Samantha Sloyan

Last updated
Samantha Sloyan
Born (1979-01-04) January 4, 1979 (age 47)
Los Angeles County, California, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actress
  • producer
Years active2003–present
Father James Sloyan

Samantha Sloyan (January 4, 1979) is an American actress. Sloyan is best known for her multiple collaborations with filmmaker Mike Flanagan in Hush , The Haunting of Hill House , Midnight Mass , The Midnight Club , and The Fall of the House of Usher . She has also appeared in recurring roles on Scandal and the twelfth season of Grey's Anatomy . She is the daughter of actors James Sloyan and Deirdre Lenihan.

Contents

Early life and career

Born in Los Angeles County on January 4, 1979, [1] Sloyan is one of two children, one girl and one boy, born to actors James Sloyan and Deirdre Lenihan. [2] [3]

Sloyan first appeared in the 2003 independent feature film My Life with Morrissey as a florist. She continued to appear in a few short films such as No Shoulder, Shamelove, and Autodoc. In 2009, she produced and starred in the short film Plus One. Sloyan has also guest-starred in several television series such as The Beast , The Forgotten , Law & Order: LA , and NCIS . She played a recurring role as a White House employee named Jeannine Locke in the first three seasons of Scandal . She also guest-starred in another ShondaLand production titled Private Practice in 2010. Sloyan continued to appear in smaller films, including In the Key of Eli, Tape 407, and the television movie Murder in Mexico: The Bruce Beresford-Redman Story.

In 2014, Sloyan guest-starred in four television series Castle , Parks and Recreation , Hawaii Five-0 , and Rizzoli & Isles . She began a recurring role in the ShondaLand production Grey's Anatomy as Dr. Penelope Blake. She first appeared in the eleventh season episode "How to Save a Life", which included the death of lead character, Derek Shepherd, played by Patrick Dempsey. She appeared again in the 12th season, including the show's 250th episode "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner", which was mostly focused on Sloyan's character. [4]

In 2021, Sloyan portrayed Catholic Beverly Keane in the miniseries Midnight Mass , directed by Mike Flanagan.

On stage, Sloyan acted at the Geffen Playhouse and the Segerstrom Center for the arts. She received the LADCC and LA Weekly awards for her performance in Munched. [5]

Personal life

Sloyan is the niece of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Patrick Sloyan. [2]

Filmography

Films

YearTitleRoleNotes
2003 My Life with Morrissey FloristIndependent feature film
2005No ShoulderBobbieShort film
3 Wise WomenWaitress #2
2006ShameloveJulie
2009Plus OneLindsayShort film; also producer
AutodocEmmy Hennings
2011In the Key of EliMegs
2012 Area 407 LoisOriginally titled Tape 407: The Mesa Reserve
2013Do You Have a Cat?MarissaShort film
2016Losing In LoveDr. Barton
FantasticMichelle
Hush Sarah Greene
Cat KillerThe MotherShort film
2017I'm Not HereJaimeShort film
2019Pappy HourJean MulliganShort film
Miss Virginia Mrs. Watson
2023Good DaughterRebeccaShort film
Love You, MamaLeeShort film
Invaders From Proxima BJane JankinsOnline released in May 2024
2024The Place BetweenBeatrice
The Life of Chuck Miss Rohrbacher
2025It's Expensive To Be PoorNarratorShort film
2027 The Exorcist Filming
TBAGraceBonnieShort film
TBASilver AnniversaryShort film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2009 The Beast Grace MortonEpisode: "No Turning Back"
The Forgotten NurseEpisode: "Railroad Jane"
2010 Law & Order: LA Rachel ForesterEpisode: "Echo Park"
2011 The Cape Television reporterEpisode: "Endgame"
NCIS Emily GoodwinEpisode: "Engaged (Part I)"
2012–2014 Scandal Jeannine LockeRecurring role; 8 episodes (seasons 1–3)
2013 The Fosters ER DoctorEpisode: "Vigil"
2014 Castle Pam ClarkEpisode: "Room 147"
Parks and Recreation EricaEpisode: "New Slogan"
Hawaii Five-0 Sarah RichmondEpisode: "Ho'i Hou"
FuturestatesLisaEpisode: "Ant"
Rizzoli & Isles Alex RuebensEpisode: "If You Can't Stand the Heat"
2015–2016 Grey's Anatomy Dr. Penelope BlakeRecurring role; 20 episodes (seasons 11–12)
2015Murder in MexicoGretchen ThorneTelevision film
Criminal Minds Tracy SenarakEpisode: "The Witness"
2017MaggieDr. WhiteEpisodes: "Past Life Depression" & "Denying Everything About Death"
The Good Doctor Mrs. GallicoEpisode: "Point Three Percent"
2018 Here and Now OfficerEpisode: "It's Coming"
The Haunting of Hill House Leigh CrainRecurring role; 8 episodes
2018-2019 SEAL Team Victoria SeaverRecurring role; 4 episodes (season 2)
2019 Proven Innocent Gabrielle ParcellEpisode: "Shaken"
Animal Kingdom JenniferEpisode: "Know Thy Enemy"
The Rookie Alice SheldonEpisode: "Warriors and Guardians"
Truth Be Told Sharon DostikasEpisode: "Not Buried, Planted"
Everyone TogetherCarolineUnsold television pilot
2020 Helstrom Jolene SpiveyEpisodes: "Leviathan" & "Scars"
2021 Midnight Mass Bev KeaneMain role; 7 episodes
2022 The Midnight Club ShastaMain role; 7 episodes
2023 Minx Joan Didion Episode: "I Thought the Bed Was Gonna Fly"
The Morning Show CherylEpisode: "The Stanford Student"
The Fall of the House of Usher Tamerlane UsherMain role; 8 episodes [6]
Creepshow Lorna SnellEpisode: "Twenty Minutes with Cassandra"
2025 The Pitt Lily BradleyRecurring role; 7 episodes (season 1)
2026 Carrie Margaret White Upcoming miniseries

