Sam Richardson, breakout star of Veep and co-creator of Detroiters, discusses his career, fear of spiders, the beauty of Detroit, breaking into new roles, and the economic disparities influenced by colonialism
Sam Richardson aims to challenge the perception of him solely as a nice guy and showcase his versatility as an actor.
In the show 'Detroiters,' Sam Richardson co-created and starred in a more nuanced and positive portrayal of Detroit, highlighting the kindness, resilience, and supportiveness of the people in the city.
Deep dives
Sam Richardson's Acting Career and Persona
Sam Richardson is an actor known for his breakout role on the HBO show Veep and co-creating and starring in Detroiters. He often plays cheerful and friendly characters who end up getting in their own way. Richardson's joyful and amiable personality in real life aligns with the roles he portrays on screen.
Sam Richardson's Role in the Film 'Werewolves Within'
Richardson stars in the horror comedy film 'Werewolves Within.' He plays Finn Wheeler, a park ranger in a small New England town that is experiencing a snowstorm and a series of scary events. As tensions rise and suspicions grow, the residents start to turn on each other, not knowing who might be the source of the danger.
Representation of Detroit in 'Detroiters'
Richardson co-created and starred in the show 'Detroiters,' which aimed to show a different perspective of Detroit beyond the common stereotypes of crime or decay. The show depicted a more nuanced and positive portrayal, highlighting the kindness, resilience, and supportiveness of the people in Detroit.
Ambitions for a Diverse Range of Roles
While Richardson has excelled in playing amiable characters, he is actively looking to expand the range of roles he takes on. He seeks characters with backbone and guile, who don't necessarily need their vulnerabilities or shortcomings to be the central focus. Richardson wants to challenge the perception of him solely as a nice guy and showcase his versatility as an actor.
Sam Richardson's breakthrough role came in HBO's Veep. Sam is also a writer. With the help of SNL alum Tim Robinson, they co-created and starred in Detroiters. These days, you can catch Sam in The Afterparty on Apple TV+. Sam joins Jesse to talk about his career in film and TV, and what it was like growing up between the United States and Ghana. A version of this interview originally aired in August of 2021.