# Sam Richardson (actor)

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.

## Early life

Richardson was born in Detroit, Michigan, on January 12, 1984, the son of a Ghanaian mother and an African-American father. 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. Every year Richardson would travel with his parents to Ghana, where his grandfather was a chief and local political leader. He graduated from the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy in 2002, and studied theater at Wayne State University.

## Career

Early in his career, Richardson performed at the Second City in Detroit and then in Chicago. At Second City, he was known for a wide range of characters, from sight gags to impressions of public figures.
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. 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. During season 4, Richardson was made a regular cast member of the show, after his character received a job offer in President Meyer's administration as an assistant to the character Jonah. He has also appeared in films including We're the Millers, Horrible Bosses 2, Spy, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, and Ghostbusters.
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. 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." Detroiters ran for two seasons before its cancellation by Comedy Central in 2018.
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. 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.
In 2022, Richardson was in the main cast of the Apple TV+ mystery comedy series The Afterparty. 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.

## Filmography
### Film

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 | Short film |
| 2013 | We're the Millers | TSA Agent | |
| 2013 | The Rule of Threes | Jeff | Short film |
| 2013 | Crash Site | Ben | Short film |
| 2014 | Horrible Bosses 2 | The Producer | |
| 2015 | Spy | John | |
| 2015 | The Night Is Young | Sam | |
| 2016 | Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising | Eric Baiers | |
| 2016 | Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates | Eric Huddle | |
| 2016 | Ghostbusters | Basement Cop | |
| 2016 | Office Christmas Party | Joel | |
| 2017 | The House | Marty | |
| 2018 | Game Over, Man! | Donald | |
| 2018 | Ralph Breaks the Internet | Lee the Office Nerd | Voice |
| 2019 | Good Boys | Officer Sacks | |
| 2020 | Promising Young Woman | Paul | |
| 2020 | Superintelligence | Agent John Donahue | |
| 2020 | Hooking Up | Bailey Brighton | |
| 2021 | Werewolves Within | Finn Wheeler | Producer |
| 2021 | The Tomorrow War | Charlie | |
| 2022 | Family Squares | Alex | |
| 2022 | Senior Year | Seth Novacelik | |
| 2022 | Hocus Pocus 2 | Gilbert | |
| 2023 | Somebody I Used to Know | Dar | |
| 2023 | Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken | Brill | Voice |
| 2024 | The 4:30 Movie | Major Murder | |
| 2025 | Star Trek: Section 31 | Quasi | |
| 2025 | Hypergalactic † | TBA | Post-production; voice |
| TBA | Let's Have Kids! † | TBA | Post-production |
| TBA | Sacrifice † | TBA | Filming |
| TBA | Matchbox † | TBA | Filming |

### Television

| 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" |
| 2015 | The Sixth Lead | Security Guard | 2 episodes |
| 2015 | The Second City Project | Various | 10 episodes; Writer |
| 2016 | Teachers | Mr. Jackson | Episode: "The Last Day" |
| 2016 | Son of Zorn | Businessman | Episode: "Return to Orange County" |
| 2016 | Lip Sync Battle | Himself | Episode: "Sam Richardson vs. T.J. Miller" |
| 2016, 2018 | New Girl | Dunston | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Portlandia | Amore Rep | Episode: "Amore" |
| 2017 | 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 |
| 2018 | Dessert Island | Sandor | Voice |
| 2018 | 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" |
| 2019 | Archer | Bort the Garj | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2019 | Conan Without Borders | Himself | Episode: "Ghana" |
| 2019 | Human Discoveries | Bog | Voice, main role |
| 2019 | 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 |
| 2020 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Will Cooper | Episode: "The Spite Store" |
| 2020 | Dream Corp, LLC | Patient 44 | Episode: "Tricky Ricky" |
| 2020 | Hoops | Marcus | Voice, recurring role |
| 2020 | 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 |
| 2021 | Q-Force | Greg | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 2021 | 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 |
| 2022 | Little Demon | Asmodeus | Voice, episode: "Possession Obsession" |
| 2022 | 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" |
| 2023 | Mulligan | Simon Prioleau | Voice, main role |
| 2023 | Human Resources | Tony | Voice, episode: "Tony: The Life of an Office Cold" |
| 2023 | Clone High | Wesley | Voice, episode: "For Your Consideration" |
| 2023–2024 | Velma | Norville Rogers | Voice, main role |
| 2024 | Sausage Party: Foodtopia | Julius | Voice; main role |
| 2024 | Krapopolis | Hades | Voice, episode: "Hades Nuts" |

## Awards and nominations

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