Sam Witwer

Samuel Stewart Witwer (born October 20, 1977) is an American actor, voice actor, and musician. He is known for playing Crashdown in Battlestar Galactica, Davis Bloome in Smallville, Aidan Waite in Being Human, Mr. Hyde in Once Upon a Time, and Ben Lockwood in Supergirl. He has voiced Starkiller in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, the Son in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars Rebels. He has voiced Darth Maul in The Clone Wars, Rebels and Solo: A Star Wars Story. In 2019, he joined the cast of Riverdale as Jughead Jones' school teacher Mr. Rupert Chipping. Witwer voiced protagonist Deacon St. John in the PlayStation 4 game Days Gone released in 2019 by Bend Studio.

Sam Witwer
Witwer at the 2013 Phoenix Comicon
Born
Samuel Stewart Witwer

(1977-10-20) October 20, 1977
Glenview, Illinois, U.S.
EducationJuilliard School
OccupationActor, voice actor, musician
Years active2001–present

Early life

Witwer was born on October 20, 1977,[1] and grew up in Glenview, Illinois, a small suburb outside of Chicago. 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". He attended the Juilliard School for a time before moving to Los Angeles.[2]

Career
Witwer at Wizard World Toronto, 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,[3] although he has credited much of his current success to his role as Neil Perry on the Showtime series Dexter.[4] Witwer also appeared as Private Wayne Jessup in the film The Mist.[5]

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, a character in the comics best known for being the only villain to have "killed" Superman. While Witwer played Davis, 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 in the event the show was renewed, 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.[6]

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.[7] 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. Witwer also made a guest appearance in NCIS.

From 2011 to 2014, Witwer starred in the North American remake of Being Human. He played the lead role of vampire Aidan Waite.[8] The show, as well as his performance, was well received and lasted 4 seasons.[9]

He voiced Ocean Master in the animated film Justice League: Throne of Atlantis for the DC Universe Animated Original Movies series,[10] 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.[11]

In 2018, Witwer joined the main cast of The CW drama series Supergirl, portraying the fourth season's main antagonist, Ben Lockwood / Agent Liberty.[12]

Role-playing games

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.[13]

Sam appeared in episode 19 of Geek and Sundry's Tabletop playing the Dragon Age role-playing game,[14] and episodes 29[15] and 55 of Dice Camera Action as Mordenkainen.[16]

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.[17]

Star Wars

A lifelong Star Wars fan, 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;[18] however, in 2019, the role was re-dubbed by Ian McDiarmid who portrayed Palpatine in the films and in Rebels season 4. Witwer also reprises his role as Darth Maul in Rebels.[19]

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.[20]

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.[21] 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[22] 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.[23]

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 Darth Maul, and the first live-action performance.[24]

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.[25][26]

Music career

Witwer serves as the front-man for the band The Crashtones, whose first studio album Colorful of the Stereo was released February 15, 2006.[27] Witwer released a new album May 7, 2019 entitled Revenge of the Crashtones.[28]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2006 Crank Shootout Henchman
2007 The Mist Private Jessup
2008 Pathology Party Boy
2009 Gamer Social Worker
2010 The United Monster Talent Agency Dracula Short film
No God, No Master Eugenio Ravarini
2011 The Return of Joe Rich Joe Neiderman
2014 Space Dogs: Adventure to the Moon Kazbek Voice; English dub
2015 Tales of Halloween Hank Short film
Justice League: Throne of Atlantis Ocean Master[29][30] Voice; Direct-to-video
Wrestling Isn't Wrestling Chyna Short film
Star Wars: The Force Awakens Alien, Stormtrooper, Additional Characters[30] Voices
2016 Rogue One Stormtrooper, Additional Characters[30]
Officer Downe Burnham
2017 Star Wars: The Last Jedi Additional Voices
2018 Solo: A Star Wars Story Maul[31] Voice; Cameo
2019 Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Additional Voices

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2001 ER Tommy Episode: "Fear of Commitment"
2001, 2003 JAG Beasley / Sonar Operator 2 episodes
2001 Arliss Mourner Episode: "Of Cabbages and Kings"
2002 Dark Angel Marrow Episode: "Love in Vein"
She Spies Jason Episode: "Daddy's Girl"
2003 Angel John Stoler Episode: "Shiny Happy People"
The Lyon's Den Bryce Cherot / Chucke Porter Episode: "Duty to Save"
Star Trek: Enterprise Sloth #3 Episode: "The Shipment"
2004 Cold Case James Creighton Episode: "The Plan"
NCIS Staff Sgt. Rafael Episode: "Split Decision"
Star Trek: New Voyages Guardian's Voice Episode: "In Harm's Way"
2004–05 Battlestar Galactica Crashdown 11 episodes
2006 Dexter Neil Perry 3 episodes
Bones Mitchell Downs Episode: "The Titan On The Track"
2007 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Muscular Guy in Store Episode: "Dennis and Dee's Mom Is Dead"
Shark Richard Lee Franco Episode: "Every Breath You Take"
2007–08 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Officer Casella 2 episodes
2008–09 Smallville Davis Bloome Main role (Season 8), 12 episodes
2010 The Walking Dead Tank Soldier Uncredited; Episode: "Days Gone Bye"
2011–14 Being Human Aidan Waite 52 episodes
Nominated–Canadian Screen Award for Best Actor in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role
2011–14, 2020 Star Wars: The Clone Wars The Son / Darth Maul Voices; 14 episodes
Nominated–Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program
2012 Lego Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out Darth Maul / Emperor Palpatine Voices; Television special
2014 Grimm Max Robbins Episode: "The Show Must Go On"
2015–18 Star Wars Rebels Maul / Emperor Palpatine Voices; 7 episodes
2015 Stalker Jamie Tolliver Episode: "Love Kills"
Rosewood Heath Casablanca Episode: "Aortic Atresia and Art Installations"
2016 Once Upon a Time Mr. Hyde 5 episodes
2017 Electric Dreams Chris Episode: "Real Life"
2018–20 Supergirl Benjamin Lockwood / Agent Liberty 18 episodes
Star Wars Resistance Hugh Sion Voice; 3 episodes
2019–20 Riverdale Mr. Chipping
2020 DC Universe All Star Games Himself / Host 6 episodes
2020 Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge Dark Side agent

