Sam Trammell (born January 29, 1969)[1] is an American actor, known for his role as Sam Merlotte on the HBO fantasy drama series True Blood. He was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance as Richard Miller in Ah, Wilderness!

Sam Trammell
Trammell at San Diego Comic-Con International in July 2012
Born (1969-01-29) January 29, 1969 (age 55)
EducationBrown University
OccupationActor
Years active1996–present
Children2

Career

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Trammell has worked in theater, Broadway, Off-Broadway, film, and television. His stage credits include a Tony Award-nominated performance in Ah, Wilderness! at Lincoln Center. Off-Broadway, he starred in Dealer's Choice, My Night with Reg, If Memory Serves, and Ancestral Voices, as well as in Kit Marlowe at the Joseph Papp Public Theater.[2][3][4][5]

Trammell's big break came when he landed the role of Sam Merlotte on the HBO series True Blood. In 2013, he played Darrell Mackey in the drama film White Rabbit. He played Hazel (Shailene Woodley)'s father, Michael Lancaster, in the 2014 film The Fault in Our Stars,[6] based on the novel of the same name by John Green.

In 2019, Trammell starred in the Netflix horror-drama series, The Order.[7]

He played Vice-president Benjamin Hayes in the final season of Homeland who is signed in as Commander-in-chief after the sitting President is killed.

Personal life

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Trammell was born in New Orleans, Louisiana,[1][8] and was raised in Charleston, West Virginia.[9] He attended Brown University, graduating in 1991.[10][11]

Trammell met actress Missy Yager in 2003 while performing theatre in New York City.[12] The couple's twin sons were born in August 2011.[12]

Awards

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For his work on HBO's True Blood, Trammell was nominated for:

Filmography

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Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
1996Childhood's EndGreg Chute
1997The Hotel Manor InnNolan
1998Wrestling with AlligatorsWill
2000BeatLee
2000Fear of FictionRed/Tom Hopkins
2000Autumn in New YorkSimon
2000FollowersJohn Dietrich
2003UndermindDerrick Hall/Zane Waye
2004The Last Full MeasureShort film
2007Aliens vs. Predator: RequiemTim O'Brien
2008Miracle of PhilTaylorShort film
2010Children of the SpiderAlexShort film
2010The Inn KeeperJebShort film
2011The DetailsChrisUncredited
2012Guns, Girls and GamblingSheriff Cowley
2013Crazy Kind of LoveJeff Lucas
2013The privilegedPreston Westwood
2013White RabbitDarrell Mackey
2014After the FallLee
2014The Fault in Our StarsMichael Lancaster
2014MeDavid
2015All Mistakes BuriedSonny Coles
20153 GenerationsMatthew Walker
2015The TrackScott
2015I Am WrathDetective Gibson
2016ImperiumGerry Conway
2017Say You WillDean Hall
2018It's TimeCoach Billy Brewer
2019I See YouTodd
2019BreakthroughDr. Kent Sutterer
2019Nancy Drew and the Hidden StaircaseCarson Drew
2021UnsilencedDaniel Davis
2021American RefugeeWinter
2022The Tiger RisingRob Horton Sr.
2023Big George ForemanReverend Virdell Stokes
TBA72 Hours
2023Organ TrailLogan[14]
Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1996Harvest of FireSimon TroyerTelevision film
1998Maximum BobSonny Dupree2 episodes
1998TrinityLiam McCallister3 episodes
2001–02Going to CaliforniaKevin "Space" LauglinMain role; 20 episodes
2004HouseEthan HartigEpisode: "Maternity"
2004Anonymous RexVincent RubioTelevision film
2005Strong MedicineKiko EllsworthEpisode: "First Response"
2005Judging AmyMarty Levine3 episodes
2005BonesKen ThompsonEpisode: "Pilot"
2006CSI: NYCharles WrightEpisode: "Heroes"
2006Numb3rsThomas GillEpisode: "Hot Shot"
2006JusticeKevin O'NeilEpisode: "Pilot"
2006DexterMatt ChambersEpisode: "Crocodile"
2007What If God Were the Sun?JeffTelevision film
2007Cold CasePorter Rawley (1981)Episode: "Blood on the Tracks"
2008–14True BloodSam MerlotteMain role; 81 episodes
2009MediumDr. Brian SewardEpisode: "Things to Do in Phoenix When You're Dead"
2009Law & Order: Criminal IntentGray VanderhovenEpisode: "Identity Crisis"
2013Filthy Sexy Teen$Tom SaxsonTelevision special
2013Childrens HospitalDenizen StoopEpisode: "My Friend Falcon"
2015CockedRichard PaxsonMain role
2017Training DayEmmet RourkeEpisode: "Blurred Lines"
2016–17This Is UsBen4 episodes
2019–20The OrderEric ClarkeMain role (Season 1); Guest role (Season 2)
2019ReckoningLeo DoyleMain role; Mini-series (10 episodes)
2020HomelandVP Benjamin HayesRecurring role
2023The Rookie: FedsNeal WizaroEpisode: "Red One"


Web
YearTitleRoleNotes
2011Paul the Male MatchmakerStuEpisode: "Know When You Are Too Old"

References

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