Sam Richardson (actor)
Samuel Richardson (born January 12, 1984) is an American actor, comedian, writer, and producer. He is best known for playing Richard Splett in the HBO political comedy series Veep (2012–2019), co-creating and co-starring in the Comedy Central comedy series Detroiters (2017–2018) alongside Tim Robinson, playing various characters in the Netflix sketch show I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson (2019–present), and co-starring in the Apple TV+ series The Afterparty (2022–present) as Aniq Adjaye and the Max series Velma (2023–present) as Norville "Shaggy" Rogers. In 2022 and 2023, he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance as Edwin Akufo in Ted Lasso.
Sam Richardson | |
|---|---|
Richardson in January 2019 | |
| Born | January 12, 1984 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2004–present |
| Known for | Aniq Adjaye Norville "Shaggy" Rogers |
Early life Edit
Richardson was born in Detroit, Michigan, on January 12, 1984,[1][2] the son of a Ghanaian mother and an African-American father.[3][4] His aunt was Barbara-Rose Collins (née Richardson), who in 1990 became the first black woman from Michigan to be elected to the United States Congress.[5][6] Once or twice a year, Richardson would travel with his parents to Ghana, where his grandfather was a chief and local political leader.[7] He graduated from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy in 2002,[8] and studied theater at Wayne State University.[9][10]
Career Edit
Early in his career, Richardson performed at the Second City in Detroit and then in Chicago.[11] At Second City, he was known for a wide range of characters, from sight gags to impressions of public figures.[12]
Following a move to Los Angeles, Richardson appeared in six episodes (including the series finale) of The Office and a season 4 episode of Arrested Development.[11] He has also appeared on episodes of Drunk History, New Girl, Teachers, and six episodes of Harder Than It Looks. He played Richard Splett on the HBO political comedy series Veep, first appearing in four episodes during season 3 as the handler for Selina Meyer during her Iowa book tour.[13] During season 4, Richardson was made a regular cast member of the show,[11][14][15] after his character received a job offer in President Meyer's administration as an assistant to the character Jonah.[16] He has also appeared in films including We're the Millers, Horrible Bosses 2, Spy,[13] Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, and Ghostbusters.[17]
In 2015, Comedy Central ordered a pilot for the series Detroiters, created by Richardson and Tim Robinson. The show stars Richardson and Robinson, who also co-wrote and co-executive produced the series with others.[18] Comedy Central then ordered ten episodes of the series, which began shooting in the Detroit area in 2016. According to Detroit Free Press, "In the series, Richardson and Robinson play struggling advertising men in Detroit who make local TV commercials. The plot was inspired partly by the classic Detroit ads they grew up watching, including the Mel Farr Superstar and Gordy from ABC Warehouse campaigns."[19] Detroiters ran for two seasons before its cancellation by Comedy Central in 2018.[20]
In 2016, Richardson was nominated for the Best Performance in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Program or Series (Individual or Ensemble) award at the Canadian Screen Awards for his work on The Second City Project. He was also nominated for the Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series at the 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 Screen Actors Guild Awards for his work on Veep, winning the last one. In 2018, he began playing Alf in the YouTube Premium series Champaign ILL.[12][21] Since 2019, he has played various characters in the Netflix sketch show I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson.