Video games
Year Title Role Notes
2008 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Starkiller / Emperor Palpatine Also likeness[32][30]
Soulcalibur IV Starkiller English version[30]
2010 Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II Starkiller / Emperor Palpatine Also likeness[32][30]
2012 Kinect Star Wars Emperor Palpatine [30]
2015 Disney Infinity 3.0 Darth Maul / Emperor Palpatine
Star Wars Battlefront Emperor Palpatine
2016 Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens
2017 Star Wars Battlefront II Darth Maul / Emperor Palpatine
2019 Days Gone Deacon St. John Also likeness[32]
Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order Emperor Palpatine Cameo
2021 Star Trek Online Tenavik [33]

References
  1. Rose, Mike (October 20, 2018). "Today's top celebrity birthdays list for October 20, 2018". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved October 20, 2018.
  2. Gire, Dann (April 28, 2014). "Glenview native Sam Witwer moving on from vampire role". Daily Herald. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  3. Caron, Nathalie (December 14, 2012). "When you think Being Human, Sam Witwer wants you to remember BSG". Syfy Wire. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  4. Plainsafe, Jay (January 13, 2014). "Interview: Sam Witwer on "Being Human", "Dexter"". Diabolique Magazine. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  5. "Director gives King story new, scary end". Chicago Tribune. November 23, 2007. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  6. Gartler, James (May 6, 2011). ""Smallville's" A Tale of Two Zods". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  7. Wigler, Josh (October 19, 2017). "'The Walking Dead': The 100 Greatest Moments, Ranked". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  8. Abrams, Natalie (June 28, 2010). "Sam Witwer Joins U.S. Cast of Being Human". TV Guide. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  9. Ng, Philiana (April 7, 2014). "'Being Human': Sam Witwer on 'Swinging for the Fences' and Bittersweet Series Finale". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  10. Campbell, Josie (January 23, 2015). ""Justice League: Throne Of Atlantis" Stars Geek Out At PaleyFest". Comic Book Resources. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  11. Petski, Denise (March 15, 2016). "'Once Upon A Time' Casts Duo For Mental Hospital Arc". Deadline. Retrieved September 24, 2016.
  12. Agard, Chancellor (July 17, 2018). "Smallville alum Sam Witwer joins Supergirl season 4 as Agent Liberty". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  13. "Order 66 episode forum". d20radio.com.
  14. Sam Witwer extended interview from Dragon Age - TableTop ep. 19 on YouTube
  15. Dungeons & Dragons (November 16, 2016), Episode 29 - Dice, Camera, Action with Dungeons & Dragons, retrieved June 23, 2017
  16. Dungeons & Dragons (July 12, 2017), Episode 55 - Dice, Camera, Action with Dungeons & Dragons, retrieved October 24, 2017
  17. Dusk City Outlaws Actual Play: The Stonesetter Job Part 1 on YouTube
  18. Rad, Chloi (April 18, 2015). "Star Wars Celebration: Sam Witwer Reprises Role As Palpatine In Star Wars Rebels". IGN. Ziff Davis, LLC. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  19. Avalanche Software. Disney Infinity 3.0. Scene: Closing credits, 5:39 in, Featuring the Voice Talents of.
  20. Silliman, Brian (March 23, 2020). "Sam Witwer on Maul's return to Star Wars: The Clone Wars, the Siege of Mandalore". Syfy Wire. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  21. Ratcliffe, Amy (August 26, 2012). "SWCVI: The Maul Within". StarWars.com. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  22. Bevil, Dewayne (May 16, 2013). "Getting into stormtrooper gear at Disney's Star Wars Weekends". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved May 4, 2020.
  23. Wood, Matthew (January 25, 2016). "The Voices of Star Wars: The Force Awakens". StarWars.com. Retrieved January 25, 2016.
  24. Silliman, Brian (September 13, 2018). "Darth Maul actor Sam Witwer on Ray Park and never saying goodbye". Syfy Wire. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  25. "Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge to debut on 3 June on Star Wars Kids". StarWars.com. Lucasfilm. May 27, 2020. Archived from the original on May 27, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  26. Gemmill, Allie (May 27, 2020). "The Force Is Strong With This Epic 'Star Wars: Jedi Temple Challenge' Trailer". Collider. Archived from the original on May 27, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  27. Sotonoff, Jamie (April 28, 2014). "Glenview native Sam Witwer moving on from vampire role". Daily Herald. Retrieved April 7, 2016.
  28. @SamWitwer (May 7, 2019). "REVENGE OF THE CRASHTONES is out. It's a record I made in a garage. It's strange" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  29. "Warner Bros. Names Two New DC Animated Films to Follow JUSTICE LEAGUE: THRONE OF ATLANTIS". newsarama.com. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  30. "Sam Witwer". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 22, 2018.
  31. "The Solo: A Star Wars Story Ending Explained". GamesRadar. May 17, 2018. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
  32. Stuart, Keith (October 7, 2010). "Star Wars, Sam Witwer, and the art of video game acting". The Guardian. Retrieved April 27, 2017.
  33. "The Voice of Time | Star Trek Online". www.arcgames.com. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
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