References

  1. "Your Horoscope: Birthday Star". The Montreal Gazette. January 4, 2022. p. N11. Retrieved March 11, 2026. "Actress Samantha Sloyan was born in Los Angeles County, California, today in 1979. This birthday star portrayed Bev Keane in the 2021 mini-series 'Midnight Mass.' She also played Dr. Penelope Blake on 'Grey’s Anatomy' and has appeared on episodes of 'Everyone Together,' 'Helstrom' and 'Truth Be Told.' On the big screen, Sloyan’s film work includes roles in 'Miss Virginia,' 'Hush' and 'Losing in Love.'"
  2. 1 2 Clark, Mark (2013). Star Trek: FAQ 2.0: EVERYTHING LEFT TO KNOW ABOUT THE NEXT GENERATION, THE MOVIES AND BEYOND (UNOFFICIAL AND UNAUTHORIZED) . Milwaukee, WI: Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. ISBN   978-1-55783-793-6. "Like Plakson, actor James Sloyan played several Star Trek characters, but none with as much depth and emotional resonance as Jarok, the Romulan admiral who defects to avert a war in 'The Defector.' [...] In recent years, he has concentrated on voice work and commercials. From 1989 to 2009, he served as the 'voice' of carmaker Lexus. He is married and has two adult children, Dan and Samantha Sloyan, both actors."
  3. Terry, Carol Burton (May 15, 1977). "TV Line". Newsday (Suffolk Edition). p. TV-2. Retrieved March 11, 2026. "Q. Can you tell me about James Sloyan who plays the doctor named Sam on "Westside Medical"? Is it true that he is married to Deirdre Lenihan who starred in "Needles and Pins"? Where can I write to him? -M.M., Rosedale. A. James is indeed married to Dierdre by whom. he has a son, Daniel. The Indianapolis-born actor had difficulty conforming during his teen years in Upstate New York and was tossed out of one high school after the other. But he graduated from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, where he later taught acting and mime, after two years with the American Mime Theater and a stint in the Army. [...] James, incidentally, is the brother of Newsday reporter Patrick Sloyan."
  4. Denninger, Lindsay (October 22, 2015). "Who Plays Penny On 'Grey's Anatomy'? Samantha Sloyan Is The Hospital's Newest Resident". Bustle. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  5. "Samantha Sloyan". Geffen Playhouse. Archived from the original on September 24, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  6. Doupe', Tyler (2022-08-29). "'The Fall of the House of Usher': Everything We Know So Far About Mike Flanagan's New Series". Dread Central. Retrieved 2023-08-26.