Sam Richardson (born January 12, 1984) is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for co-starring in the Comedy Central comedy series Detroiters (2017–2018) alongside Tim Robinson, playing Richard Splett in the HBO political comedy series Veep (2012–2019), and for playing various characters in the Netflix sketch show I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson (2019–2023), Aniq Adjaye in the Apple TV+ series The Afterparty (2022–2023), and Norville Rogers in the Max animated series Velma (2023–2024). 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 in 2023.

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 2022, Richardson appeared in the first US advertising campaign for Midea, a Fortune Global 500 appliances company. The humorous campaign featured Richardson as a fictional Chief Idea Officer who takes credit for Midea products, calling them "My Ideas" and claiming to be "the man behind the best ideas, at the world's best appliance company."

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 Year Title Role Notes 2007 The Planning Lady Police Officer Short film 2010 Superman vs. The Office Sam Short film2013 We're the Millers TSA Agent The Rule of Threes Jeff Short film Crash Site Ben Short film 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 Marty2018 Game Over, Man! Donald Ralph Breaks the Internet Lee the Office Nerd Voice role 2019 Good Boys Officer Sacks2020 Promising Young Woman Paul Superintelligence Agent John Donahue Hooking Up Bailey Brighton2021 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 role 2024 The 4:30 Movie Major Murder 2025 Sacrifice Oliver 2026 Hoppers Conner Voice role Crosby Post-production Voice role; in production Post-production Voice role; post-production

Television Year Title Role Notes 2012 Harder Than It Looks Sam Recurring role 2012–2013 The Office Colin 6 episodes 2013 Arrested Development TSA Agent Episode: "Flight of the Phoenix" 2014–2019 Veep Richard Splett Recurring role (season 3), main cast (seasons 4–7)2015 Drunk History Jim Brown Episode: "Cleveland" The Sixth Lead Security Guard 2 episodes The Second City Project Various Web series and a television special, main cast; also writer2016 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 episodes2017 Portlandia Amore Rep Episode: "Amore" The Comedy Jam Himself Episode: "Sam Richardson/Jesse Tyler Ferguson/Awkwafina" 2017–2018 Detroiters Sam Duvet Main cast; also co-creator, co-writer and an executive producer2018 Champaign ILL Alf Main cast; also executive producer Dessert Island Sandor Voice role Ghosted Sam Episode: "The Wire" 2018–2019 Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Muninn Voice role, main cast2019 Relics and Rarities Ionis Leatherfoot Episode: "The Trial of the Hidden Ones" Archer Bort the Garj Voice role, 2 episodes Conan Without Borders Himself Episode: "Ghana" Human Discoveries Bog Voice role, main cast Room 104 Greg Episode: "Drywall Guys" 2019–2020 BoJack Horseman Dr. Champ Recurring voice role (season 6) 2019–2023 I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson Various 5 episodes2020 Curb Your Enthusiasm Will Cooper Episode: "The Spite Store" Dream Corp, LLC Patient 44 Episode: "Tricky Ricky" Hoops Marcus Recurring voice role Woke Toast Voice role, 3 episodes 2020–2021 The Fungies! Cool James, Mr. Mayor Recurring voice role 2020–2022 Star Trek: Lower Decks Vendome Voice role, 2 episodes2021 M.O.D.O.K. Garfield "Gary" Garoldson Voice role, main cast Q-Force Greg Voice role, 3 episodes Nailed It! Himself Episode: "Paranormal Pastries" 2021–2023 Ted Lasso Edwin Akufo 3 episodes 2021–2023 HouseBroken Chico Voice role, main cast2022 Harley Quinn Swamp Thing Voice role, 2 episodes Little Demon Asmodeus Voice role, episode: "Possession Obsession" Central Park Mayor Leeds Voice role, 4 episodes 2022–2023 The Afterparty Aniq Adjaye Main cast2023 History of the World, Part II Thomas A. Watson Episode: "III"Human Resources Tony Voice role, episode: "Tony: The Life of an Office Cold" Clone High Wesley Voice role, episode: "For Your Consideration"2023–2024 Mulligan Simon Prioleau Voice role, main cast Velma Norville Rogers Voice role, main cast2024 It's Florida, ManPhilEpisode: "Toes" Everybody Still Hates ChrisVoice role, 2 episodes2024Yo Gabba GabbalandHimselfEpisode: Outside2024–2025 Krapopolis Hades Voice role, 3 episodes Sausage Party: Foodtopia Julius Voice role; main cast2025 Star Trek: Section 31 Quasi TV movie Bob's Burgers Dave Voice role Poker Face Kendall Hines Episode: "One Last Job" 2026 St. Denis Medical Michael Episode: "Nod and Agree"

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

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