Sam Witwer

Witwer was born on October 20, 1977, and grew up in Glenview, Illinois, a suburb north of Chicago. Ever since he was a child, Witwer showed enthusiasm in other pursuits he enjoyed more than school. He spent his free time huddled over a computer, playing Dungeons and Dragons, or making music.

He attended Glenbrook South High School, during which time he was involved in drama and theater classes, as well as being the lead singer of a high school band called "Love Plumber". After barely graduating high school, his parents made him apply to drama departments of various schools, until he was finally accepted to the Juilliard School. When he was 18 he became friends with fellow actor Glenn Howerton.{{Citation |title=SAM WITWER: SiFi Snafu on Being Human, TMZ Rumors, Lucasfilm Favors & Time on Smallville | date=March 7, 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Awg-nw_fI4 |access-date=2024-02-15 |language=en}}

After 2 years at Juilliard, Witwer got kicked out of school as he didn't take it seriously enough.{{Citation |title=SAM WITWER: SiFi Snafu on Being Human, TMZ Rumors, Lucasfilm Favors & Time on Smallville | date=March 7, 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Awg-nw_fI4 |access-date=2024-02-15 |language=en}} He finally made the decision to pursue acting after asking actor Bruce Campbell for advice on the AOL website.{{Citation |title=SAM WITWER: SiFi Snafu on Being Human, TMZ Rumors, Lucasfilm Favors & Time on Smallville | date=March 7, 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Awg-nw_fI4 |access-date=2024-02-15 |language=en}}

File:Samuel Witwer, 2012.jpg in 2012]]

Witwer's first on-screen credit was that of a Chicago Bulls commercial. He soon found himself in speaking roles on hit television series, such as ER.

Witwer's first major recurring role came in the form of portraying raptor pilot 'Crashdown' (his call sign) on Battlestar Galactica,{{cite web |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/sam_witwer_wants_you_to_r |title=When you think Being Human, Sam Witwer wants you to remember BSG |last=Caron |first=Nathalie |date=December 14, 2012 |website=Syfy Wire |access-date=May 4, 2020}} although he has credited much of his current success to his role as Neil Perry on the Showtime series Dexter.{{cite web |url=https://diaboliquemagazine.com/interview-sam-witwer-human-dexter/ |title=Interview: Sam Witwer on "Being Human", "Dexter" |last=Plainsafe |first=Jay |date=January 13, 2014 |website=Diabolique Magazine |access-date=May 4, 2020 |archive-date=October 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029133344/https://diaboliquemagazine.com/interview-sam-witwer-human-dexter/ |url-status=live }} Witwer also appeared as Private Wayne Jessup in the film The Mist.{{cite news |title=Director gives King story new, scary end |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2007-11-23-0711230103-story.html |work=Chicago Tribune |date=November 23, 2007 |access-date=May 4, 2020 |archive-date=August 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230810032032/https://www.chicagotribune.com/ |url-status=live }}

From 2008 to 2009, Witwer was cast in season 8 of Smallville as Davis Bloome, a charming paramedic who struggles with a darkness within as he is the human camouflage of Doomsday. Witwer played Davis while Doomsday was played by stuntman Dario Delacio. Witwer's performance in Smallville was incredibly well-received, and he has stated that his experience on the show had opened more opportunities for him in the future of acting. Witwer’s contract gave him the option to return in season 9 as Zod, though he ultimately declined. Though he considered his time on the show enjoyable and was flattered by the offer to stay on, he passed on the role as he felt it would be difficult for both the characters and audience to accept.{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/smallvilles-a-tale-of-two-zods/ |title="Smallville's" A Tale of Two Zods |last=Gartler |first=James |date=May 6, 2011 |website=Comic Book Resources |access-date=April 3, 2020 |archive-date=August 15, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200815055411/https://www.cbr.com/smallvilles-a-tale-of-two-zods/ |url-status=live }}

Witwer made a cameo appearance in The Walking Dead as a dead zombie soldier in a tank in the season 1 episode "Days Gone Bye" which reunited him with director Frank Darabont from The Mist.{{cite news |last=Wigler |first=Josh |date=October 19, 2017 |title='The Walking Dead': The 100 Greatest Moments, Ranked |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/walking-dead-100-greatest-moments-ranked-1050159 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=May 4, 2020 |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112015801/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/walking-dead-100-greatest-moments-ranked-1050159 |url-status=live }} Coincidentally, in 2019 he went on to portray the main protagonist (both voice and motion capture) of a video game called Days Gone, which also tackles the topic of zombie apocalypse.

