Ryan Sampson

Ryan Oliver Sampson was born on November 28, 1985, in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. There is limited information about his parents, except that his mother’s maiden name is Dickinson. He is British by nationality. He began his education at Anston Brook Primary School and later transferred to Wales High School in Kiveton Park. During his teenage years, Ryan was active in school productions, including a performance in “Little Shop of Horrors.”

However, Ryan did not initially plan to become an actor—his interest lay in interior design, inspired by Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, a friend of the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla Parker Bowles. He recounted in an interview, “At 16, I thought I would become Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, but then I met him in a bookstore on Charing Cross Road, and he turned out to be not quite as I imagined! That’s when I realized: no, I’m not going to be you…”

Ryan Sampson made his stage debut in 2001, portraying Prince Edward of England in “Edward II” at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. At the time, he was 16, and it is not documented whether he had received any formal acting training. A year later, he appeared in the same production, this time as Richard III. In 2005, he performed at London’s Soho Theatre, playing Franklin in “A Brief History of Helen of Troy.”

In 2006, Ryan took on the role of Moïse, a Jewish boy, in “M. Ibrahim and the Flowers of the Koran” at the Bush Theatre in London. The play centers on Moïse, who is neglected by his father and spends his savings in a brothel, finding comfort in the wise grocer, Ibrahim. The play by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt was also adapted into a film.

The film, starring Omar Sharif and Pierre Boulanger, garnered enthusiastic responses from audiences. Up until 2016, Sampson continued to engage in theatrical productions alongside his television work. During this time, he performed at the Royal National Theatre in London, Hampstead Theatre, Watford Palace Theatre in Watford, Southwark Playhouse, and Shaftesbury Theatre.

Sampson’s last stage appearance was in 2016, where he portrayed composer, conductor, and pianist Benjamin Britten in the play “Britten in Brooklyn.” Britten, a pivotal figure in 20th-century British music, is renowned for his operas, chamber music, and orchestral works. This production was held at Wilton’s Music Hall in London.

Ryan Sampson made his television debut in 2003, already well-versed in theater. He embraced this new medium with enthusiasm, appearing as Vinny Markham in the crime drama “Wire in the Blood.” In 2006, he took on minor roles in single episodes, portraying Paul Eyre in “Heartbeat” and Niall Allen in the medical series “Holby City.”

At 22, Sampson secured his first major role in the British comedy series “After You’ve Gone” (2007-2008), which chronicles the escapades of the Venables family. He played Alex, the energetic and quick-witted son of Jimmy and Ann Venables. The show spanned 25 episodes, each featuring Sampson’s lively and impulsive character. His co-stars included Nicholas Lyndhurst and Celia Imrie.

In 2008, Sampson appeared in the renowned sci-fi series “Doctor Who,” which follows a time-traveling humanoid called the Doctor. The Doctor navigates time and space in a ship resembling a 1950s police box, using his extensive knowledge of technology, history, and science to save Earth from various threats. Sampson played American genius Luke Rattigan in two episodes.

Sampson had a significant role in the comedy TV film “The Work Experience” by Michael Livingston. In this project, he portrayed Shussy, a deeply romantic and melancholic young man with a keen sense of fashion, who isn’t afraid to shed tears and ruin his makeup when distressed.

In 2008, Sampson expanded his repertoire by acting in the musical “From Here to Eternity,” based on James Jones’s novel. The story, reflecting Jones’s Pearl Harbor-era memories and soldiers’ lives before the attack, was a bestseller and adapted into a film. In 2011, composer Stuart Brayson brought the book to the stage. Sampson was nominated for a WhatsOnStage award for his role but did not win.

From 2013 to 2015, Sampson starred in the sitcom “Up the Women,” set in 1910, about a group of women fighting for women’s suffrage. He played the role of Thomas, a character navigating the female-led ensemble. Another of Sampson’s projects, “Plebs,” lasted six seasons and was set in the suburbs of Ancient Rome. The series followed the humorous antics of two friends, Marcus and Stylax, as they seek fortune, pursue a pretty neighbor and her slave, attempt to crash orgies, and enjoy vase-pornography. Sampson portrayed Grumio, their perpetually dissatisfied and lazy slave, whose relationship woes added an extra layer of comedy.

Ryan Sampson has been notably private about his personal life. There is no publicly available information about his relationships with women. He once faced accusations of homophobia, which he addressed on February 20, 2019, by posting a photo on Twitter with a man, captioning it, “Someone tried to accuse me of making homophobic jokes in private messages. To set the record straight—here’s a picture with my boyfriend!”

The media interpreted this as his coming out, although some speculated it might have been a publicity stunt. Sampson is active on social media, boasting over fifty thousand followers. His favorite dessert is chocolate cake, and he prefers the colors black, blue, and white. His net worth is estimated at $5 million. He cites Tom Hanks as his idol.

Currently, Ryan Sampson is highly sought after across various domains. In 2020, he lent his voice to the animated film “Dennis & Gnasher: Unleashed! On the Big Screen,” voicing Peter “Pieface” Shepherd, one of Dennis’s closest friends. His latest TV role was as Tommo in the crime comedy “Brassic,” directed by Jon Wright. The series revolves around Vinnie, a small-time thief, and his friends in the English countryside. They survive through minor illegal activities, but their situation becomes precarious when they antagonize a local crime boss.