Featured Image Credit: (Lionsgate)
Topics: TV And Film, Celebrity
Ben Williams
The Quincy Jones actor in the Michael Jackson film is actually a face many viewers might not have realised they’ve seen before.
Michael, the big-screen biopic about the late King of Pop, features Quincy as a major part of Jackson’s story, which makes sense given the producer’s huge role in some of the singer’s most defining work.
For anyone not fully brushed up on music history, Jones was the legendary producer behind some of Jackson’s most famous albums, including Off the Wall, Thriller, and Bad.
However, while the film is packed with recognisable names, the man playing Quincy may be the one leaving you most distracted, as his actor is actually one who’s appeared in many notable TV and film projects over the years in the industry.
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That actor is Kendrick Sampson, and there is a very good chance you know him from Insecure.
Sampson played Nathan Campbell in the hit HBO series, first appearing in season three before becoming part of the main cast for seasons four and five.
Nathan was introduced as one of Issa Dee’s love interests, and his storyline ended up becoming a huge part of the show’s final stretch.
So, if you spent the later seasons desperately trying to work out whether Issa should end up with Lawrence or Nathan, that is probably where you recognise him from.
Although, Insecure is definitely not the only place Sampson has popped up.
He also played Caleb Hapstall in the second season of How to Get Away with Murder, the legal drama that aimed to make every single episode have you feel on edge.
Caleb was one of the key figures in the show’s second season mystery, meaning Sampson was right in the middle of all the twists, suspicion, and classic Shondaland chaos.
Before that, he appeared in The Vampire Diaries as Jesse, a college student who crossed paths with Caroline Forbes and became wrapped up in the show’s usual vampire-related drama.
Basically, if you were watching American teen and drama TV in the 2010s, there is a strong chance Kendrick has been sitting somewhere in your subconscious ever since.
He has also appeared in The Flash, playing Dominic Lanse, otherwise known as Brainstorm, as well as Gracepoint, Supernatural, Rosewood, White Famous, and Relationship Status.
Away from TV, Sampson’s film credits include Miss Juneteenth, where he played Ronnie, and the festive rom-com Something from Tiffany’s, in which he starred as Ethan Greene.
His career does not stop at acting either. Sampson is also known for his activism. In 2019, he founded BLD PWR, an organisation focused on empowerment and change within marginalised communities.
He was also involved in Black Lives Matter protests in Los Angeles following the murder of George Floyd, and has spoken publicly about social justice causes alongside his Hollywood work.