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Sam Underwood
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Sam Lewis Underwood (born 4 August 1987)[1][2] is an English actor who portrayed the twins Luke and Mark Gray in the Fox thriller drama The Following,[3] Jake Otto in the AMC series Fear the Walking Dead (2017), and Adam Carrington in The CW series Dynasty (2019–2022).
Key Information
Early life and education
[edit]Underwood was born in Woking, Surrey[4] and attended the Winston Churchill School. He trained at the Karen Clarke Theatre Group (now Summerscales Performing Arts), was taught by vocal coach Phil Wisdom and attended Songtime Theatre Arts.[5]
He moved to the United States in October 2006 where he studied at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York. He graduated in February 2008.[6][7]
He co-founded the Fundamental Theater Project in New York with Nicola Murphy in April 2010.[8]
Career
[edit]While appearing as Marchbanks in George Bernard Shaw's Candida at the Irish Repertory Theatre, New York, in April 2010,[9] Underwood was asked to play the part of Alan Strang in a production of Equus at the John Drew Theater at Guild Hall of East Hampton, co-starring alongside Alec Baldwin.[6][10]
In 2013, Underwood was cast in the eighth season of television series Dexter in the recurring role of Zach Hamilton, Dexter Morgan's "protégé".[3] He subsequently joined the third season of Homeland as Leo Carras.[3]
Beginning in February 2014, Underwood took on the dual roles of twins Mark and Luke Gray in the second season of the Fox murder mystery The Following. But after the death of Luke, he was left playing Mark - who had split identities - in its third and final season.[3]
As of 2017, Underwood joined the cast of the AMC thriller series Fear the Walking Dead in its third season as Jake Otto, the enigmatic son of the colony leader.
In 2019, Underwood was cast as Adam Carrington in The CW television series Dynasty, a reboot of the 1980s series of the same name.
In 2025, Underwood starred in the play Ivanov at the Unadilla Theatre in Calais, Vermont.
Personal life
[edit]Underwood married actress Valorie Curry on May 13, 2016.[11] They separated in 2022 and divorced in April 2023.[12]
On October 7, 2023, Underwood was arrested on felony domestic battery charges after he allegedly got into a physical altercation with an unidentified woman. He was released after approximately 10 hours in custody.[13]
Filmography
[edit]Television
[edit]| Year(s) | Title | Role(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Zero Hour | Martin Krupp | Season 1 |
| 2013 | Dexter | Zach Hamilton | Season 8 |
| 2013 | Homeland | Leo Carras | Season 3 |
| 2014–2015 | The Following | Luke and Mark Gray | Main cast (seasons 2–3) |
| 2017 | Fear the Walking Dead | Jake Otto | Main role (season 3); 12 episodes |
| 2018 | Madam Secretary | Andrew Hill | Season 4, episode 19: “Thin Ice” |
| 2019–2022 | Dynasty | Adam Carrington | Guest star (Episode: "Parisian Legend Has It...") Series regular (season 2–5) |
| 2023 | The Rookie: Feds | Roman Griffith | Season 1, episode 21: "Bloodline" |
Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | The Last Keepers | Oliver Sands | Feature film (debut) |
| 2017 | Hello Again | Leocadia | |
| 2021 | The Drummer | Darien Cooper |
Theatre
[edit]| Year(s) | Title | Role | Director(s) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Candida | Marchbanks | Tony Walton | Irish Repertory Theatre |
| 2010 | Equus | Alan Strang | Tony Walton | John Drew Theater at Guild Hall of East Hampton |
| 2010 | Veritas | Lumbard | Ryan J. Davis | HERE Arts Center |
| 2011 | Hamlet | Hamlet | theSpace on the Mile, Edinburgh Festival | |
| 2012 | The Picture of Dorian Gray | Dorian Gray | Quin Gordon | The Pershing Square Signature Center |
References
[edit]- ^ My 21st Birthday weekend (blog) dated 7 August 2008, retrieved 15 October 2013. This date is also repeated in official British birth registration records.
