Sam Levinson

{{Infobox person

| name = Sam Levinson

| image = Sam Levinson Cannes 2023.png

| alt = Sam Levinson speaking at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con

| caption = Levinson at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival

| birth_name = Samuel Levinson

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1985|01|08}}

| birth_place = United States

| occupation = {{flatlist|

Filmmaker
actor}}

| years_active = 1992–present

| spouse = Ashley Lent

| father = Barry Levinson

| children = 1

}}

Samuel Levinson (born January 8, 1985) is an American filmmaker and actor. He is the son of director Barry Levinson. In 2010, he received his first writing credit as a co-writer for the action comedy film Operation: Endgame. The following year, he made his directorial film debut with Another Happy Day (2011), which premiered at Sundance Film Festival. He then received a writing credit on his father's HBO television film The Wizard of Lies (2017). He continued writing and directing for the feature films Assassination Nation (2018) and Malcolm & Marie (2021).

In 2019, Levinson created the HBO teen drama series Euphoria which was adapted from the Israeli series of the same name. The series is popular with audiences and received positive reviews from critics. In 2023, he created the HBO series The Idol, which was controversial and received negative reviews.

Early life

Levinson was born on January 8, 1985, and is the son of Diana Rhodes, a production designer for TV commercials, and filmmaker Barry Levinson.{{cite news|last1=Sragow|first1=Michael|title=Like father, like son: Sam Levinson wins at Sundance|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/bs-mtblog-2011-01-like_father_like_son_sam_levin-story.html|work=The Baltimore Sun|date=January 31, 2011}}{{Cite book|last=Levinson|first=Barry|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bBHkAxxeqeYC&pg=PR16|title=Avalon ; Tin Men ; Diner: Three Screenplays|date=1990|publisher=Atlantic Monthly Press|isbn=978-0-87113-435-6|language=en}} His father is from a Russian-Jewish family.{{Cite web|title=Barry Levinson: Baltimore, My Baltimore|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/film/111499levinson-film.html|access-date=2021-02-26|website=archive.nytimes.com}} Levinson studied method acting for four years.{{cite news|last1=Sandberg|first1=Bryn Elise|title='Euphoria' Creator on Boundary-Pushing HBO Drama: "We Didn't Want to Pull Any Punches"|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/euphoria-creator-boundary-pushing-hbo-drama-didnt-pull-punches-1218588|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=June 16, 2019|language=en}} He has a brother, Jack Levinson, who is also an actor,{{Cite web|title=Jack Levinson|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0506047/|access-date=2021-02-26|website=IMDb}} and two half-siblings, Michelle and Patrick, from his mother's first marriage.

Career

Levinson made his film debut as an actor in his father, director Barry Levinson's 1992 fantasy comedy Toys, alongside his brother Jack. He continued to appear in his father's films such as the comedy-drama film Bandits (2001) and the satirical comedy film What Just Happened (2008). In 2009, acted in the Uwe Boll film Stoic. In 2011, Levinson premiered his directorial film debut, Another Happy Day, which starred Ellen Barkin at the Sundance Film Festival.{{cite news|last1=Holden|first1=Stephen|title=Sam Levinson's 'Another Happy Day' - Review|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/18/movies/sam-levinsons-another-happy-day-review.html|work=The New York Times|date=November 17, 2011}}

Despite the film's negative reviews, it received the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award.{{cite news|title=Meet the 2011 Sundance Filmmakers: "Another Happy Day" Director Sam Levinson|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2011/01/meet-the-2011-sundance-filmmakers-another-happy-day-director-sam-levinson-243875/|work=IndieWire|date=January 14, 2011|language=en}}

Levinson co-wrote the 2017 television film The Wizard of Lies, which was directed by his father Barry Levinson. The film focuses on Bernie Madoff, who is played by Robert De Niro.{{cite news|last1=Fienberg|first1=Daniel|title='The Wizard of Lies': TV Review|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/wizard-lies-review-1000304|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=May 9, 2017}} Levinson wrote and directed the film Assassination Nation{{cite news|last1=Crump|first1=Andy|title=How 'Assassination Nation' Exploits Privacy Fears|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/why-assassination-nation-is-scarier-it-may-seem-1146158|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=September 22, 2018}} which premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival to mixed reviews from critics, who praised its "frenetic and visually stylish" action but criticized the thinly-written characters.{{cite web|url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/the-house-with-a-clock-in-its-walls-ticks-along-tolerably/|title=The House with a Clock in Its Walls Ticks Along Tolerably|first=Jeff|last=Giles|website=Rotten Tomatoes|date=September 20, 2018|access-date=June 15, 2020}}{{cite news|last1=Felperin|first1=Leslie|title=Sundance 2018; 'Assassination Nation': Film Review|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/assassination-nation-review-1083340|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 9, 2018}} In June 2019, Levinson created the HBO television drama series Euphoria, based on the Israeli series of the same name (Hebrew: אופוריה‎).{{cite news|last1=Roxborough|first1=Scott|title=HBO Puts in Pilot Order for 'Euphoria,' Based on Israeli Format|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hbo-puts-series-order-euphoria-based-israeli-format-1094133|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=March 13, 2018|language=en}}{{cite news|last1=Goodman|first1=Tim|title='Euphoria': TV Review|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/euphoria-review-1215681|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=June 5, 2019|language=en}} The series has received both praise and criticism for its direction, writing, and acting. It is infamous for its raw and graphic portrayal of teenagers wrestling with drug addiction and sexuality.

