If you’ve watched a comedy in the last five years, there’s a decent chance Sam Richardson was in it. Iconic TV shows like Arrested Development, The Office, Portlandia and Drunk History. Comic films like We’re the Millers, Horrible Bosses 2, Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, Office Christmas Party or The House. Yup, Sam had roles in all of the above. The man co-created the critically acclaimed Detroiters on Comedy Central, and this year, on the final season of HBO’s Veep, he is reprising what might be his most famous character of all, that of the insanely optimistic Richard Splett. Richardson recently invited HUSTLER into his Hollywood home, where he cheerfully hammed it up for our cameras and shared with us how he transformed himself from literal African prince into American comic royalty.
HUSTLER: First question—Sam, are you a regular reader of HUSTLER Magazine?
SAM RICHARDSON: I must admit that I haven’t read it too much, but now, with this interview, I have a golden excuse to get a subscription.
Okay, good answer, good answer. Next, all I really know about Detroit is Eminem’s 8 Mile, so was that your life growing up in Motor City? Were you just rap-battling day and night?
Not really day and night, no. Mostly it was mornings, before school.
Really?
