The Afterparty creator considers Sam Richardson "his generation's Tom Hanks"

The Hollywood Reporter

Chris Miller cast Richardson first for his Apple TV+ comedic whodunit before filling out the entire ensemble. “I don’t see anything holding him back from being America’s sweetheart,” says Miller in a Hollywood Reporter profile of Richardson. “Sam’s got the chops, the ambition, the range — and no one has a bad thing to say about him. He’s his generation’s Tom Hanks.” Richardson adds: “One thing I’ve been careful to not plan on is emulating anyone else’s career. As a Black man in comedy, I feel like there’s truly no archetype for me. I hope that doesn’t mean I get to some level where it’s like, ‘Nope! No more space!’ I’ve been working really hard to believe that’s not going to be the case.”

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• It feels like the Sam Richardson name is finally breaking into the mainstream: "He had a wonderful, multi-episode arc on Ted Lasso," says Andrew Sanford. "He got his own poster for the Christ Pratt vehicle The Tomorrow War. He has a starring role in a new Apple+ Murder/Mystery/Comedy show The Afterparty. He even made an impression in the horror/comedy scene this year with the hilarious Werewolves Within. The era of Sam Richardson is finally happening, and he wears it well. Sitting across from Seth Meyers in a fanTAStic suit, charming Meyers and his audience with his quick wit and big smile. That’s where I want to see Sam Richardson! It feels right. The dude is a star and it finally feels like everyone is taking notice."
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