From his first audition landing him a role opposite Alicia Silverstone on American Woman to recurring roles on Shameless, Sam Morgan has carved out a dynamic career that spans acting, directing, music, and modeling. Along the way, he’s earned a reputation not just for his craft but for his dedication to social causes, using his platform to support organizations like Save the Children, UNICEF, and Doctors Without Borders. In this conversation, Morgan reflects on his journey from a young filmmaker and NYU directing student to a versatile actor, sharing insights on persistence, stepping into characters, and balancing multiple art forms. He underscores the importance of practices like meditation, which alongside Muay Thai, serenity prayers, and therapeutic motorcycle work, help him stay centered in an unpredictable industry.

Sweater by Goodfight
Pants by ALLSAINTS
Boot by Hunter Boots

You started making films young and later studied directing at NYU. What first pulled you toward storytelling, and when did you realize it could be more than just an interest?
I did! I went to this pretty insane (in a good way) summer program through the New York Film Academy when I was 14, and that jump-started the path I’m on now. They put us up at the Oakwood Apartments—which, if you don’t know the lore, you should Google—and gave us cameras and access to the Universal backlot. I grew up in Indiana, so getting turned loose in L.A. as a teenager was like being thrown into the deep end. I don’t even remember how I got the cab that took me to the apartments.

But NYU is where I really locked in. I think one thing people don’t realize about being an actor and director is that it’s still a freelance career, so you have to keep re-committing to them, even when they’re not always choosing you back. It’s a path that ebbs and flows, and you have to decide again and again if you’re in.

When you prepare for a role, how do you step into a character’s emotional world while keeping parts of yourself intact?
Oh, that’s an interesting question. I think it really depends on the character and their function in the story. My biggest goal whenever I take a role is to avoid “othering” the person I’m playing, which can be especially difficult if they do things or behave in ways I don’t agree with. If I catch myself judging the character right away, I usually go more abstract and use methods like animal work (which I know probably sounds totally insane to most people). Basically, I find an animal that embodies the essence of that character, and then I operate from that space.

Blazer & Trouser by Golden Goose
Shirt by Goodfight
Boots by Lucchese

Shameless and American Woman put you alongside some powerhouse actors. What did you take away from those sets that still stays with you today?
American Woman was wild because it was not only my first big job, but my first audition ever. When I came to L.A., I didn’t even know what “self-taping” meant (which just means recording an audition to send to the casting team of a film or TV show). So yeah, I was green. Like… very green. I was totally in awe of the whole experience. Alicia (Silverstone) has the most incredible work ethic I’ve ever seen. She’s so hard working with endless amounts of charm to burn. I remember I used to come to set even on days I wasn’t shooting to watch the actors work. There was one scene in particular with Cheyenne [Jackson] and Mena [Suvari], where she overdoses and he has to get her to throw up, and I just remember sitting there like, “…damn.”

And then getting to play in another John Wells–created sandbox on Shameless was an experience I didn’t know I needed so badly. Recurring on a show like that was a dream. Jeremy [Allen White] and Scott [Michael Campbell] moved with such ease and confidence because they had several seasons to develop their characters and relationship, and that definitely rubbed off on me. I try to bring myself into that state of operating whenever I work.

Is there a character you’ve played that surprised you, taught you something about yourself you weren’t expecting?
You know what’s interesting, sometimes the roles that leave a lasting impact on you aren’t even the ones you end up booking. I saw Britt Lower (Severance) talk about how, when she initially auditioned to play Helly, she was just grateful to get to play her—even if it was only for that one audition. That reminded me of my own journey auditioning for the show Daisy Jones & the Six. I auditioned for that show about nine times over the course of two years, and I felt so connected to the characters and the world. What I learned from that process was that we just have to show up, sing the song, do the dance, and do it for the love of doing it.Which is an ultimately zen practice. You have to release any expectation of the outcome because what is for you will never miss. When it was all said and done, I planted a bunch of daisies in my garden and said a little prayer that everyone who got to play in that world would have as much fun as I would have—and then some!