In 2020, Levinson wrote and directed the film Malcolm & Marie, reuniting him with Euphoria star Zendaya, which was distributed by Netflix in February 2021.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2020/09/netflix-malcolm-and-marie-zendaya-john-david-washington-30-million-dollar-deal-sam-levinson-pandemic-lockdown-film-toronto-film-festival-market-1234575943/|title=Netflix Closes $30 Million Deal For 'Malcolm & Marie' Off Promo; Sam Levinson Lockdown-Shot Drama Stars Zendaya & John David Washington: Toronto|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Mike Jr.|last=Fleming|date=September 13, 2020|access-date=September 13, 2020}} The film was received poorly by critics. Aisha Harris of NPR wrote, "All that's left are two characters rendered awkwardly as vessels for a director's odd hang-ups about his own identity and craft".{{cite web|url= https://www.npr.org/2021/02/05/963531042/malcolm-marie-is-lost-just-like-its-central-couple|title= 'Malcolm & Marie' Is Lost, Just Like Its Central Coupl|website= NPR|date= February 5, 2021|access-date= June 4, 2023|last1= Harris|first1= Aisha}} Shirley Lee of The Atlantic described the film simply writing "Malcolm & Marie isn't Art. It's a meltdown" and that it "seems to use the titular couple as mouthpieces for a litany of his own gripes."{{cite web|url= https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2021/02/malcolm-marie/617947/|title= Malcolm & Marie Isn't Art. It's a Meltdown.|website= The Atlantic|date= February 5, 2021|access-date= June 4, 2023}} Levinson co-wrote the screenplay for the psychological erotic thriller Deep Water (2022), based on the 1957 novel of the same name by Patricia Highsmith.{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/08/adrian-lyne-deep-water-ben-affleck-ana-de-armas-patricia-highsmith-adaptation-new-regency-1202658671/|title=New Regency Bringing Adrian Lyne Back To Directing With 'Deep Water;' Ben Affleck, Ana de Armas In Talks For Patricia Highsmith Adaptation|first=Mike Jr. |last=Fleming|website=Deadline Hollywood|publisher=Penske Media Corporation|location=Los Angeles, California|date=August 1, 2019}}{{Cite web|last= D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=September 23, 2020|title='Black Widow' Jumps To Summer 2021 Spurring Marvel Pics Release Date Shift; 'West Side Story' Delayed A Year; 'Soul' Stays Theatrical |url= https://deadline.com/2020/09/black-widow-jumps-to-summer-2021-spurring-marvel-pics-release-date-shift-west-side-story-delayed-a-year-soul-stays-theatrical-1234582771/ |access-date=September 23, 2020 |website= Deadline Hollywood}} The film debuted on Hulu where the adaptation was poorly received. The Guardian film critic Peter Bradshaw specifically panned the film's script, writing "Deep Water looks like a huge amount of material has been shaped in the edit but there are odd gaps and elisions".{{cite news|url= https://www.theguardian.com/film/2022/mar/14/deep-water-review-erotic-thriller-loves-ben-afflecks-slack-jawed-look|title= Deep Water review – erotic thriller loves Ben Affleck's slack-jawed look|website= The Guardian|date= March 14, 2022|access-date= June 4, 2023|last1= Bradshaw|first1= Peter}} Levinson has executive produced Pieces of a Woman (2020), Breaking (2022), X (2022), and Pearl (2022).{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/shia-labeouf-joins-vanessa-kirby-pieces-a-woman-1249429|title=Shia LaBeouf to Star in Drama 'Pieces of a Woman' (Exclusive)|website=The Hollywood Reporter|first=Mia|last=Galuppo|date=October 22, 2019|access-date=June 15, 2020}}

