Sam Richardson (actor)
Sam Richardson | |
---|---|
Born | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
Nationality | American |
Occupation | Actor, Writer |
Years active | 2007 - present |
Sam Richardson is an American film and television actor and writer, known for playing Richard Splett in the TV Series Veep.
Early life
Richardson was born in Detroit and raised in both Detroit and in Ghana, West Africa, as his father is American and his mother is Ghanaian.[1][2] Once or twice a year, the family would travel to Ghana, where Richardson’s grandfather, W.A. Wiafe, was a chief and local political leader.[3] Richardson graduated from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy in 2002[4] and studied theater at Wayne State University.[5] Early in his career, Richardson performed at the Second City sketch theatre group in Detroit and then in Chicago.[6] At Second City, Richardson was known for his range of characters, from sight gags to impressions of public figures.[7]
Television and film career
Following a move to Los Angeles, he received parts on television including appearing on six episodes,[8] including the series finale of The Office and a Season 4 episode of Arrested Development.[6] He has also appeared on episodes of Drunk History, New Girl, The Teachers, and six episodes of Harder Than It Looks.[8] Richardson currently plays the role of Richard Splett on the HBO comedy VEEP, first appearing in four episodes during Season 3 as the handler for Selina Meyer during her Iowa book tour.[9] During Season 4, Richardson was made a regular cast member of the show,[6][10][11] after his character received a job offer in President Meyer’s administration as an assistant to the character “Jonah”.[12] He has also appeared in films including We're the Millers,[8] Horrible Bosses 2, Spy,[9] Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, and Ghostbusters.[13]
Detroiters
In 2015, Comedy Central ordered a pilot for the show Detroiters, created by Richardson and Tim Robinson. The show stars Richardson and Robinson, who also co-wrote and co-executive produce the series with others.[14] Comedy Central then ordered ten episodes of the series, which began shooting in the Detroit area in 2016. According to the 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.”[15]
Awards
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 Screen Actor Guild awards for his work on Veep.[16]
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | The Planning Lady | Police Officer | Marty Shea | Short |
2010 | Superman vs. The Office | Sam | Jeff Hadick | Short |
2012 | Harder Than It Looks | Sam | Seth Weitberg | TV Series (6 Episodes) |
2013 | We're the Millers | TSA Agent | Rawson Marshall Thurber | |
The Rule of Threes | Jeff | Aaron Behl | Short | |
Crash Site | Ben | Jason Sperling | Short | |
Arrested Development | TSA Agent | Mitchell Hurwitz & Troy Miller | TV Series (1 Episode) | |
The Office | Colin | Several | TV Series (6 Episodes) | |
2014 | Horrible Bosses 2 | The Producer | Sean Anders | |
All Stars | Ramel Johnson | Lance Kinsey | ||
MOCKpocalypse | Neil W. Garguilo & David F. Park | TV Series (1 Episode) | ||
2014–present | Veep | Richard T. Splett | Several | TV Series (23 Episodes) Nominated - Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series |
2015 | Spy | John | Paul Feig | |
The Night Is Young | Sam | Dave Hill & Matt Jones | ||
Drunk History | Jim Brown | Derek Waters | TV Series (1 Episode) | |
The Sixth Lead | Security Guard | Rick Glassman | TV Series (2 Episodes) | |
The Second City Project | Tim Hamilton | TV Series (10 Episodes) Also Writer Nominated - Best Performance in a Variety or Sketch Comedy Program or Series | ||
2016 | Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising | Eric Baiers | Nicholas Stoller | |
Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates | Eric | Jake Szymanski | ||
Ghostbusters | Basement Cop | Paul Feig | ||
Office Christmas Party | Joel | Josh Gordon & Will Speck | ||
Detroiters | Sam Duvet | John Solomon | TV Movie Also Writer | |
New Girl | Dunston | Christine Gernon | TV Series (1 Episode) | |
Teachers | Mr. Jackson | Payman Benz | TV Series (1 Episode) | |
2017 | The House | Andrew J. Cohen | ||
References
- ↑ "Sam Richardson of 'Veep' is winning at comedy". Detroit Free Press. 12 March 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
- ↑ "Sam Richardson Talks 'Veep' Season 4 & Growing Up in Ghana on 'White Guy Talk Show' - Fuse". Fuse.
- ↑ "Veep's Sam Richardson on Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Getting Cut Out of Melissa McCarthy's 'Spy'". Playboy. 10 April 2015.
- ↑ "U of D Jesuit Highlights" (PDF). University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy. Fall 2015. Retrieved 2016-07-12.
- ↑ Chicago Tribune (30 April 2015). "Sam Richardson: from Second City to Veep - Chicago Tribune". chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
- 1 2 3 "New 'Veep' co-star Sam Richardson is the chief of laughs". New York Post. 11 April 2015.
- ↑ Chicago Tribune (30 April 2015). "Sam Richardson: from Second City to Veep - Chicago Tribune". chicagotribune.com.
- 1 2 3 "Sam Richardson". IMDb.
- 1 2 Nellie Andreeva. "Sam Richardson Promoted To Regular On 'Veep' - Deadline". Deadline.
- ↑ Harry Fletcher (18 September 2014). "Veep's Sam Richardson becomes regular". Digital Spy.
- ↑ "Sam Richardson made 'Veep' series regular". Entertainment Weekly's EW.com.
- ↑ "Sam Richardson Talks 'Veep'". 9 April 2015.
- ↑ "Sam Richardson Thinks The 2016 Election Is More Absurd Than 'Veep'". Huffington Post.
- ↑ "Comedy Central Orders Detroiters Pilot". pastemagazine.com.
- ↑ "'Detroiters' sitcom will film in Detroit". Detroit Free Press. 21 January 2016.
- ↑ "IMDB profile".