean.
In 1999, Sanders lent his voice to the character of Neimoidian lieutenant Daultay Dofine in The Phantom Menace, although Dofine's on-screen presence was portrayed by a different actor, Alan Ruscoe, who also played Bib Fortuna and Plo Koon. The same year, Sanders voiced a baby baboon in Disney's TV movie Tarzan, which also featured the renowned actor Brian Blessed. Since then, Sanders appears to have returned to his usual pattern of guest appearances in TV shows, as evident in his role in the series Two Thousand Acres of Sky.
