Richard Sommer (born February 2, 1978) is an American actor, known for his portrayal of Harry Crane on the AMC drama series Mad Men (2007–2015) for which he earned two Screen Actors Guild Awards along with the ensemble cast. He is also known for his roles in the comedy-drama films The Devil Wears Prada (2006), Celeste and Jesse Forever (2012), The Giant Mechanical Man (2012), Hello, My Name Is Doris (2015), and BlackBerry (2023) as well as voicing Henry in the 2016 video game Firewatch. He guest starred in a number of Elementary episodes. More recently, he portrayed Detective Dean Riley in The CW crime drama television series In the Dark (2019).
Early life and education Sommer was born in Toledo, Ohio, and raised in Stillwater, Minnesota, where he was educated at Oak-Land Junior High School and Stillwater Area High School. He then went on to attend Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, where he majored in theater and sang in The Concordia Choir. Sommer studied improvisation at the Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis, and started an improv group, the Slush Puppies, in Moorhead. In 2004, he received his Master of Fine Arts in acting from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. Sommer returned to the school in 2006 to teach icebreakers to law students, and again in 2008 to do an improv workshop with undergraduate theatre students.
Career Sommer's most notable film role to date is as Anne Hathaway's friend Doug in the 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada. He has appeared in commercials for companies such as Bud Light, Dairy Queen, Nextel, and Sprint.
From 2007 until its ending in 2015, Sommer maintained a regular role on AMC's period drama series Mad Men as Harry Crane, a media buyer who becomes head of the television department in a 1960s Madison Avenue ad agency. In 2008, Sommer appeared as a guest star in two episodes of NBC's mockumentary sitcom series The Office, portraying the role of Alex. In 2010, he played Jimmy Wilson in a guest appearance on Ugly Betty.
In 2011, Sommer guest starred in two episodes of The CW's drama-thriller series Nikita as electrical engineer and CIA consultant Malcolm Mitchell. The following year, he co-starred with Bob Odenkirk and Jenna Fischer in the romantic comedy film The Giant Mechanical Man. In May 2012, he began performances of the Roundabout Theatre Company's production of Harvey on Broadway, co-starring alongside Jim Parsons. Also that same year, he guest starred in NBC's police procedural series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Boyd Hartwell.
On March 1, 2014, it was reported that Sommer had been cast in the CBS pilot Good Session; however, the network later declined to pick up the project to series. In November 2014, Sommer reprised his role as Harlan Emple in an episode of CBS's procedural drama series Elementary, after guest starring as the character in an episode the previous year. From February 2 to March 13, 2016, Sommer starred in the Off-Broadway revival of Sam Shepard's play Buried Child, with Ed Harris and Amy Madigan. That same year, he also co-starred in Rob Reiner's biopic LBJ as Press Secretary Pierre Salinger, alongside Woody Harrelson in the title role.
In 2018, Sommer appeared in the horror mystery film Summer of 84, opposite Graham Verchere, Judah Lewis and Tiera Skovbye.
Sommer is a fan favorite on the podcast Never Not Funny, hosted by comedian and podcasting pioneer Jimmy Pardo. In 2020, he became a recurring guest on the streaming version of The George Lucas Talk Show, appearing as himself and as his own fictional roommate, Steven Charleston.
Personal life Sommer lives in Los Angeles with his wife, Virginia Donohoe, whom he married on August 13, 2005. They have two children.
Sommer is a fan of tabletop games and hosted a podcast about them called CARDBOARD!
