# Samuel Anderson (actor)

Samuel Anderson (born 27 April 1982) is an English actor. He portrayed Crowther in the play The History Boys and its 2006 film adaptation. His other roles include Fingers in the BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey (2007, 2009, 2024), Ross Kirk in the television soap opera Emmerdale (2007–2009), Danny Pink in the BBC sci-fi series Doctor Who (2014), and Daniel in the Sky1 sitcom Trollied (2014–2017).

## Early life

Anderson was born in Handsworth, Birmingham, to an Irish mother and Jamaican father. From early life, Anderson made it clear that he wished to pursue acting as a career. He attended Stuart Bathurst, a Catholic secondary school.

## Career

Anderson attended the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts in London before going on to originate the role of Crowther in the 2004 National Theatre production of Alan Bennett's play The History Boys. He subsequently performed the same role in the Broadway, Sydney, Wellington, and Hong Kong productions, and radio and film versions.
On television, Anderson has appeared in Hex for Sky One in 2004, and Totally Frank for Channel 4 from 2006 to 2007. In 2007, he appeared in the BBC Three comedy series Gavin & Stacey as recurring character Fingers. He made another appearance in the show in 2009 and in its 2024 Christmas special. He has also appeared in the BBC Four comedy film Stuck, and made various guest appearances in Doctors and Casualty on BBC One.
From October 2007, Anderson appeared in the ITV1 soap opera Emmerdale as Ross Kirk. His casting in the role was announced in September 2007, with Anderson stating that it was "great" to be joining "such a successful show". Emmerdale series producer Kathleen Beedles stated that Anderson was "a fantastic addition to the cast". Anderson remained a series regular in Emmerdale until January 2009, with major storylines including his character having an affair with Donna Windsor-Dingle and his wrongful imprisonment for the murder of Shane Doyle.
Anderson played Mr. Romantic in a Carte Noire coffee advertising campaign in 2011. He also featured in an advertising campaign for Ginsters in 2012. In February 2014, he had a small role in an episode of BBC drama series Death in Paradise. Also in February 2014, it was announced that Anderson had been cast as recurring character Danny Pink, a teacher at Coal Hill School, in the eighth series of Doctor Who, appearing in 11 episodes. Between 2014 and 2017, Anderson appeared in Sky1 sitcom Trollied, playing the role of Daniel. In February 2016, he appeared in the BBC One drama series Moving On. In 2017, he starred in the comedy Loaded on Channel 4.
He appeared as William in the Netflix science fiction series Another Life, which produced two seasons between 2019 and 2021, before being cancelled in February 2022.
He also starred as Mal in Amandaland in 2025, which has been renewed for a second series.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role |
| 2006 | The History Boys | Crowther |
| 2009 | Highlight | James |
| 2012 | Betsy & Leonard | Dwayne |
| 2015 | Pleasure Island | Nate |
| 2015 | The Lady in the Van | Jehovah's Witness |
| 2018 | Genesis | Robert Shorey |
| 2021 | Gunpowder Milkshake | David |
| 2021 | Sweetheart | Steve |
| 2023 | Falling into Place | Lewis |
| 2023 | Embers | Joe |
| 2024 | Back to Black | A&R Man |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2003 | Doctors | Tim Cartwright | 2 episodes |
| 2004 | The Afternoon Play | Cashier / Receptionist | Episode: "Sons, Daughters and Lovers" |
| 2004 | Hex | Julius | Episode: "Pilot: The Story Begins" |
| 2005–2006 | Totally Frank | Jason | 6 episodes |
| 2007 | Stuck | Simon | Television film |
| 2007–2009 | Emmerdale | Ross Kirk | Series regular |
| 2007, 2009, 2024 | Gavin & Stacey | Fingers | Recurring character |
| 2009 | Doctors | Gregg Wilcox | Episode: "A Little of What you Fancy" |
| 2009 | Casualty | Liam | Episode: "Palimpsest" |
| 2011 | Doctors | Roger Gently | Episode: "Lasso the Moon" |
| 2011–2016 | DCI Banks | DC Vince Grady | 7 episodes |
| 2012 | Bedlam | Taylor | Episode: "Dare" |
| 2012 | Casualty | Kris Kingsley | 3 episodes |
| 2013 | Midsomer Murders | Perry Stevens | Episode: "Death and the Divas" |
| 2013 | The Job Lot | Craig Allen | Episode #1.1 |
| 2014 | Death in Paradise | Swimming Model | Episode: "The Early Bird" |
| 2014 | Doctor Who | Danny Pink | 11 episodes |
| 2014–2017 | Trollied | Daniel Wilson | Series regular; 24 episodes |
| 2016 | Moving On | Danny | Episode: "Love" |
| 2016–2018 | Witless | Patrick | Main role |
| 2017 | Loaded | Leon | 8 episodes |
| 2019 | Father Brown | Alan Tylett | Episode: "The Sacrifice of Tantalus" |
| 2019 | Plebs | Hermes | Episode "The Wedding" |
| 2019–2021 | Another Life | William | Main role; 20 episodes |
| 2021 | Landscapers | DC Paul Wilkie | Main role; 4 episodes |
| 2022 | Red Rose | Vinny Mason | Main role; 4 episodes |
| 2022 | Mammals | Dan | 2 episodes |
| 2023 | The Chemistry of Death | DCI Mackenzie | 3 episodes |
| 2023 | Murder, They Hope | Samuel | Episode: "Blood Actually: A 'Murder, They Hope' Mystery" |
| 2024 | Renegade Nell | Sir George Horner | Episode: "Stop Printing This Muck" |
| 2025 | Amandaland | Mal | 6 episodes |
| 2025 | Wolf King | Broghan | Voice only |
Audio
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2020 | Eight Point Nine Nine | Darren Jones | |
| 2020 | Doctor Who: The Twelfth Doctor Chronicles | Danny Pink | Episode: "War Wounds" |