From 2011 to 2014, Witwer starred in the North American remake of Being Human. He played the lead role of vampire Aidan Waite.{{cite journal|first=Natalie|last=Abrams|url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/Sam-Witwer-Human-1019989.aspx|title=Sam Witwer Joins U.S. Cast of Being Human|journal=TV Guide|date=June 28, 2010|access-date=November 7, 2015|archive-date=May 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140503233417/http://www.tvguide.com/news/sam-witwer-human-1019989.aspx|url-status=live}} The show, as well as his performance, was well received and lasted 4 seasons.{{cite news |last=Ng |first=Philiana |date=April 7, 2014 |title='Being Human': Sam Witwer on 'Swinging for the Fences' and Bittersweet Series Finale |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/being-human-series-finale-sam-694049 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=May 4, 2020 |archive-date=February 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210211075802/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/being-human-series-finale-sam-694049 |url-status=live }}

He voiced Ocean Master in the animated film Justice League: Throne of Atlantis for the DC Universe Animated Original Movies series,{{cite web |url=https://www.cbr.com/justice-league-throne-of-atlantis-stars-geek-out-at-paleyfest/ |title="Justice League: Throne Of Atlantis" Stars Geek Out At PaleyFest |last=Campbell |first=Josie |date=January 23, 2015 |website=Comic Book Resources |access-date=May 4, 2020 |archive-date=June 11, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170611124837/http://www.cbr.com/justice-league-throne-of-atlantis-stars-geek-out-at-paleyfest/ |url-status=live }} replacing fellow Star Wars actor Steve Blum from Justice League: War.

In 2016, Witwer played Edward Hyde on Once Upon a Time, recurring for part of its sixth season after debuting at the end of the fifth season.{{cite web|last1=Petski|first1=Denise|title='Once Upon A Time' Casts Duo For Mental Hospital Arc|url=https://deadline.com/2016/03/once-upon-a-time-cast-hank-harris-sam-witwer-mental-hospital-arc-1201720819/|website=Deadline|access-date=September 24, 2016|date=March 15, 2016|archive-date=September 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922173559/https://deadline.com/2016/03/once-upon-a-time-cast-hank-harris-sam-witwer-mental-hospital-arc-1201720819/|url-status=live}}

In 2018, Witwer joined the main cast of The CW drama series Supergirl, portraying the fourth season's main antagonist Ben Lockwood / Agent Liberty.{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/tv/2018/07/17/smallville-sam-witwer-supergirl-season-4-agent-liberty/|title=Smallville alum Sam Witwer joins Supergirl season 4 as Agent Liberty|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|last=Agard|first=Chancellor|date=July 17, 2018|access-date=July 17, 2018}}

Sam is an avid player of both pen-and-paper and video role-playing games. This is a hobby that he has engaged in for years. He has been a frequent guest on the Podcast Order 66 and has expressed a love for all iterations of Star Wars role-playing games Star Wars: The Roleplaying Game (by West End Games) to Star Wars Roleplaying Game (by Wizards of the Coast) and to the series of cross-compatible Star Wars roleplaying games by Fantasy Flight Games.{{cite web |url=http://www.d20radio.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=6210&sid=fe8289df16484a826f3f8ba9c1b9887b |title=Order 66 episode forum |website=d20radio.com |access-date=September 6, 2012 |archive-date=March 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302140702/http://www.d20radio.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=6210&sid=fe8289df16484a826f3f8ba9c1b9887b |url-status=live }}

Sam appeared in episode 19 of Geek and Sundry's Tabletop playing the Dragon Age role-playing game,{{YouTube | id = A8JSgDVQSnw | title = Sam Witwer extended interview from Dragon Age - TableTop ep. 19 }} and episodes 29{{Citation|last=Dungeons & Dragons|title=Episode 29 - Dice, Camera, Action with Dungeons & Dragons|date=November 16, 2016|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvihkGv1Gh8&list=PLfS8QgUdeGYo8F3RPUQ2Wsi2mZLPcaU6X&index=25 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/mvihkGv1Gh8 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=June 23, 2017}}{{cbignore}} and 55 of Dice Camera Action as Mordenkainen.{{Citation|last=Dungeons & Dragons|title=Episode 55 - Dice, Camera, Action with Dungeons & Dragons|date=July 12, 2017|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-xAuA2j6aE |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/l-xAuA2j6aE |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|access-date=October 24, 2017}}{{cbignore}}

