Activist & Actor, HBO's Insecure
Kendrick Sampson: Biography at a Glance
- Kendrick Sampson is an actor and activist best known for starring in the Sundance and SXSW award-winning film Miss Juneteenth and as "Nathan" in HBO’s Insecure.
- Since his role on Insecure, Sampson has gained acclaim for highlighting the issues of mental health, colorism, and Black representation in storytelling.
- He began his career on various television series including Greek, CSI, The Vampire Diaries, and the FOX miniseries Gracepoint.
- He also had recurring roles as "Caleb Hapstall" on ABC’s How To Get Away With Murder, "Robbie MacDonald" in Showtime’s White Famous, and "Dominic Lanse" on The CW’s The Flash.
- Kendrick launched BLD PWR, an advocacy initiative that has helped to mobilize thousands of protesters, organized action toward abolition, and now includes a production company to highlight underrepresented storytellers.
- Kendrick consistently uses his voice to empower marginalized communities and shine a light on issues of inequity. His activism is focused on racial justice, specifically intersectionality within criminal justice reform and uniting Black, Brown & Indigenous communities.
- He is a proud supporter of the Standing Rock and Black Lives Matter movements, progressive political campaigns, and social justice education.
Media
Official Site: BLD PWRHuffPost: Kendrick Sampson On Mental Illness And Owning Black StoriesIMDb: Kendrick SampsonDeadline: "New Hollywood Podcast: ‘Insecure’s Kendrick Sampson Talks BLD PWR And...Terroir Magazine: "Kendrick Sampson - Stand up, and Stands out"Essence: "'Insecure's' Kendrick Sampson Breaks Down Light-Skinned Privilege"Esquire: The Joy of Kendrick Sampson
Videos
Biography
Growing up in the suburbs of Houston, Texas, Kendrick Sampson was surrounded by musicians and artists and naturally gravitated to the arts. His work ethic, paired with a natural, charismatic personality, took him from one project to the next, where he now plays Nathan on HBO's Emmy-nominated comedy series, Insecure.
Kendrick found his breakout role as Jesse on the hit CW series, The Vampire Diaries. In early 2014, he secured a regular role on the Fox event series, Gracepoint, alongside heavyweights Nick Nolte, Anna Gunn, Jacki Weaver, and Michael Pena. In 2015, Kendrick joined the cast of the ABC hit series, How To Get Away with Murder as Caleb Hapstall, and in 2017, Sampson recurred on the Showtime comedy White Famous as well as the CW hit series, Supernatural and The Flash.
Kendrick's film credits include Freeform's feel-good holiday film Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas (2019), which shared a cautionary tale of texting while driving and coming together as a family. The holiday film tells the quirky and heart-warming story of Jess (Aisha Dee), who goes on the most significant first date of her life, but inadvertently "ghosts" Ben (Sampson) when she tragically dies in a car accident on the way home. Most recently, Kendrick starred in Channing Godfrey Peoples' Sundance's favorite Miss Juneteenth. Miss Juneteenth is the centerpiece of the film and Juneteenth (June 19, 1865) which commemorates the day that slaves in Texas learned they were free. At its core, Miss Juneteenth is a character-driven story rooted in the resilience of the human spirit.
Kendrick uses his voice to empower marginalized communities and to shine a light on issues of inequity. His activism focuses on racial justice, specifically intersectionality within criminal justice reform and uniting the oppressed Black, Brown & Indigenous communities. He is a proud supporter of the Standing Rock, and Black Lives Matter movements, progressive political campaigns, and social justice education. A true advocate for change and community building, Sampson co-founded BLD PWR, an organization committed to taking action and how to do so in a healthy way. The ultimate goals are to build and train an inclusive community of entertainers and athletes while providing resources and tools for equitable change on a grassroots level.
