Sam Anderson is a 2008/2009 Ovation Award Nominee for Lead Actor in a Play for his performance as Ichabod Banks in THE BIRD AND MR. BANKS for the Road Theatre Company, where he serves as Co-Artistic Director. He previously received an Ovation Award in 2002 for Lead Actor in a Play for his performance in NAPOLI MILIONARIA. Sam also currently serves as a member of the Ovation Review Committee.
If you’d like to add a congratulatory message for Sam (or any other Nominee or Nominated Company), to the Ovation Awards commemorative poster (distributed to all nominees and all attendees at the Ceremony), click here!
As an Ovation Award Nominee, LA Stage asked Sam the following questions:
What was the moment that first inspired you to pursue working in the theatre?
I grew up in North Dakota and a trip to the Guthrie Theatre in Minneapolis as well as a tour of the National Theatre Company, led by Sir Laurence Olivier, convinced me I wanted to explore my passion for the theatre full time.
What do you feel made the production you were nominated for particularly successful, either overall or for you specifically?
“The Bird and Mr. Banks” sprang from the wonderful mind of Keith Huff, was completely realized by a brilliant actor/director, Mark St. Amant, who I credit for my performance, along with my costars, another incredible set from Desma Murphy, and the creation of another character, Peep the bird, by Dave Marling, Ovation-nominated sound designer.
What project or projects are you currently working on?
I’m currently directing Stacy Sims’ world premiere “As White As O,” the Ovation-recommended show at the Road.
What do you love most about theatre in Los Angeles?
I love the sense of community, the quality of the work of many of the companies in L.A. and the ongoing attempts of LASA to bring us all together more often.
What’s your dream project?
Playing the father in a perfectly cast “Long Day’s Journey Into Night.” Finding a unique new musical to begin a journey from the Road to long life in other bigger venues.
Biography: SAM ANDERSON, Co-Artistic Director of the Road, is most recently known as Bernard on ABC’s megahit LOST. In a film and television career spanning thirty years and close to 200 roles, some of his favorites are the Principal in “Forrest Gump,”the lethal attorney Holland Manners in “Angel,” Donna’s racist father in “La Bamba,” Dr. Fonzie in “Friends,” the befuddled FBI agent in “Everybody Loves Raymond,” as well as his participation in such “event” television projects as “From the Earth to the Moon” as Dr. Tom Paine, head of NASA, and Stephen King’s “The Stand” as Whitney. His role as the arrogant cardiologist Dr. Kaysen on “E.R.” earned him a SAG Award (Best Ensemble).
L.A. theatre credits include the sold-out five-month run of “The Bird and Mr. Banks,” his Ovation-winning leading turn as the father in the Road’s “Napoli Millionaria,” and many productions at the Odyssey, including “Road to Nirvana” (LA Weekly Best Actor), “Taking Sides, ” “Rhinoceros,” David Mamet’s “Edmond,” (LA Weekly, Backstage West Awards). At LATC, Sam originated the role of Finney in Marlene Meyer’s “Kingfish,” and was directed by Simon Callow in Milan Kundera’s “Jacques and His Master.” Sam greatly enjoyed his participation as a guest artist in the Antaeus Company’s Classics Fest production of “Cousin Bette.” His directing credits include the world premieres of Stacy Sims’ “As White As O” (Ovation-recommended hit currently playing at the Road, Mark Eisman’s “SHOVE” at the Road ( LA Weekly Best Director nomination), “Orpheus Descending” and many other Williams works, and as a composer Sam wrote a new score to the Odyssey’s production of Brecht’s “Puntila and His Servant Matti,” as well as the original musical “Dolls” at the Canon Theatre. He arranged and played ragtime piano for the film and stage versions of “Bully,” starring James Whitmore.
Sam has served on the West Coast Board of Actor’s Equity and contract committees for SAG, and currently serves on LA Stage Alliance’s Ovation Review Committee. He was co-director of Development for the Wesley School in its first years of existence, and is a graduate of the LA Grantsmanship Institute. He has an MA in American Literature and Creative Writing and is a proud member of the Mystery Writers of America. Sam teaches a professional Scene Study workshop and often guest lectures on acting for various schools. His own studies include two years at Descanso Garden’s Master Class in Horticulture, yoga, Tai Chi and ten years with the legendary director and teacher Jose Quintero.
He is married to psychotherapist Barbara Hancock, and is the proud father of 17 year old twins.
For a full list of Ovation nominees, or for information about the Ovation Awards Ceremony on January 11th, click here!