- ^ "Happy Birthday, Sam Underwood!". Darkly Dexter. 4 August 2013. Archived from the original on 11 October 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2013.
- ^ a b c d Jeffery, Morgan (7 August 2013). "'The Following' season two adds 'Dexter's Sam Underwood". Digital Spy. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
- ^ Richardson, Jay (21 April 2011). "Beam me up, Edinburgh festival ... Alec Baldwin takes on virtual Hamlet". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ^ Duffell, Beth (18 October 2013). "Homeland role as young Woking actor heads for big time". getSurrey. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
- ^ a b Panarello, Joseph (16 August 2010). "BWW Interviews: VERITAS' Sam Underwood". Broadway World. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
- ^ "Alumnus Sam Underwood on The Following!". The American Musical and Dramatic Academy Blog. 30 January 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
- ^ Muldoon, Molly (12 June 2013). "In Focus: Nicola Murphy, native of Dublin, brings her many talents to New York City". Irish Central. New York. Retrieved 28 December 2012.
- ^ Jones, Kenneth; Gans, Andrew (7 March 2010). "Errico, Murray, O'Reilly and Underwood Star in Irish Rep's Candida, Opening March 7 in NYC". Playbill. New York. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
- ^ "Van Dyck, Larson et al. Join Baldwin & Underwood in EQUUS, 6/8 - 7/13". Broadway World. New York. 28 May 2010. Retrieved 28 December 2014.
- ^ Scharf, Lindzi (13 September 2016). "TIFF 2016: Valorie Curry Breaks Out in 'American Pastoral' and 'Blair Witch Project'". WWD. Retrieved 17 September 2017.
- ^ Vasquez, Whitney (16 October 2023). "'Fear the Walking Dead' Star Sam Underwood's Ex-Wife Valorie Curry Not Alleged Victim in Felony Domestic Battery Arrest". Radar Online. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
- ^ Kang, Esther (16 October 2023). "Fear the Walking Dead Star Sam Underwood Arrested After Alleged Domestic Battery Incident". People. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
External links
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Sam Underwood
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early years
Early life
Sam Underwood was born on August 4, 1987, in Woking, Surrey, England.[1] He grew up in Woking and attended the Winston Churchill School there.[6] Underwood showed an early interest in the performing arts through involvement in local theatre and trained at the Karen Clarke Theatre Group in Surrey during his teenage years.[7]Education
At the age of 19, Sam Underwood relocated from the United Kingdom to New York City in October 2006 to pursue a career in acting.[8][9] Underwood enrolled at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in Manhattan, where he underwent intensive training in musical theatre, drama, and performance techniques, including acting, voice, and movement for stage and screen.[10] He graduated from the conservatory program in February 2008.[8] Following his graduation, Underwood encountered initial challenges in the competitive New York acting scene, particularly in securing auditions for non-musical drama roles due to his background in musical theatre.[8] To overcome these hurdles, he took on small theatre gigs, including roles in productions like Candida and Equus, while actively auditioning and building his professional network.[8]Acting career
Beginnings in theatre and early television (2010–2013)
Underwood made his professional theatre debut in 2010, appearing as Eugene Marchbanks in George Bernard Shaw's Candida at the Irish Repertory Theatre in New York.[11] Later that year, he took on the demanding role of Alan Strang in Peter Shaffer's Equus at the John Drew Theater at Guild Hall in East Hampton, New York, opposite Alec Baldwin.[12] He capped the year with a performance in the off-Broadway production of Veritas by Stan Richardson at FringeNYC, earning recognition for his ensemble work in the play about a historical gay witch hunt at Harvard.[13] In 2011, Underwood alternated in the title role of Hamlet in the innovative 3D Hamlet: A Lost Generation, a multimedia adaptation by the Fundamental Theatre Project, which held workshops in New York before premiering at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.[14] His stage work continued into 2012 with the lead role of Dorian Gray in Michael Raver's world-premiere adaptation of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray at Sonnet Repertory Theatre, where he portrayed the character's descent into moral corruption.