Samantha Sloyan (born 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, The Life of Chuck, 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.

Early life and career Born in Los Angeles County on January 4, 1979,"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.'" Sloyan is one of two children, one girl and one boy, born to actors James Sloyan and Deirdre Lenihan.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. . "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."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."

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. 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 on 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, first appearing 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.

In 2021, Sloyan portrayed Catholic Beverly Keane in the miniseries Midnight Mass, directed by Mike Flanagan. In 2026, she will portray Margaret White in Flanagan's horror miniseries, Carrie.

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.

Personal life Sloyan is the niece of Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Patrick Sloyan.

Filmography

Films Year Title Role Notes2003 My Life with Morrissey Florist Independent feature film2005 No Shoulder Bobbie Short film 3 Wise Women Waitress #22006 Shamelove Julie 2009 Plus One Lindsay Short film; also producer Autodoc Emmy Hennings 2011 In the Key of Eli Megs 2012 Area 407 Lois Originally titled Tape 407: The Mesa Reserve2013 Do You Have a Cat? Marissa Short film2016 Losing In Love Dr. Barton Fantastic Michelle Hush Sarah Greene Cat Killer The Mother Short film2017 I'm Not Here Jaime Short film 2019 Pappy Hour Jean Mulligan Short film Miss Virginia Mrs. Watson2023 Good Daughter Rebecca Short film Love You, Mama Lee Short film Invaders From Proxima B Jane Jankins Online released in May 20242024 The Place Between Beatrice The Life of Chuck Miss Rohrbacher2025 It's Expensive To Be Poor Narrator Short film2027 The Exorcist: Martyrs Post-productionTBA Grace Bonnie Short filmTBA Silver Anniversary Short film

Television Year Title Role Notes2009 The Beast Grace Morton Episode: "No Turning Back" The Forgotten Nurse Episode: "Railroad Jane"2010 Law & Order: LA Rachel Forester Episode: "Echo Park"2011 The Cape Television reporter Episode: "Endgame" NCIS Emily Goodwin Episode: "Engaged (Part I)"2012–2014 Scandal Jeannine Locke Recurring role; 8 episodes (seasons 1–3)2013 The Fosters ER Doctor Episode: "Vigil"2014 Castle Pam Clark Episode: "Room 147" Parks and Recreation Erica Episode: "New Slogan" Hawaii Five-0 Sarah Richmond Episode: "Ho'i Hou" Futurestates Lisa Episode: "Ant" Rizzoli & Isles Alex Ruebens Episode: "If You Can't Stand the Heat"2015–2016 Grey's Anatomy Dr. Penelope Blake Recurring role; 20 episodes (seasons 11–12)2015 Murder in Mexico Gretchen Thorne Television film Criminal Minds Tracy Senarak Episode: "The Witness"2017 Maggie Dr. White Episodes: "Past Life Depression" & "Denying Everything About Death" The Good Doctor Mrs. Gallico Episode: "Point Three Percent"2018 Here and Now Officer Episode: "It's Coming" The Haunting of Hill House Leigh Crain Recurring role; 8 episodes 2018–2019 SEAL Team Victoria Seaver Recurring role; 4 episodes (season 2)2019 Proven Innocent Gabrielle Parcell Episode: "Shaken" Animal Kingdom Jennifer Episode: "Know Thy Enemy" The Rookie Alice Sheldon Episode: "Warriors and Guardians" Truth Be Told Sharon Dostikas Episode: "Not Buried, Planted" Everyone Together Caroline Unsold television pilot2020 Helstrom Jolene Spivey Episodes: "Leviathan" & "Scars"2021 Midnight Mass Bev Keane Main role; 7 episodes 2022 The Midnight Club Shasta Main role; 7 episodes 2023 Minx Joan Didion Episode: "I Thought the Bed Was Gonna Fly" The Morning Show Cheryl Episode: "The Stanford Student" The Fall of the House of Usher Tamerlane Usher Main role; 8 episodes Creepshow Lorna Snell Episode: "Twenty Minutes with Cassandra"2025 The Pitt Lily Bradley Recurring role; 7 episodes (season 1) 2026 Carrie Margaret White Upcoming miniseries

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