Tom Verica

Tom Verica (born May 13, 1964) is an American actor, director, and producer. As an actor, he's best known for his role as Sam Keating in the ABC drama How to Get Away with Murder (2014–2020). He also played Jack Pryor in the NBC critically acclaimed drama American Dreams from 2002 to 2004. As a director, he's known for Shonda Rhimes' dramas. He's currently an executive producer and director of the Netflix drama Bridgerton. From 2012 to 2018, Verica served as executive producer and director of ABC's Scandal.

Early life Verica was born on May 13, 1964, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to parents who worked as real estate agents. He is of Italian descent on his father's side and German descent on his mother's side. His family, originally from South Philadelphia, later moved to Havertown, Pennsylvania, where he grew up.

Career Acting Verica's first television role was on the ABC daytime soap opera All My Children in 1987. He later had a recurring role in L.A. Law, and guest-starred on Home Improvement, Picket Fences,Seinfeld and NYPD Blue. In film, he appeared in Die Hard 2, Fathers' Day, Red Dragon, and Zodiac. He played astronaut Dick Gordon in the HBO miniseries From The Earth To The Moon (1998), and appeared in The Naked Truth.

Verica was a regular cast member of the CBS primetime soap opera Central Park West from 1995 to 1996, and appeared in Providence in 1999. From 2002 to 2005, he starred opposite Gail O'Grady in the NBC family drama, American Dreams. After the series was canceled, Verica guest-starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, House, Boston Legal, Grey's Anatomy, and The Closer, and had recurring roles in The 4400 and The Nine.

In 2009, he played Joe Carter in Princess Protection Program. In 2014, he was cast opposite Viola Davis in the Shondaland series, How to Get Away with Murder.

Directing and producing

In 2003 Verica began his career as a director. He's directed episodes for over 20 television shows, such as American Dreams, Boston Legal, Dirty Sexy Money, Ugly Betty, Army Wives, The Mentalist, and Body of Proof.

Since 2007 he's directed more than 60 episodes for most of Shonda Rhimes' Shondaland dramas. These include Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Scandal (also producer) , Still Star-Crossed, For the People (also producer), Station 19, Bridgerton (also producer), Inventing Anna (also producer) and Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (also producer).

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1990 Die Hard 2 Kahn 1993 Eight Hundred Leagues Down the Amazon Manoel 1997 Fathers' Day Peter Loose Women Detective Laurent 1999 Love American Style Ron Segment: "Love and the Heimlich Maneuver" Making Contact 2002 Murder by Numbers Asst. D.A. Al Swanson Red Dragon Charles Leeds 2006 Flags of Our Fathers Lieutenant Pennell 2007 Zodiac Jim Dunbar

Television films Year Title Role Notes 1993 Donato and Daughter Bobby Keegan 1994 The Babymaker: The Dr. Cecil Jacobson Story Greg Bennett Breach of Conduct Lt. Ted Lutz 1995 Not Our Son Randy Litchfield 1996 The Assassination File Jack Byrne 1998 Lost in the Bermuda Triangle Brian Foster 2009 Princess Protection Program Joe Mason

Television series Year Title Role Notes 1987 All My Children Duncan Unknown episodes 1989 Quantum Leap Impala Episode: "Camikazi Kid - June 6, 1961" 1991 L.A. Law Billy Castroverti 9 episodes 1992 Home Improvement Charlie Episode: "Luck Be a Taylor Tonight" Picket Fences Brian Ronick Episode: "The Snake Lady" 1993 South Beach Brooke Wyatt Episode: "Stake Out" Moon Over Miami Jake Episode: "Black River Bride" Seinfeld Doctor Episode: "The Conversion" 1995 NYPD Blue Dr. Paul Druzinski Episode: "Travels with Andy" Matlock Craig Browning Episode: "The Scam" 1995–1996 Central Park West Mark Merrill 18 episodes 1996 The Big Easy Tyrell Episode: "Hotshots" 1997 Gun The Quick Talking Agent Episode: "The Shot" Almost Perfect Steven Ecstacy Episode: "This Is What Happens When You Don't Watch PBS" 1997–1998 The Naked Truth Jake Sullivan 22 episodes 1998 From the Earth to the Moon Dick Gordon 3 episodes 1999 Providence Kyle Moran 13 episodes 1999–2002 Will & Grace Danny 2 episodes 2001 Frasier Jim Episode: "A Day in May" Citizen Baines Andy Carlson 4 episodes 2001–2004 State of Grace Tommy Austin 6 episodes 2002 Crossing Jordan Mitch Weyland Episode: "Blood Relatives" Baby Bob Jake Episode: "The Tell-Tale Art" Touched by an Angel Brian Episode: "The Bells of St. Peters" 2002–2005 American Dreams Jack Pryor 61 episodes 2005 The Bad Girl's Guide Keith Episode: "The Guide to in and Out" The 4400 Dr. Max Hudson 3 episodes 2006 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Jake Hunter Episode: "Blast" House Martin Episode: "Skin Deep" Boston Legal A.U.S.A. Carl Newell Episode: "Trick or Treat" 2006–2007 The Nine Ed Nielson 10 episodes 2008 Grey's Anatomy Michael Norris Episode: "Rise Up" 2009 Lie to Me Paul Aronson Episode: "Love Always" Medium Detective Aaron Carver Episode: "The Future's So Bright" 2010 The Closer Det. Steve Hayward Episode: "Jump the Gun" 2014–2020 How to Get Away with Murder Sam Keating 23 episodes Recurring (season 1–2, 6), guest (season 3–5) 2017Dropping the SoapMitch GatlinEpisode: "Spontaneous Coma"

Director Year Title Notes 2004 American Dreams 2 episodes 2007 What About Brian Episode: "What About Strange Bedfellows...?" Six Degrees Episode: "Objects in the Mirror" 2007–2008 Boston Legal 2 episodes 2007–2011 Grey's Anatomy 9 episodes 2008 Men in Trees Episode: "Read Between the Minds" The Cleaner Episode: "Rebecca" My Own Worst Enemy Episode : #1.10 2008–2012 Private Practice 7 episodes 2009 Ugly Betty 2 episodes The Beast Episode: "Mercy" Dirty Sexy Money Episode: "The Facts" Army Wives Episode: "As Time Goes By" Eastwick Episode: "Red Ants and Black Widows" 2010 The Deep End Episode: "White Lies, Black Ties" No Ordinary Family Episode: "No Ordinary Family" 2011–2012 The Mentalist 3 episodes 2011–2012 Harry's Law 2 episodes 2012 Body of Proof Episode: "Going Viral, Part 2" 2012–2018 Scandal 16 episodes; also executive producer 2017 Still Star-Crossed Episode: "Hell is Empty and All the Devils Are Here" 2018–2019 For the People 6 episodes; also executive producer 2020 Station 19 Episode: "No Days Off" The Umbrella Academy 2 episodes 2020–2026 Bridgerton 8 episodes; also executive producer 2021 Inventing Anna 2 episodes 2023 Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story 6 episodes; also executive producer