Sam Trammell


Sam Trammell is an American actor, best 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!''

Early life and education

Trammell was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and was raised in Charleston, West Virginia. He attended Brown University, graduating in 1991.

Career

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.
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 's father, Michael Lancaster, in the 2014 film The Fault in Our Stars, based on the novel of the same name by John Green.
In 2019, Trammell starred in the Netflix horror-drama series, The Order.
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

Trammell met actress Missy Yager in 2003 while performing theatre in New York City. The couple's twin sons were born in August 2011. The couple later parted ways at an unknown time.
He has been in a relationship with actress Emmanuelle Chriqui since 2020.

Awards

For his work on HBO's True Blood, Trammell was nominated for:
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 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 ; Guest role
2019ReckoningLeo DoyleMain role; Mini-series
2020HomelandVP Benjamin HayesRecurring role
2023The Rookie: FedsNeal WizaroEpisode: "Red One"

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