What’s the biggest challenge of being a working actor in today’s industry, and how do you navigate it?
Well, I think this is a pretty seamless segue. So, in that same vein, the way I navigate it is by practicing detachment—removing any expectation of the outcome and just doing what feels true to me in each moment. The Serenity Prayer works WONDERS. (If you’re not familiar, definitely look it up—it leans more spiritual than tied to any one religion). I read a conversation between Tilda Swinton and Tom Hiddleston years ago where they talked about how helpful that prayer is for letting go and trusting the timing of your own life. I’ve also been practicing transcendental meditation for almost a decade now, and that has been a huge source of comfort through it all.

Jacket, Shirt, and Pants by Goodfight
Belt by Levi’s
Necklace by STERLING FOREVER
Shoes by Lucchese

You’ve also built a modeling career. How does being in front of the camera as a model differ from being in character as an actor?
Modeling is technical in a different way than acting. Learning different poses and staying in the zone while also making the clothes look good for eight hours is more intense than it sounds—but at the end of the day, it’s a pretty cool job. Acting allows me to interact with a story and with characters, whereas modeling is more about collaborating with photographers and stylists to create the most dynamic shots to represent the brand.

You’re also vocal about activism and social issues on your Instagram. What causes are closest to your heart, and how do they influence your creative work?
I’m a huge supporter of Save the Children, UNICEF, and Doctors Without Borders. I hold these organizations in very high regard and do my best to promote and support them. I am also very concerned—as many of us are—about the state of free speech in this country. I think that out of “cancel culture,” a monster has been born, and that monster is the urge to silence dissenting opinions. We cannot have true free speech if we silence those who disagree with us, because our ability to speak, by definition, is no longer free.

How do you hope your work—whether on screen, on stage, or behind the camera—can intersect with that activism?
I think my friends and family would say I am a pretty transparent and authentic person—or at least, I hope that’s what they’d say. My goal with everything I do publicly is that people will see me and the way I move through the world and feel empowered to show up more fully in their own lives as well. That’s true success, in my opinion. That’s when you’ve really made it.

Outside of acting, you’re also a musician. What does music give you that acting or directing doesn’t? And do you see those art forms feeding each other in your work?
They both feed into one another for sure. Music, for me, is just absolute freedom. I’ve been singing since I was a little kid, and my dad and I have always made music together for as long as I can remember. Making music has always been about telling stories and speaking from myheart—which is exactly what acting can be at its highest form. It’s all about human connection, man. That’s what anybody is really after at the end of the day.

What keeps you grounded in such a fast-moving, unpredictable industry
Transcendental meditation, Muay Thai, working on my motorcycle, and my therapist, Walter.

You have new projects on the horizon. What can you share about what you’re working on right now?
I do! I’m heading to Spain next to shoot another horror film called The Betrayer. I can’t say too much about it yet, but it follows a young woman whose deepest insecurities begin to manifest in her physical reality as a demonic entity called The Betrayer.

When you choose roles, what draws you to a character or story?
A paycheck!! (Just kidding, but if you’re an actor, you know.) I love being an artist and doing what I do, but also, life is expensive! We have families to support, car payments to make, ongoing scene study classes to stay on top of our game, student loans, all of it. So, I definitely consider the financial side as well as the character. I really hope the next project that comes along is something slick and sci-fi, maybe with a queer edge, like Blade Runner meets Interview with the Vampire.

CREW CREDITS:
Talent: Sam Morgan
PhotoBook Editor-In-Chief: Alison Hernon
PhotoBook Creative Director: Mike Ruiz
Photographer: Dylan Perlot
Fashion Stylist: Branden Ruiz
Groomer: Ayae Yamamoto for Exclusive Artists using Apostle, R+Co
Tearsheets by Daniel López, Art Director, PhotoBook Magazine
Interview by Eliana Estes, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine

From Shameless to Serenity: Sam Morgan on Acting, Activism, and Meditation