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2006 The Devil Wears Prada Doug 2010 Radio Free Albemuth FBI Agent #22012 Celeste and Jesse Forever Max The Giant Mechanical Man Brian Fairhaven Sam2015 Hello, My Name Is Doris Robert My Name Is David His GRE Student 2016 LBJ Pierre Salinger2017 Girlfriend's Day Buddy A Crooked Somebody Michael Vaughn2018 Summer of 84 Wayne Mackey A Futile and Stupid Gesture Harry Crane 2019 Code Geass: Lelouch of the Re;surrection Shesthaal (voice) English dub 2021 King Richard Patrick Dougherty2023 Fair Play Paul BlackBerry Paul Stannos2026Tony Pierre Bourdain Misty Green Brad
Television Year Title Role Notes 2007 Law & Order Mike Scholl 1 episode 2007–2015 Mad Men Harry Crane Main role, 92 episodes2008 Without a Trace Will Herring 1 episode The Office Alex Episodes: "Weight Loss", "Customer Survey"2009 Law & Order Zach Marshall 1 episode The Storm Dr. Jack Hoffman 2 episodes2010 Ugly Betty Jimmy Wilson Episode: "Fire and Nice" Burn Notice Winston 1 episode2011 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Scott Horan Episode: "Man Up" Curb Your Enthusiasm Veterinarian Episode: "Vow of Silence" Nikita Malcolm Mitchell 2 episodes 2012 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Boyd Hartwell 1 episode 2013–2018 Elementary Harlan Emple 3 episodes 2014 The League Freddie Mandino 1 episode2015 The Simpsons Young Man (voice) Episode: "My Fare Lady" Comedy Bang! Bang! Agent Bill Ritz 1 episode Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp Graham Miniseries, 6 episodes Playing House Brian 1 episode 2015–2017 Regular Show Various voices 7 episodes2016 Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Apple Engineer 1 episode Grey's Anatomy Noah 1 episode Filthy Preppy Teens Melville 1 episode Adventure Time Grand Prix (voice) 1 episode TripTank Man / Gary (voice) 1 episode Masters of Sex Dale Connelly 2 episodes 2016–2017 Love Dustin Recurring role, 5 episodes 2016–2020 Elena of Avalor Captain Daniel Turner (voice) Recurring role, 9 episodes 2017 Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later Graham Miniseries, 6 episodes 2017–2019 GLOW Mark Eagan Recurring role, 12 episodes2018 Adam Ruins Everything (voice) 3 episodes Champaign ILL Zack Chevalier 1 episode 2019 FBI Dr. Ed Praeger 1 episode 2019–2020 In the Dark Detective Dean Riley Main role, 26 episodes2020 Run Laurence Richardson Recurring role, 5 episodes F Is for Family Various voices 1 episode 2020–2022 Close Enough Keith Nash (voice) 3 episodes 2020–2023 The George Lucas Talk Show Himself / Steven Charleston 4 episodes 2022 The Dropout Kevin Hunter Miniseries, 1 episode 2022–2023 Minx Lenny 3 episodes2022–2024 Alice's Wonderland Bakery Captain Dodo / various (voice) Recurring role, 14 episodes Firebuds Mr. Wexell (voice) Recurring role, 5 episodes 2023 White House Plumbers Egil Krogh Miniseries, 1 episode 2024 Clipped Seth Burton Miniseries, 4 episodes 2024 Mr. Throwback Dr. Rich Recurring role, 5 episodes 2025 Big City Greens Bank Boss (voice) 1 episode 2026 R.J. Decker Bryce 1 episode 2026 9-1-1 LAFD Captain Thorne 1 episode
Theatre Year Title Role Notes 2012 Harvey Duane Wilson Studio 54 2013 The Unavoidable Disappearance of Tom Durnin Chris Wyatt Laura Pels Theatre 2016 Buried Child Bradley Jewel Box Theatre
Video games YearTitleRole 2011 L.A. Noire John Cunningham 2016 Firewatch Henry (voice) 2020 Half-Life: Alyx Larry / Drone / Combine Soldier (voice)2020Dota 2Aghanim (voice)
Awards and nominations Year Association Category Work Result2007 Satellite Awards Best Cast – Television SeriesMad Men Screen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series 2008 2009 2010 2012 2015 2016 The Game Awards Best PerformanceFirewatch 2017 New York Game Awards Great White Way Award for Best Acting in a Game
References
External links