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Sam Richardson (actor)

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Sam Richardson
Richardson in January 2019
Born (1984-01-12) January 12, 1984 (age 40)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • writer
  • producer
Years active2004–present
Known forVeep
Detroiters
The Afterparty
Velma

Sam Richardson (born January 12, 1984) is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for playing Richard Splett in the HBO political comedy series Veep (2012–19), co-creating and co-starring in the Comedy Central comedy series Detroiters (2017–18) alongside Tim Robinson, and for playing various characters in the Netflix sketch show I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson (2019–present), Aniq Adjaye in the Apple TV+ series The Afterparty (2022–23), and Norville Rogers in the Max series Velma (2023–24). 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, winning the 2023 award in this category.[1]

Early life

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Richardson was born in Detroit, Michigan, on January 12, 1984,[2][3] the son of a Ghanaian mother and an African-American father.[4][5] 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.[6][7] Once or twice a year, Richardson would travel with his parents to Ghana, where his grandfather was a chief and local political leader.[8] He graduated from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy in 2002,[9] and studied theater at Wayne State University.[10][11]

Career

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Early in his career, Richardson performed at the Second City in Detroit and then in Chicago.[12] At Second City, he was known for a wide range of characters, from sight gags to impressions of public figures.[13]

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.[12] 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.[14] During season 4, Richardson was made a regular cast member of the show,[12][15][16] after his character received a job offer in President Meyer's administration as an assistant to the character Jonah.[17] He has also appeared in films including We're the Millers, Horrible Bosses 2, Spy,[14] Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, and Ghostbusters.[18]

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.[19] 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."[20] Detroiters ran for two seasons before its cancellation by Comedy Central in 2018.[21]

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.[13][22] 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.[23]

In 2022, Richardson was in the main cast of the Apple TV+ mystery comedy series The Afterparty.[24] 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.[25]

Filmography

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Film

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Key
† 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
2024 The 4:30 Movie Major Murder
2025 Star Trek: Section 31 † TBA Post-production
Hypergalactic † TBA Post-production; voice
TBA Let's Have Kids! † TBA Post-production
Sacrifice † TBA Filming

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2012 Harder Than It Looks Sam Recurring role, 6 episodes
2012–2013 The Office Colin 6 episodes
2013 Arrested Development TSA Agent Episode: "Flight of the Phoenix"
2014–2019 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"
2017–2018 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"
2018–2019 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"[26]
Human Discoveries Bog Voice, main role
Room 104 Greg Episode: "Drywall Guys"
2019–2020 BoJack Horseman Dr. Champ Voice, 5 episodes
2019–2023 I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson Various 5 episodes[27]
2020 Curb Your Enthusiasm Will Cooper Episode: "The Spite Store"
Dream Corp, LLC Patient 44 Episode: "Tricky Ricky"
Hoops Marcus Voice, recurring role
Woke Toast Voice, 3 episodes
2020–2021 The Fungies! Cool James, Mr. Mayor Voice, recurring role
2020–2022 Star Trek: Lower Decks Vendome Voice, 2 episodes
2021 M.O.D.O.K. Garfield "Gary" Garoldson Voice, main role
Q-Force Greg Voice, 3 episodes
Nailed It! Himself Episode: "Paranormal Pastries"
2021–2023 Ted Lasso Edwin Akufo 3 episodes
2021–2023 HouseBroken Chico Voice, main role
2022 Harley Quinn Swamp Thing Voice, 2 episodes
Little Demon Asmodeus Voice, episode: "Possession Obsession"
Central Park Mayor Leeds Voice, 4 episodes
2022–2023 The Afterparty Aniq Adjaye Main role; 18 episodes
2023 History of the World, Part II Thomas A. Watson Episode: "III"
Mulligan Simon Prioleau Voice, main role
Human Resources Tony Voice, episode: "Tony: The Life of an Office Cold"
Clone High Wesley Voice, episode: "For Your Consideration"[28]
2023–2024 Velma Norville Rogers Voice, main role
2024 Sausage Party: Foodtopia Julius Voice; main role
Krapopolis Hades Voice, episode: "Hades Nuts"

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2015 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series Veep Nominated [29]
2017 Nominated [30]
2018 Won [31]
2022 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Ted Lasso: "Midnight Train to Royston" Nominated [32]
2023 Ted Lasso: "International Break" Won

References

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  1. ^ "Sam Richardson".
  2. ^ "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
  3. ^ 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
  4. ^ "Sam Richardson of 'Veep' is winning at comedy". Detroit Free Press. March 12, 2016. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  5. ^ "Sam Richardson Talks 'Veep' Season 4 & Growing Up in Ghana on 'White Guy Talk Show' – Fuse". Fuse.
  6. ^ "Sam Richardson Once Did Improv for Marathon Runners", Late Night with Seth Meyers, February 2, 2022, retrieved February 4, 2022.
  7. ^ "COLLINS, Barbara-Rose | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives". history.house.gov. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  8. ^ "Veep's Sam Richardson on Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Getting Cut Out of Melissa McCarthy's 'Spy'". Playboy. April 10, 2015. Archived from the original on June 10, 2016.
  9. ^ "U of D Jesuit Highlights" (PDF). University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy. Fall 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  10. ^ Chicago Tribune (April 30, 2015). "Sam Richardson: from Second City to Veep – Chicago Tribune". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ a b c "New 'Veep' co-star Sam Richardson is the chief of laughs". New York Post. April 11, 2015.
  13. ^ a b Metz, Nina (April 30, 2015). "Sam Richardson making spirits bright on 'Veep'". Chicago Tribune.
  14. ^ a b Nellie Andreeva (September 17, 2014). "Sam Richardson Promoted To Regular On 'Veep' – Deadline". Deadline.
  15. ^ Harry Fletcher (September 18, 2014). "Veep's Sam Richardson becomes regular". Digital Spy.
  16. ^ "Sam Richardson made 'Veep' series regular". Entertainment Weekly's EW.com.
  17. ^ "Sam Richardson Talks 'Veep'". April 9, 2015.
  18. ^ "Sam Richardson Thinks The 2016 Election Is More Absurd Than 'Veep'". Huffington Post. May 5, 2016.
  19. ^ "Comedy Central Orders Detroiters Pilot". pastemagazine.com.
  20. ^ "'Detroiters' sitcom will film in Detroit". Detroit Free Press. January 21, 2016.
  21. ^ "Seth Meyers Pleads to Save Canceled Comedy Central Series 'Detroiters'". thewrap.com. December 15, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  22. ^ "Sam Richardson Keeps His Streak Alive with Champaign ILL". pastemagazine.com. December 10, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2019.
  23. ^ "Sam Richardson | Actor, Writer, Producer". IMDb. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  24. ^ Porter, Rick (April 27, 2022). "Sam Richardson, Zoe Chao Book 'Afterparty' Return at Apple TV+". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  25. ^ Galuppo, Mia (October 21, 2021). "Sam Richardson Joins 'Hocus Pocus' Sequel (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  26. ^ Wright, Megh (June 14, 2019). "Conan to film show in Haiti in response to Trump's 's—hole' comments". Vulture. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  27. ^ "Sam Richardson". IMDb.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ "The 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards: Nominees and Recipients". Screen Actors Guild. 2015. Retrieved December 10, 2014.
  30. ^ "The 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards: Nominees and Recipients". Screen Actors Guild. 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  31. ^ "The 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards: Nominees and Recipients". Screen Actors Guild. 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
  32. ^ "Sam Richardson". Television Academy. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 12, 2022.
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