# Sam Lloyd

Sam Lloyd (November 12, 1963 – April 30, 2020) was an American actor and singer who played lawyer Ted Buckland on the comedy-drama series Scrubs and the sitcom Cougar Town.

## Early life

Lloyd was born in Springfield, Vermont, on November 12, 1963, the son of Marianna McGuffin and Samuel Lloyd Sr., an actor. One of five siblings—which included Laurel, Robin, Sandra, and Jackson—he was the nephew of actor Christopher Lloyd.
He attended Syracuse University in the 1980s. There he starred in his friend Paul Perry's student film Fan Mail, which Lloyd described as a "clever, fun, kind of homage to silent films".

## Career

Lloyd played lawyer Ted Buckland on the comedy-drama series Scrubs and the sitcom Cougar Town. He and his uncle Christopher both guest-starred on Malcolm in the Middle: Lloyd as a housing lawyer, and his uncle as Hal's father. The two also guested on The West Wing: Lloyd requesting the White House to release information about UFOs, and his uncle as a constitutional law expert. He also appeared in Desperate Housewives as Albert Goldfine, and in two episodes of Seinfeld as Ricky, a man who is obsessed with TV Guide and develops a crush on Elaine. Aside from acting, Lloyd was an accomplished singer with the a cappella group the Blanks, who made many appearances on Scrubs under the name The Worthless Peons (also known as Ted's Band). He also played the bass guitar in a Beatles tribute group called the Butties; although right-handed, he learned to play bass left-handed like Beatles bassist Paul McCartney to maintain authenticity.

## Illness and death

In January 2019, Lloyd was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor, which was subsequently found to be metastatic lung cancer that had spread to his liver, spine, and jaw. His wife Vanessa had given birth to their son, Weston, around the time Lloyd received his diagnosis. He died in Los Angeles on April 30, 2020, at the age of 56.

## Filmography
### Film

| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
| Rising Sun | 1993 | Rick | |
| Flubber | 1997 | Coach Willy Barker | |
| Galaxy Quest | 1999 | Neru | |
| Scorcher | 2002 | "Fingers" | |
| The Mudge Boy | 2003 | Ray Blodgett | |
| The Real Old Testament | 2003 | Abraham | |
| Advantage Hart | 2003 | Gus Blanderskud | Short |
| Spelling Bee | 2004 | Dr. Jacobs | Short |
| The Swidge | 2004 | Gil | Short |
| Back by Midnight | 2004 | Deputy | |
| Cry for Help | 2005 | John | Short |
| The Brothers Solomon | 2007 | Dr. Spencer | |
| ExTerminators | 2009 | Hutt | |
| Super Capers | 2009 | Herman Brainard | |

### Television

| Title | Year | Role | Notes |
| Night Court | 1988–1989 | Balloon Salesman / Waiter | 2 episodes |
| City | 1990 | Lance Armstrong | Main role, 13 episodes |
| Matlock | 1992 | Waiter | 1 episode |
| Seinfeld | 1993–1994 | Ricky | 2 episodes |
| Double Rush | 1995 | Barkley | Main role, 13 episodes |
| A Bucket of Blood | 1995 | Leonard | Television movie |
| Coach | 1996 | Ed | 1 episode |
| Champs | 1995 | "Bulldog" | 1 episode |
| Mad About You | 1997 | Cousin David | 2 episodes |
| The Drew Carey Show | 1997 | Jack | 1 episode |
| 3rd Rock from the Sun | 1997–1998 | Eddie | 2 episodes |
| Two Guys and a Girl | 1999 | Career Counsellor | 1 episode |
| Spin City | 1998–2000 | Paleontologist / Walter | 2 episodes |
| The West Wing | 1999–2002 | Bob Engler | 2 episodes |
| Battery Park | 2000 | Roy Galilean / Ray Giddeon | 3 episodes |
| NYPD Blue | 2000 | Larry | 1 episode |
| Scrubs | 2001–2009 | Ted Buckland | Recurring role, 95 episodes |
| The Nightmare Room | 2002 | Mr. Murphy | 1 episode |
| Desperate Housewives | 2004–2005 | Dr. Albert Goldfine | Recurring role, 8 episodes |
| Malcolm in the Middle | 2005 | Jim | 1 episode |
| Numb3rs | 2009 | Group Leader | 1 episode |
| Medium | 2010 | Danny Watson | 1 episode |
| Cougar Town | 2011–2012 | Ted Buckland | 3 episodes |
| The Middle | 2012–2013 | Mr. Walker | 3 episodes |
| Modern Family | 2014–2019 | Lester / Bobby | 2 episodes |
| Bones | 2014 | Donald McKeon | 1 episode |
| Shameless | 2015 | Buddy Diamond | 1 episode |
| Dr. Ken | 2016 | Gary | 1 episode |
| Happy Together | 2018 | Gene Johnston | 1 episode |
| American Housewife | 2019 | Sam Marks | 1 episode |