In 2021, Richardson appeared in Ted Lasso as Edwin Akufo, a part for which he was nominated for the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in 2022 and 2023.[22]
In 2022, Richardson was in the main cast of the Apple TV+ mystery comedy series The Afterparty.[23] That same year he appeared as Gilbert, the owner of the Olde Salem Magic Shoppe, in Hocus Pocus 2, a sequel to the 1993 film, Hocus Pocus.[24]
Filmography Edit
Film Edit
| † | Denotes films that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | The Planning Lady | Police Officer | Short film |
| 2010 | Superman vs. The Office | Sam | |
| 2013 | We're the Millers | TSA Agent | |
| The Rule of Threes | Jeff | Short film | |
| Crash Site | Ben | ||
| 2014 | Horrible Bosses 2 | The Producer | |
| 2015 | Spy | John | |
| The Night Is Young | Sam | ||
| 2016 | Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising | Eric Baiers | |
| Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates | Eric Huddle | ||
| Ghostbusters | Basement Cop | ||
| Office Christmas Party | Joel | ||
| 2017 | The House | Marty | |
| 2018 | Game Over, Man! | Donald | |
| Ralph Breaks the Internet | Lee the Office Nerd | Voice | |
| 2019 | Good Boys | Officer Sacks | |
| 2020 | Promising Young Woman | Paul | |
| Superintelligence | Agent John Donahue | ||
| Hooking Up | Bailey Brighton | ||
| 2021 | Werewolves Within | Finn Wheeler | Producer |
| The Tomorrow War | Charlie | ||
| 2022 | Family Squares | Alex | |
| Senior Year | Seth Novacelik | ||
| Hocus Pocus 2 | Gilbert | ||
| 2023 | Somebody I Used to Know | Dar | |
| Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken | Brill | Voice |
Television Edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Harder Than It Looks | Sam | Recurring role, 6 episodes |
| 2012–13 | The Office | Colin | Episode: "Here Comes Treble" |
| 2013 | Arrested Development | TSA Agent | Episode: "Flight of the Phoenix" |
| 2014–19 | Veep | Richard Splett | 40 episodes; Recurring role (season 3), Main role (seasons 4–7) |
| 2015 | Drunk History | Jim Brown | Episode: "Cleveland" |
| The Sixth Lead | Security Guard | 2 episodes | |
| The Second City Project | Various | 10 episodes; Writer | |
| 2016 | Teachers | Mr. Jackson | Episode: "The Last Day" |
| Son of Zorn | Businessman | Episode: "Return to Orange County" | |
| Lip Sync Battle | Himself | Episode: "Sam Richardson vs. T.J. Miller" | |
| 2016, 2018 | New Girl | Dunston | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Portlandia | Amore Rep | Episode: "Amore" |
| The Comedy Jam | Himself | Episode: "Sam Richardson/Jesse Tyler Ferguson/Awkwafina" | |
| 2017–18 | Detroiters | Sam Duvet | 20 episodes, Main role; also writer and executive producer |
| 2018 | Champaign ILL | Alf | 10 episodes, Main role; also executive producer |
| Dessert Island | Sandor | Voice | |
| Ghosted | Sam | Episode: "The Wire" | |
| 2018–19 | Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Muninn | Voice, main role |
| 2019 | Relics and Rarities | Ionis Leatherfoot | Episode: "The Trial of the Hidden Ones" |
| Archer | Bort the Garj | Voice, 2 episodes | |
| Conan Without Borders | Himself | Episode: "Ghana"[25] | |
| Human Discoveries | Bog | Voice, main role | |
| Room 104 | Greg | Episode: "Drywall Guys" | |
| 2019–20 | BoJack Horseman | Dr. Champ | Voice, 5 episodes |
| 2019–23 | I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson | Various | 5 episodes[26] |
| 2020 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Will Cooper | Episode: "The Spite Store" |
| 2020–2022 | Star Trek: Lower Decks | Vendome | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2020 | Dream Corp, LLC | Patient 44 | Episode: "Tricky Ricky" |
| Hoops | Marcus | Voice, recurring role | |
| Woke | Toast | Voice, 3 episodes | |
| 2020–21 | The Fungies! | Cool James, Mr. Mayor | Voice, recurring role |
| 2021 | M.O.D.O.K. | Garfield "Gary" Garoldson | Voice, main role |
| Q-Force | Greg | 3 episodes | |
| Nailed It! | Himself | Episode: "Paranormal Pastries" | |
| 2021–present | HouseBroken | Chico | Voice, main role |
| 2021–2023 | Ted Lasso | Edwin Akufo | 3 episodes |
| 2022 | Harley Quinn | Swamp Thing | Voice, episode: "It's a Swamp Thing" |
| 2022–present | The Afterparty | Aniq Adjaye | Main role |
| 2022 | Little Demon | Asmodeus | Voice, episode: "Possession Obsession" |
| 2023–present | Velma | Norville “Shaggy” Rogers | Voice, main role |
| 2023 | Grimsburg | TBA | Voice, main role |
| Clone High | Wesley | Voice, recurring role[27] | |
| 2023 | Human Resources | Tony | Voice, episode "Tony: The Life of an Office Cold" |
| 2024 | Grimsburg | Det. Greg Summers | Voice, Main Role |
Awards and nominations Edit
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Veep | Nominated | [28] |
| 2017 | Nominated | [29] | |||
| 2018 | Won | [30] | |||
| 2022 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series | Ted Lasso: "Midnight Train to Royston" | Nominated | [31] |
| 2023 | Ted Lasso: "International Break" | Pending |
References Edit
- ^ "Sam Richardson (@SamRichardson)". Sam Richardson verified Twitter account. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017. Retrieved June 15, 2017.