On June 29, 2021, Levinson announced that he will be co-creating, writing and executive producing another HBO television drama series The Idol, alongside recording artist Abel 'The Weeknd' Tesfaye and his producing partner Reza Fahim.{{Cite web|last=White|first=Peter|date=2021-06-29|title=The Weeknd To Star In & Write Pop Singer Cult Drama Series 'The Idol' With Sam Levinson In The Works At HBO|url=https://deadline.com/2021/06/the-weeknd-pop-star-cult-drama-the-idol-sam-levinson-hbo-1234783685/|access-date=2021-07-01|website=Deadline|language=en-US}} The series garnered controversy following an expose in Rolling Stone which featured allegations against Levinson and Tesfaye of creating a toxic work environment and crew members alleging the script involved explicit sexual content which amounted to "sexual torture porn".{{cite web|url= https://time.com/6259919/the-idol-hbo-sam-levinson-controversy/|title= How HBO's The Idol Became One of TV's Most Controversial Shows—Before It Even Aired|website= Time Magazine|date= March 2, 2023|access-date= June 4, 2023}}{{cite web|url= https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-reviews/the-idol-review-the-weeknd-sam-levinson-lily-rose-depp-abel-tesfaye-hbo-cannes-bdsm-sex-music-1234739047/|title= 'The Idol' Is More Toxic and Way Worse Than You've Heard|website= Rolling Stone|date= May 23, 2023|access-date= June 4, 2023}} The first episode premiered at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival to negative reviews. Time Magazine critic Stephanie Zacharek wrote, "The Idol pretends to expose exploitation while reveling in it",{{cite magazine|url= https://time.com/6281900/the-idol-review-hbo/|title= Entertainment - Television - The Idol Pretends to Expose Exploitation While Reveling in It|magazine= Time|date= May 23, 2023|access-date= June 4, 2023}} Variety critic Peter Debruge noted "The script seems calculated to fool audiences into thinking they're observing how Hollywood operates, when so much of it amounts to tawdry clichés" and that the series "plays like a sordid male fantasy".{{cite web|url= https://variety.com/2023/tv/reviews/the-idol-review-the-weeknd-lily-rose-depp-1235622311/|title= The Weeknd and Sam Levinson's 'The Idol,' Starring Lily-Rose Depp, Plays Like a Sordid Male Fantasy: TV Review|website= Variety|date= May 23, 2023|access-date= June 4, 2023}} The series premiered on Max on June 4, 2023. Noting that the season had been cut short by an episode without explanation, The Telegraph critic Ed Power expressed that the finale "had deepened the suspicion that, as far back as teen drama Euphoria, he was a voyeur without a soul".{{Cite web |last=Power |first=Ed |date=2023-07-04 |title=The Idol finale, review: farewell to the worst TV show of the year |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2023/07/04/the-idol-finale-hbo-review/ |access-date=2023-08-29 |website=The Telegraph |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230704165051/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/2023/07/04/the-idol-finale-hbo-review/ |archive-date=July 4, 2023 |language=en-US}} HBO announced the show's cancellation after one season on August 28, 2023.{{Cite web |last=Campione |first=Katie |date=2023-08-28 |title='The Idol' Canceled At HBO After One Season |url=https://deadline.com/2023/08/the-idol-canceled-at-hbo-after-one-season-1235429399/ |access-date=2023-08-29 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

Personal life

From 2008 to 2011, Levinson dated actress Ellen Barkin.{{cite news|last1=Dyball|first1=Rennie|title=Ellen Barkin Is Dating Sam Levinson|url=https://people.com/celebrity/ellen-barkin-57-dating-sam-levinson-26/|work=People|date=June 2, 2011|language=en}} Levinson is married to Ashley Lent Levinson. The couple have a son.

Levinson has discussed his struggles with drugs as a teenager and young adult.{{cite news|last1=Chuba|first1=Kirsten|title='Euphoria' Creator on Authentic Trans Portrayals, Mining "Deeply Personal" History to Tackle Teen Drug Abuse|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/euphoria-creator-mining-deeply-personal-history-tackle-teen-drug-abuse-1215844|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=June 5, 2019|language=en}}

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
rowspan="2"\|Year ! rowspan="2"\|Title
width=65 \|Director ! width=65 \|Writer ! width=65 \|Producer ! Notes
2010 \| Operation: Endgame \| {{no}} \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \|
2011 \| Another Happy Day \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \|
2018 \| Assassination Nation \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \|
2021 \| Malcolm & Marie \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \|
2022 \| Deep Water \| {{no}} \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \|
2024 \| Borderlands \| {{no}} \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \|Additional literary material (uncredited)

