Sam Underwood (born Sam Lewis Underwood) is a talented English actor known for his intense performances in thriller and drama series, including playing dual roles as the Gray twins in The Following, Zach Hamilton in Dexter, Jake Otto in Fear the Walking Dead, and Adam Carrington in Dynasty.
With his sharp screen presence, versatility across stage and screen, and dedication to character-driven roles, he has carved a respected niche in American television and film, inspiring aspiring British actors to pursue opportunities in the U.S. with discipline and emotional depth.
Essential Data
- Full Name: Sam Lewis Underwood
- Stage Name: Sam Underwood
- Born: August 4, 1987
- Age: 38 years old
- Birthplace: Woking, Surrey, England, United Kingdom
- Nationality: British
- Ethnicity: White British
- Occupation: Actor, Writer
- Height: 5’9½” (177 cm)
- Religion: N/A
- Parents: Angela Underwood (mother) and Mr Underwood (father)
- Siblings: Hayley Underwood (sister)
- Spouse: Valorie Curry
- Children: None
- Relationship: Single
- Net Worth: $5 million USD
Early Life and Education
Sam Lewis Underwood was born on August 4, 1987, in Woking, Surrey, England, United Kingdom. He was raised by his mother, Angela Underwood and father, Mr Underwood, in a supportive family environment. He grew up alongside his sister Hayley Underwood.
He attended Winston Churchill School in Woking and trained at the Karen Clarke Theatre Group (now Summerscales Performing Arts), studied with vocal coach Phil Wisdom, and attended Songtime Theatre Arts.
At age 19, he moved to the United States in October 2006 and studied at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York, graduating in February 2008. He co-founded the Fundamental Theatre Project in New York in 2010. His ethnicity is White British.
Career
Sam Underwood began his professional acting career on stage and transitioned to screen work after relocating to the U.S.
He gained early attention with a guest role in Dexter (2013) as Zach Hamilton. His breakthrough came playing the murderous cult twins Luke and Mark Gray in the Fox thriller The Following (2013–2015).
Sam portrayed Jake Otto in AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead (2017), Adam Carrington in The CW’s Dynasty reboot (2019–2022), and appeared in Homeland, Power, Madam Secretary, Zero Hour, and The Rookie: Feds (2023). On film, he starred in The Drummer (2020) and Hello Again (2017).
In theatre, he has performed in various productions and starred in the play Ivanov at the Unadilla Theatre in Vermont in 2025.
Known for his ability to portray complex, intense characters with nuance, Sam continues to balance television, film, and stage work while exploring writing opportunities.
Social Media
- Instagram: @samunderwood
Personal Life
Sam Lewis Underwood, 38, is currently single and not engaged. He was previously married to actress Valorie Curry (whom he met on the set of The Following) from May 13, 2016, until their divorce was finalised in April 2023 on grounds of irreconcilable differences; the split was described as amicable, and the couple had no children.
No other long-term past relationships are widely documented in public sources. He maintains a relatively private personal life focused on his career and family. His height is 5’9½” (177 cm).
Net Worth
Sam Underwood’s net worth is estimated at $5 million USD. His income primarily comes from acting salaries in major television series, including The Following, Fear the Walking Dead, Dynasty, and Dexter; film roles; theatre performances; and residual earnings from international syndication and streaming, as his profile in genre television remains strong.
Filmography
- The Following (2013–2015) – Luke Gray / Mark Gray
- Dexter (2013) – Zach Hamilton
- Fear the Walking Dead (2017) – Jake Otto
- Dynasty (2019–2022) – Adam Carrington
- The Rookie: Feds (2023) – Roman Griffith
- The Drummer (2020) – Darien Cooper
- Hello Again (2017)
- Homeland, Power, Madam Secretary, Zero Hour (guest/recurring roles)
- Ivanov (2025 theatre production)