Born and raised in Detroit. ... Born January 12
- ^ Bazilian, Emma (June 21, 2016). "Veep Star Sam Richardson's New Comedy Central Show Is About Local Ad Guys in Detroit". Retrieved June 15, 2017.
Age: 32
- ^ "Sam Richardson of 'Veep' is winning at comedy". Detroit Free Press. March 12, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- ^ "Sam Richardson Talks 'Veep' Season 4 & Growing Up in Ghana on 'White Guy Talk Show' – Fuse". Fuse.
- ^ "Sam Richardson Once Did Improv for Marathon Runners", Late Night with Seth Meyers, February 2, 2022, retrieved February 4, 2022.
- ^ "COLLINS, Barbara-Rose | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives". history.house.gov. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
- ^ . Playboy. April 10, 2015. Archived from the original on June 10, 2016.
- ^ "U of D Jesuit Highlights" (PDF). University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy. Fall 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
- ^ Chicago Tribune (April 30, 2015). "Sam Richardson: from Second City to Veep – Chicago Tribune". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
- ^ "Former CFPCA Theatre Student Sam Richardson to Star in New Sitcom "Detroiters" Premiering Tonight on Comedy Central – CFPCA – Wayne State University". cfpca.wayne.edu. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- ^ a b c "New 'Veep' co-star Sam Richardson is the chief of laughs". New York Post. April 11, 2015.
- ^ a b Chicago Tribune (April 30, 2015). "Sam Richardson: from Second City to Veep – Chicago Tribune". chicagotribune.com.
{{cite web}}: Check|url=value (help) - ^ a b Nellie Andreeva (September 17, 2014). "Sam Richardson Promoted To Regular On 'Veep' – Deadline". Deadline.
- ^ Harry Fletcher (September 18, 2014). "Veep's Sam Richardson becomes regular". Digital Spy.
- ^ "Sam Richardson made 'Veep' series regular". Entertainment Weekly's EW.com.
- ^ "Sam Richardson Talks 'Veep'". April 9, 2015.
- ^ "Sam Richardson Thinks The 2016 Election Is More Absurd Than 'Veep'". Huffington Post. May 5, 2016.
- ^ "Comedy Central Orders Detroiters Pilot". pastemagazine.com.
- ^ "'Detroiters' sitcom will film in Detroit". Detroit Free Press. January 21, 2016.
- ^ "Seth Meyers Pleads to Save Canceled Comedy Central Series 'Detroiters'". www.thewrap.com. December 15, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
- ^ "Sam Richardson Keeps His Streak Alive with Champaign ILL". pastemagazine.com. December 10, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
- ^ "Sam Richardson | Actor, Writer, Producer". IMDb. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
- ^ Porter, Rick (April 27, 2022). "Sam Richardson, Zoe Chao Book 'Afterparty' Return at Apple TV+". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
- ^ Galuppo, Mia (October 21, 2021). "Sam Richardson Joins 'Hocus Pocus' Sequel (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
- ^ Wright, Megh (June 14, 2019). "Conan to film show in Haiti in response to Trump's 's—hole' comments". Vulture. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
- ^ "Sam Richardson". IMDb.
- ^ Clarendon, Dan (March 25, 2023). "'Clone High' First Look: See Who's Joining the Cast and Which Character Is Gone". TV Insider. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ "The 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards: Nominees and Recipients". Screen Actors Guild. 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
- ^ "The 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards: Nominees and Recipients". Screen Actors Guild. 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
- ^ "The 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards: Nominees and Recipients". Screen Actors Guild. 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
- ^ "Sam Richardson". Television Academy. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
External links Edit
- Sam Richardson at IMDb