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

rowspan="2"|Year

! rowspan="2"|Title

width=65 |Director

! width=65 |Writer

! width=65 |Producer

! Notes

2010

| Operation: Endgame

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

2011

| Another Happy Day

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

2018

| Assassination Nation

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

2021

| Malcolm & Marie

| {{yes}}

2022

| Deep Water

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

2024

| Borderlands

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

|Additional literary material (uncredited)

Executive producer

Pieces of a Woman (2020)
Breaking (2021)
X (2022)
Pearl (2022)
MaXXXine (2024)

==Acting roles==

class="wikitable"

! Year

! Title

! Role

1992

| Toys

| War Room Player

2001

| Bandits

| Billy Saunders

2008

| What Just Happened

| Carl

2009

| Stoic

| Peter Thompson

=Television=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
rowspan="2" \| Year ! rowspan="2" \| Title
width=65 \| Director ! width=65 \| Writer ! width=65 \| Executive Producer ! width=65 \| Creator ! scope="col" \| Notes
2017 \| The Wizard of Lies \| {{no}} \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| {{no}} \| TV movie
2019–present \| Euphoria \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| 18 episodes
2022 \| Irma Vep \| {{no}} \| {{no}} \| {{yes}} \| {{no}} \| Miniseries
2023 \| The Idol \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| {{yes}} \| 5 episodes

class="wikitable plainrowheaders"

rowspan="2" | Year

! rowspan="2" | Title

width=65 | Director

! width=65 | Writer

! width=65 | Executive
Producer

! width=65 | Creator

! scope="col" | Notes

2017

| The Wizard of Lies

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| TV movie

2019–present

| Euphoria

| {{yes}}

| 18 episodes

2022

| Irma Vep

| {{no}}

| {{yes}}

| {{no}}

| Miniseries

2023

| The Idol

| {{yes}}

| 5 episodes

Critical reception

Year ! Title ! Rotten Tomatoes ! Metacritic
class="wikitable sortable"
colspan=5\|Film
2010	Operation: Endgame	align=center\|40%
2011	Another Happy Day	align=center\|46%	align=center\|46%
2018	Assassination Nation	align=center\|74%	align=center\|54%
2021	Malcolm & Marie	align=center\|57%	align=center\|53%
2022	Deep Water	align=center\|36%	align=center\|53%
colspan=5\|Television
2019	Euphoria: Season 1	align=center\|80%	align=center\|68%
2022	Euphoria: Season 2	align=center\|80%	align=center\|74%
2023	The Idol	align=center\|18%	align=center\|27%

Accolades

class="wikitable"
scope="col" \| Year ! scope="col" \| Award ! scope="col" \| Category ! scope="col" \| Work ! scope="col" \| Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| {{Abbr\|Ref\|Reference(s)}}.
rowspan="2" \| 2011 \| rowspan="2" \| Sundance Film Festival \| Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award \| rowspan="2" \| Another Happy Day \| {{won}} \| rowspan="7" style="text-align:center;"\|{{cite web\|title=Sam Levinson – Awards – IMDb\|website = IMDb\|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0506094/awards?ref_=nm_awd\|access-date=June 15, 2020}}
Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic \| {{nom}}
rowspan="2" \| 2018 \| Writers Guild of America Awards \| Television: Long Form – Adapted \| The Wizard of Lies \| {{nom}}
Toronto International Film Festival \| People's Choice Award: Midnight Madness \| Assassination Nation \| {{nom}}
2020 \| British Academy Television Awards \| Best International Programme \| rowspan="4" \|Euphoria \| {{nom}}
rowspan="2" \| 2022 \| Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards \| Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics \| {{nom}}
Primetime Emmy Awards \| Outstanding Drama Series \| {{Nominated}}
2023 \| Directors Guild of America Awards \| Outstanding Directing – Drama Series \| {{Won}} \|

class="wikitable"

scope="col" | Year

! scope="col" | Award

! scope="col" | Category

! scope="col" | Work

! scope="col" | Result

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref|Reference(s)}}.

rowspan="2" | 2011

| rowspan="2" | Sundance Film Festival

| Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award

| rowspan="2" | Another Happy Day

| {{won}}

| rowspan="7" style="text-align:center;"|{{cite web|title=Sam Levinson – Awards – IMDb|website = IMDb|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0506094/awards?ref_=nm_awd|access-date=June 15, 2020}}

Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic

| {{nom}}

rowspan="2" | 2018

| Writers Guild of America Awards

| Television: Long Form – Adapted

| The Wizard of Lies

| {{nom}}

Toronto International Film Festival

| People's Choice Award: Midnight Madness

| Assassination Nation

| {{nom}}

2020