[15] Underwood transitioned to television in 2013, marking his screen debut with a recurring role as the enigmatic serial killer Zach Hamilton in the eighth and final season of Showtime's Dexter.[16] That same year, he appeared as Martin Krupp in the ABC conspiracy thriller Zero Hour and as the troubled Leo Carras in the third season of Showtime's Homeland.[17] These early television roles represented a pivotal shift for Underwood, who had relocated from the UK to New York in 2006 after drama school to pursue stage opportunities but faced challenges in breaking into straight plays due to his initial musical theatre background.[8] To address such hurdles and build a US-based career, he co-founded the Fundamental Theatre Project in 2009, fostering international collaborations that bridged his theatre roots with emerging screen work.[8]Breakthrough and major roles (2014–2018)
Underwood's breakthrough came in 2014 when he was cast as the identical twins Luke and Mark Gray in the second and third seasons of the Fox thriller series The Following. As the psychopathic sons of cult leader Lily Gray, the characters were central antagonists, assisting in murders and attempting to lure the imprisoned Joe Carroll back into action. Underwood's portrayal of the duo's contrasting personalities—Luke as the more dominant and emotionally volatile leader, and Mark as the more vulnerable follower—earned critical praise for its intensity and nuance, with reviewers noting his ability to steal scenes through a "double dose of creepy" and complex duality.[18][19][20] The role marked Underwood's first major recurring television part, spanning 30 episodes across two seasons and significantly boosting his visibility among audiences. In interviews, he described the challenge of differentiating the twins as akin to "two great acting jobs," emphasizing their psychological depth and the fun of exploring villainous dynamics without oversimplification. However, the prominence of these antagonistic characters raised concerns about typecasting, with Underwood expressing a desire to avoid being pigeonholed into similar roles despite the fan recognition it brought, as fans often approached him about the twins' twisted brotherhood.[1][21][22] Building on this momentum, Underwood took on the role of Jake Otto in the third season of AMC's Fear the Walking Dead in 2017, portraying the pragmatic co-leader of the Broke Jaw Ranch community amid a zombie apocalypse. As the more level-headed brother to the volatile Troy Otto, Jake navigated survivalist tensions, ideological conflicts with Native American groups, and the ranch's isolationist ethos, ultimately succumbing to a bitten wound in a pivotal arc. Critics highlighted the character as one of the season's "most interesting" additions, praising Underwood's shift to a heroic, morally conflicted figure that contrasted his prior villainy. In a Q&A, Underwood discussed Jake's mental strain and leadership burdens, noting the role's appeal in depicting resilience under dire circumstances.[23][24][25] Underwood rounded out the period with a guest appearance as Andrew Hill, a naval officer, in the 2018 episode "Thin Ice" of CBS's Madam Secretary. These roles—from cultish killers and apocalyptic leaders to military figures in political intrigue—solidified his reputation as a versatile supporting player in high-profile dramas and thrillers, allowing him to showcase range across genres while maintaining a focus on psychologically layered characters. Underwood has reflected on this phase as a period of professional growth, prioritizing scripts that offered depth beyond stereotypes.[26][27]Established career and recent projects (2019–present)
Following his breakthrough in thrillers, Underwood solidified his presence in television with a prominent recurring role in the CW's Dynasty reboot, portraying Adam Carrington from 2019 to 2022 across seasons 2 through 5.[28] As the scheming, long-lost son of Blake and Alexis Carrington, Underwood's character embodied the show's revival of classic soap opera tropes, blending manipulation, family intrigue, and dramatic confrontations that contributed to the series' sustained popularity among viewers.[29] His performance as the vengeful heir, marked by intense emotional depth and moral ambiguity, earned him promotion to series regular status in 2019, allowing for expanded arcs that explored Adam's psychological complexities and power struggles within the affluent Carrington dynasty.[29] In film, Underwood took on more introspective roles, notably as Darien Cooper in the 2021 drama The Drummer, directed by Eric Werthman.