Sam Richardson

Sam Richardson – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

A definitive deep-dive into Sam Richardson (born January 12, 1984): the Detroit-raised, Ghana-rooted actor behind Veep, Detroiters, The Afterparty, Ted Lasso, and Werewolves Within—plus verified Sam Richardson quotes.

Introduction

Sam Richardson is an American actor and comedian whose sunny timing and stealthy precision turn supporting parts into scene-stealers and leads into lovable folk heroes. From Richard Splett on HBO’s Veep to Aniq Adjaye in Apple TV+’s The Afterparty, from the viral absurdity of I Think You Should Leave to an Emmy-winning turn as Edwin Akufo on Ted Lasso, the life and career of Sam Richardson map the rise of a modern comedy shapeshifter. He also fronts genre films (Werewolves Within), big-budget sci-fi (The Tomorrow War), and voice roles (Velma), showing range across platforms and tones.

Early Life and Family

Richardson was born January 12, 1984, in Detroit, Michigan, to a Ghanaian mother and African-American father. His aunt, Barbara-Rose Collins, became the first Black woman from Michigan elected to the U.S. Congress in 1990—a family link that mirrors his own Detroit-to-Ghana identity. As a kid he frequently traveled to Ghana, where his grandfather was a community leader.

Youth and Education

He graduated from University of Detroit Jesuit High School (2002) and studied theater at Wayne State University before sharpening his improv at The Second City in Detroit and Chicago—training that seeded his unflappable, character-first comedy.

Career and Achievements

Breakthrough on Veep

Richardson joined Veep in season 3; by season 4, Richard Splett had become an ensemble staple. The cast won the SAG Award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series in 2018.

Detroiters and a Love Letter to Home

With best friend Tim Robinson, he co-created and co-starred in Comedy Central’s Detroiters (2017–2018), a buddy-ad-men sitcom shot on location and designed as a cheerful portrait of the city they love. The series still earns revival pleas from critics and fans.

Streaming Era: I Think You Should Leave, The Afterparty, and Ted Lasso

A frequent Robinson collaborator, Richardson pops up throughout Netflix’s I Think You Should Leave; meanwhile he led Apple TV+’s The Afterparty (seasons 1–2) as earnest puzzle-lover Aniq. His swaggering Ghanaian billionaire Edwin Akufo on Ted Lasso brought him a Primetime Emmy win (Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series) at the 75th Creative Arts Emmys.

Films and Franchises

Richardson headlined the Tribeca-premiering Werewolves Within (2021)—one of the highest-rated video-game movies—then teamed with Chris Pratt in Amazon’s The Tomorrow War (2021). He later charmed Disney fans as Gilbert in Hocus Pocus 2 (2022).

Voice & Animation

In Max’s adult-animation Velma (2023–2024) he voiced Norville Rogers (Shaggy), expanding his reach to animation audiences.

Historical Milestones & Context

• 2014–2019: Scene-stealing run as Richard Splett on Veep; ensemble SAG win (2018).

• 2017–2018: Co-creates and stars in Detroiters, filmed in Detroit.

• 2019–2023: Recurring highlights in I Think You Should Leave.

• 2021: Dual genre breakout—lead of Werewolves Within and supporting turn in The Tomorrow War.

• 2022–2023: Leads The Afterparty seasons 1–2.

• 2022–2024: Edwin Akufo on Ted Lasso; Emmy win announced January 2024 telecast for the 2023 cycle.

• 2023–2024: Voices Norville in Velma.

Legacy and Influence

Richardson’s legacy coheres around warmth as a strategy. Where many comedies chase meanness, he plays sincerity without naivety—an energy that made Veep’s Washington chaos funnier, turned Detroiters into a civic valentine, and anchored the genre-hopping experiment of The Afterparty. Even in villain mode (Ted Lasso’s Akufo), his calibrated bravado spotlights a performer who can invert his “nice-guy” brand on a dime.

Personality and Talents

• Improv fundamentals: Second City discipline undergirds his “unflappable optimist” rhythm; he can play the scene straight or detonate it with microscopic beats.

• Voice and dialect agility: A childhood shuttling between Detroit and Ghana gave him a keen ear; interviews often note his arsenal of accents.

• Genre agility: Leads whodunits, anchors rom-com beats, plays blockbuster buddy, or goes full absurdist sketch—often in the same year.

Famous Quotes of Sam Richardson

(Short, verifiable Sam Richardson quotes to share.)

1. “Playing nice people feels good… It’s serotonin or whatever.”

2. “I’m not gonna be a pretentious asshole and be, like, It’s jazz. But it’s a little jazz.”

3. “Adults don’t say best friends, but we do and we are.”

4. “You have to be… I’m thinking twenty years in the future.”

5. “Comedy is constantly evolving. The jokes that you can’t make are jokes that we’ve all realized aren’t jokes.”

Lessons from Sam Richardson

1. Lead with kindness—and commit. The Splett archetype shows how grounded positivity can steal scenes without cheap cynicism.

2. Make your hometown a co-star. Detroiters proves sincere, place-specific storytelling resonates far beyond city limits.

3. Play across tones. Jumping from Werewolves Within to The Tomorrow War to The Afterparty demonstrates how range compounds opportunity.

4. Rewrite your type. Akufo in Ted Lasso flips his “nice guy” image and earned him Emmy gold—proof that reinvention pays.

5. Keep the improv alive. Second City training isn’t just a credit; it’s a toolkit for timing, listening, and scene-partner trust.

Conclusion

From Detroit stages to global streaming, Sam Richardson has built a career on radiant timing, collaborative joy, and fearless versatility. If you came for famous sayings of Sam Richardson, stay for the craft lesson: optimism can be a weapon, and range is a plan. Explore more timeless quotes on our website and keep discovering the artists who reshape modern comedy.