Sam Underwood Bio
Sam Lewis Underwood (born 4 August 1987) is an English actor whose work spans stage and television in the United Kingdom and the United States. He is known for portraying the twins Luke and Mark Gray in the Fox thriller drama The Following, Jake Otto in the AMC series Fear the Walking Dead, and Adam Carrington in The CW reboot of Dynasty. Underwood trained in the UK and at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York, co-founded the Fundamental Theater Project in 2010, and has maintained a career across contemporary drama and television since 2010.
Early Life and Background
Sam Lewis Underwood was born in Woking, Surrey, England, on 4 August 1987 and attended the Winston Churchill School. He received early theatrical training with the Karen Clarke Theatre Group, later known as Summerscales Performing Arts, and studied at Songtime Theatre Arts under vocal coach Phil Wisdom. These formative experiences established a foundation in both acting technique and vocal performance.
Underwood moved to the United States in 2006 to pursue advanced training at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York, where he graduated in 2008. Shortly after completing his studies he became active in New York theatre, appearing in contemporary and classical work and developing projects with other emerging artists. In April 2010 he co-founded the Fundamental Theater Project in New York with Nicola Murphy, a collaborative platform for new plays and actor-led productions.
Path to Celebrity
Underwood’s early professional work was rooted in the New York stage, where he took on roles in established plays and new productions that brought him to wider attention. While appearing as Marchbanks in George Bernard Shaw’s Candida at the Irish Repertory Theatre in April 2010, he was invited to play Alan Strang in a production of Equus at the John Drew Theater at Guild Hall of East Hampton, a production that co-starred Alec Baldwin. Those stage credits helped transition Underwood from regional theatre into television casting circles.
Following his initial stage breakthroughs, Underwood began securing television roles that expanded his profile. He moved from guest and recurring appearances to more prominent parts on serialized drama, a trajectory that led to his casting in several high-profile American television series during the 2010s. His early television work demonstrated a capacity for complex and emotionally demanding characters, marking his shift from theatre-focused practice to sustained screen work.
Sam Underwood Career
Early Career (2010–2012)
From 2010, Underwood balanced stage work with auditions and small-screen opportunities. The founding of the Fundamental Theater Project gave him an artistic base from which to pursue varied roles, while his performances in productions such as Candida and Equus connected him with directors and casting professionals in New York and beyond. These years established Underwood as a working actor able to move between classical roles and contemporary material.
During this period he continued to refine his craft through training and performance, building the résumé that led to recurring television opportunities. His early career focus on stage technique and vocal work remained a throughline as he transitioned into television roles that required sustained character work and physical precision.
Dexter and Homeland Breakthrough (2013)
In 2013 Underwood began to appear in notable television series that increased his visibility on American screens. He was cast in the eighth season of Dexter in a recurring role as Zach Hamilton, a character described as Dexter Morgan’s protégé. That appearance on a long-running, mainstream cable series exposed Underwood to a national audience and demonstrated his ability to inhabit morally ambiguous young characters.
The same year he joined the cast of Homeland in a recurring role as Leo Carras, further consolidating his presence in serialized drama. These roles in established series contributed to casting momentum and led directly to his subsequent casting in The Following, where he took on a more prominent and challenging assignment.
The Following Breakthrough (2014–2015)
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. Playing twins required clear distinctions in physicality and psychological nuance; the narrative later removed one twin and left Underwood portraying Mark as a character with fractured identity in the third and final season. This performance is among his most widely recognized television credits and showcased his facility with layered, intense roles.
The Following provided Underwood with recurring screen time on a high-profile network drama and demonstrated his capacity to sustain complicated arcs over multiple episodes and seasons. The exposure from the series helped secure subsequent parts in genre and primetime television.
Fear the Walking Dead Breakthrough (2017)
In 2017 Underwood joined the cast of the AMC series Fear the Walking Dead in its third season as Jake Otto, the enigmatic son of a colony leader. The role placed him within a franchise with a devoted audience and required a balance of interpersonal drama and the physical demands of genre storytelling. His time on that series broadened his genre credentials and introduced his work to fans of post-apocalyptic drama.
Jake Otto’s arc allowed Underwood to explore leadership dynamics and moral conflict within an ensemble, reinforcing his reputation as a versatile television actor capable of contributing meaningfully to established properties.
Dynasty Era (2019–2022)
Underwood was cast as Adam Carrington in The CW reboot of Dynasty, beginning in 2019. As a member of the central Carrington family, the role connected Underwood to a serialized network soap with an emphasis on interpersonal intrigue and heightened drama. His casting in the series extended through the show’s later seasons into 2022 and marked a sustained run on a major network reboot of a classic television property.
The Dynasty role emphasized Underwood’s ability to work within ensemble structures and to play characters with complicated family histories and interpersonal stakes. It also reaffirmed his presence on primetime television and his capacity to anchor recurring plot threads.
Current Era (2025–Present)
In 2025 Underwood returned to stage work, starring in Anton Chekhov’s Ivanov at the Unadilla Theatre in Calais, Vermont, a production listed among his recent credits. The stage appearance underlines his ongoing commitment to theatre alongside television projects and reflects a career that continues to move between mediums. He remains active in both stage and screen work.
Acting Style and Strengths
Underwood’s training and early vocal coaching contribute to a workmanlike approach rooted in text and physical clarity. He is noted for handling dual and complex roles, for detailed character work in long-form television, and for a willingness to shift between stage and screen demands. Directors and casting notices have emphasized his adaptability and capacity for emotional intensity.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Underwood’s career include co-founding the Fundamental Theater Project in 2010, his stage collaborations in New York that led to Equus at Guild Hall, his recurring turns on Dexter and Homeland in 2013, the dual role in The Following, and subsequent series work on Fear the Walking Dead and Dynasty. These events map a progression from stage-focused practice to sustained television presence.
Sam Underwood Career Wins
Underwood’s verified career highlights are best measured by the scope of recurring and series roles he has held across stage and television. His early stage work established credentials that led to recurring television roles beginning in 2013, and his work since has included recurring and series regular parts on multiple network and cable dramas.
The Following Highlights
Underwood’s dual portrayal of twins Mark and Luke Gray in The Following remains a defining screen performance, providing extended narrative focus and demanding shifts in characterization. After the death of one twin, Underwood continued the arc as Mark, a character with split identities, across the show’s final season and thereby anchored a major storyline.
Other Wins & Perfromances
Other notable performances include recurring roles on Dexter and Homeland, a season arc on Fear the Walking Dead as Jake Otto, and a multi-season role as Adam Carrington on Dynasty. His stage contributions, including Candida, Equus, and the 2025 production of Ivanov, also underscore a continuing presence in theatre.
Sam Underwood Family
Family Background and Acting Lineage
Public records indicate Underwood was raised in Woking, Surrey; no verified parental or extended family details are available in the provided sources. His early training and participation in community theatre groups formed the basis of his acting lineage and professional entry into performance.
Personal Life
Underwood married actress Valorie Curry on May 13, 2016; they separated in 2022 and their divorce was finalized in April 2023. Public reports indicate an arrest for felony domestic battery on October 7, 2023, followed by release from custody later the same day. These personal developments are part of the public record included in the available sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season saw Underwood return to stage work with a lead in Ivanov at the Unadilla Theatre in Calais, Vermont, reflecting an emphasis on classical theatre and ensemble collaboration. That year’s work highlights an ongoing balance between screen visibility and stage practice, with Underwood pursuing roles that rely on both technical discipline and emotional range. Looking ahead, he continues to engage in projects across theatre and television while building on his established television credits.