[30] The film weaves three stories of war veterans grappling with trauma, with Underwood's character—a haunted Iraq War veteran struggling with PTSD and marital strain—serving as a poignant thread that highlights themes of isolation and healing through music and community.[30] This project marked a shift toward grounded, character-driven narratives, contrasting his earlier high-stakes television work and showcasing his ability to convey subtle vulnerability in independent cinema.[31] Underwood made a notable guest appearance in 2023 as the serial killer Roman Griffith on The Rookie: Feds, in the episode "Bloodline" (season 1, episode 21).[32] His portrayal of the chilling antagonist, who leaves dismembered limbs across state lines, drew on his prior experience with menacing roles, adding tension to the FBI procedural's investigation while emphasizing psychological profiling.[32] In 2024, Underwood appeared as Uncle Steve in the Channel 4 TV special My Sexual Abuse: The Sitcom, a comedic segment within a documentary exploring trauma through humor, directed by and starring abuse survivor Mark O'Sullivan.[33] By 2025, Underwood returned to the stage in a lead role as Nikolai Ivanov in Anton Chekhov's Ivanov at the Unadilla Theatre in Calais, Vermont, running from August 8 to 24.[34] Directed by Laura Strausfeld, the production featured Underwood delivering a compelling depiction of the titular character's chronic depression and existential crisis, praised for its authenticity and emotional intensity amid an ensemble cast.[35] This regional outing signaled a career evolution toward mature, layered performances in theatre, bridging his television success with a renewed focus on classical works that demand nuanced introspection. Underwood's selective projects reflect a deliberate pivot to roles exploring human frailty and resilience.[36]Personal life
Marriage and divorce
Sam Underwood met actress Valorie Curry on the set of the television series The Following in 2013, where they both starred in season 2.[37] The couple began dating shortly thereafter.[38] They married in a private ceremony in 2016.[39] As fellow actors, Underwood and Curry shared a professional bond and mutual interests in theater and Shakespearean works, often collaborating on projects and attending industry events together.[40] They made joint public appearances, including at the 2014 grand opening of Christo Fifth Ave in New York City and the 2016 premiere of American Pastoral at the Toronto International Film Festival and in Los Angeles.[41][42] Underwood and Curry separated in 2022 and Curry filed for divorce on November 3, 2022, in Los Angeles County Superior Court.[43] The divorce was finalized in April 2023 on the grounds of irreconcilable differences, with Curry's representative confirming the split was amicable and that the couple had no children together.[44][5]Legal issues
In October 2023, Sam Underwood was arrested in Los Angeles on suspicion of felony domestic battery following a reported altercation with an unidentified woman at an apartment in the early morning hours of October 7.[45][46] The incident reportedly stemmed from a heated argument that escalated into physical contact, prompting the woman to call the police; upon arrival, officers observed visible marks on her body, leading to Underwood's detention.[47][46] Underwood was booked into custody and held for approximately 10 hours before being released on his own recognizance, with bail set at $50,000.[45][48][49] In late October 2023, the Los Angeles City Attorney's Office rejected the case due to insufficient evidence, declining to file charges and resulting in no further legal action against Underwood.[50][51][46] The arrest drew media attention from outlets covering Underwood's television roles, with reports noting his maintenance of innocence and plans to submit exonerating evidence, though he issued no public statements beyond that; no additional legal issues or proceedings have been reported as of November 2025.[52][53]Credits
Television
Underwood's television career spans a variety of genres, from thrillers to dramas and comedies. His notable roles include guest appearances in established series and recurring or main parts in ongoing shows.| Year(s) | Title | Role | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Zero Hour | Martin Krupp | 2 |
| 2013 | Dexter | Zach Hamilton | 5 |
| 2013 | Homeland | Leo Carras | 4 |
| 2014–2015 | The Following | Luke Gray / Mark Gray | 30 |
| 2017 | Fear the Walking Dead | Jake Otto | 12 |
| 2018 | Madam Secretary | Andrew Hill | 1 |
| 2018–2019 | Lee and Dean | Little Dean | 11 |
| 2019–2022 | Dynasty | Adam Carrington | 73 |
| 2023 | The Rookie: Feds | Roman Griffith | 1 |
| 2024 | My Sexual Abuse: The Sitcom | Uncle Steve | 1 |