In January 2017, he appeared as a guest on a play-through of ScratchPad Publishing's Dusk City Outlaws, alongside Elisa Teague, Tom Lommel, Spencer Crittenden, and game designer Rodney Thompson.{{YouTube | id = yqNmh7XfG5o | title = Dusk City Outlaws Actual Play: The Stonesetter Job Part 1 }}

A lifelong Star Wars superfan, Witwer provided both his voice and likeness for lead character Galen Marek / Starkiller (Darth Vader's secret apprentice) in the 2008 video game Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and 2010 sequel Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II. He also voiced Darth Sidious (Emperor Palpatine) in the first game, and reprised it for the games Disney Infinity 3.0 and Battlefront and for the original season 2 premiere of Star Wars Rebels;{{cite news |first=Chloi |last=Rad |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2015/04/19/star-wars-celebration-sam-witwer-reprises-role-as-palpatine-in-star-wars-rebels |title=Star Wars Celebration: Sam Witwer Reprises Role As Palpatine In Star Wars Rebels |work=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis, LLC |date=April 18, 2015 |access-date=November 7, 2015 |archive-date=September 25, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925224831/http://www.ign.com/articles/2015/04/19/star-wars-celebration-sam-witwer-reprises-role-as-palpatine-in-star-wars-rebels |url-status=live }} however, in 2019, the role was re-dubbed by Ian McDiarmid who portrayed Palpatine in the films and in Rebels season 4.{{Cite video game | title = Disney Infinity 3.0 | year = 2015 | scene=Closing credits, 5:39 in, Featuring the Voice Talents of| developer=Avalanche Software}}

For Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Witwer had also vocally performed the Son in a three episode story arc (known as the Mortis trilogy) in season 3 as well as the iconic former Sith Maul in the season 4 finale episodes, four episodes of season 5, and the "Siege of Mandalore" arc in season 7. He also lent his voice for Maul in other projects such as the Star Wars: Episode I Brisk commercial as well as the Cartoon Network special Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out, and again for Star Wars Rebels.{{cite web |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/star-wars-clone-wars-maul-sam-witwer-interview |title=Sam Witwer on Maul's return to Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the Siege of Mandalore |last=Silliman |first=Brian |date=March 23, 2020 |website=Syfy Wire |access-date=May 4, 2020 |archive-date=April 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200427085155/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/star-wars-clone-wars-maul-sam-witwer-interview |url-status=live }} On September 27, 2012, a feature-length "director's cut" of Witwer's season 4 finale episodes of The Clone Wars were released as a direct-to-video film, Darth Maul Returns, initially made available exclusively at Target.{{cite web |url=http://clubjade.net/?p=42265 |title=Darth Maul Returns to Target-exclusive DVD in Director's Cut of The Clone Wars |author=Jawa James |date=September 7, 2012 |website=Club Jade |access-date=September 27, 2012 |archive-date=October 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121006053541/http://clubjade.net/?p=42265 |url-status=live }}

Witwer attended The Clone Wars season 5 Red Carpet Premiere in Orlando, Florida on August 24, 2012, during Celebration VI along with some of his co-stars Matt Lanter, James Arnold Taylor, Dee Bradley Baker, Tom Kane, Daniel Logan, Stephen Stanton and Ashley Eckstein, as well as Supervising Director Dave Filoni. During Celebration VI, he also had his own panel called: Sam Witwer "The Maul Within" on August 26, 2012.{{cite web |url=https://www.starwars.com/news/swcvi-the-maul-within |title=SWCVI: The Maul Within |last=Ratcliffe |first=Amy |date=August 26, 2012 |website=StarWars.com |access-date=May 4, 2020 |archive-date=September 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923160822/https://www.starwars.com/news/swcvi-the-maul-within |url-status=live }} In 2013, he attended for the first time the annual event, Star Wars Weekends at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida for a three-day weekend{{cite news |last=Bevil |first=Dewayne |date=May 16, 2013 |title=Getting into stormtrooper gear at Disney's Star Wars Weekends |url=https://www.orlandosentinel.com/os-xpm-2013-05-16-os-dewayne-bevil-disney-star-wars-weekends-20130516-story.html |work=Orlando Sentinel |access-date=May 4, 2020}} and fans praised him for his roles in The Force Unleashed games and on The Clone Wars. During the live show "Behind the Force", Sam showed his acting skills by saying one or two lines of the characters that he's played in the Star Wars universe.

Witwer has also voiced an alien as well as a First Order stormtrooper during the siege of Maz Kanata's palace in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.{{cite web |url=https://www.starwars.com/news/from-blast-that-x-wing-to-traitor-the-voices-of-star-wars-the-force-awakens |title=The Voices of Star Wars: The Force Awakens |last=Wood |first=Matthew |date=January 25, 2016 |website=StarWars.com |access-date=January 25, 2016 |archive-date=July 22, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160722050648/http://www.starwars.com/news/from-blast-that-x-wing-to-traitor-the-voices-of-star-wars-the-force-awakens |url-status=live }}

In 2018, Witwer reprised his portrayal as Maul and performed the voice acting role for the character in Solo: A Star Wars Story, marking the sixth project for which Witwer voices Maul, and the first live-action performance.{{cite web |url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/darth-maul-actor-sam-witwer-says-hes-learned-to-not-say-goodbye-to-the-infamous-sith |title=Darth Maul actor Sam Witwer on Ray Park and never saying goodbye |last=Silliman |first=Brian |date=September 13, 2018 |website=Syfy Wire |access-date=September 13, 2018 |archive-date=September 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914032953/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/darth-maul-actor-sam-witwer-says-hes-learned-to-not-say-goodbye-to-the-infamous-sith |url-status=live }}

In 2020, Witwer was cast as an unidentified dark side character in the StarWarsKids.com and YouTube game show Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge, which premiered on June 3, 2020.{{cite web |title=Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge to debut on 3 June on Star Wars Kids |url=https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-jedi-temple-challenge-premiere |website=StarWars.com |publisher=Lucasfilm |access-date=28 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527153911/https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-jedi-temple-challenge-premiere |archive-date=27 May 2020 |date=27 May 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Gemmill |first1=Allie |title=The Force Is Strong With This Epic 'Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge' Trailer |url=https://collider.com/star-wars-jedi-temple-challenge-trailer-youtube/ |publisher=Collider |access-date=28 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527225642/https://collider.com/star-wars-jedi-temple-challenge-trailer-youtube/ |archive-date=27 May 2020 |date=27 May 2020}}

In 2024, Witwer took part in the OTOY'shttps://home.otoy.com/ production titled 765874 – Unification,{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgOZFny7F50 | title=765874 - Unification (4K) | website=YouTube | date=November 17, 2024 }} where he played the role of Capt. James T. Kirk, along with William Shatner. The role involved the use of "digital prosthetic" technology, where Shatner's facial features were overlaid onto Witwer's, as Witwer performed the role of Kirk in three different timelines. Discovering Shatner’s lack of “inner monologue,” as the actor has described in an autobiography, greatly informed Witwer’s performance. Not only in words, he said, but in action and presence. Witwer made the discovery when he viewed his performance in one take and was unhappy with how “un-Kirklike” it seemed. “Shatner would never passively walk into a scene,” Witwer said in an interview. “He leads us into a scene. He takes the audience with him and they go on a story.” With that, Witwer adjusted his performance and was much happier with it.{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rstnSMTrVA | title=Becoming Kirk (In Real-time) - Sam Witwer from OTOY's Star Trek Short '765874 Unification' Interview | website=YouTube | date=November 27, 2024 }}

Witwer serves as the front-man for the band The Crashtones, whose first studio album Colorful of the Stereo was released February 15, 2006.{{cite news|last=Sotonoff|first=Jamie|url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20140428/entlife/140428297/|title=Glenview native Sam Witwer moving on from vampire role|work=Daily Herald|date=April 28, 2014|access-date=April 7, 2016|archive-date=August 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815121937/http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20140428/entlife/140428297/|url-status=live}} Witwer released a new album on May 7, 2019, entitled Revenge of the Crashtones.{{cite tweet |user=SamWitwer |number=1125839770003787776 |date=May 7, 2019 |title=REVENGE OF THE CRASHTONES is out. It's a record I made in a garage. It's strange.}}

{{Pending films key}}

• 2022: Michael Reaves: Star Wars: Darth Maul: Shadow Hunter, Novel, Random House Audio & Audible

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{{Commons category|Sam Witwer}}

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Category:1977 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century American male actors

Category:21st-century American male actors

Category:American male film actors

Category:American male television actors

Category:American male video game actors

Category:American male voice actors

Category:Juilliard School alumni

Category:Male actors from Illinois

Category:Male actors from Los Angeles

Category:People from Glenview, Illinois