Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Sam Miller

Sam Miller (born 28 September 1962) is a television director known for his work on acclaimed series such as and . He began his career directing episodes of dramas including (1994–1996) and the cult series This Life (1996–1997). Miller gained international recognition for directing multiple episodes of the crime drama (2010–2019), earning a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Directing for a , Movie, or Dramatic Special in 2012. His direction of the / series (2020) won him a BAFTA Television Award for Best Directing – Fiction/Entertainment in 2021 and two additional Emmy nominations in the same category. He has also directed episodes of Guerrilla (2017), (2018), and American Crime (2016).

Biography

Early life

Sam Miller was born on 28 September 1962 in , , . , a small in rural East , provided the setting for his early years, though specific details about his upbringing and family background remain limited in public records. Little is documented regarding potential family influences on his interest in the or his formal education prior to entering the industry.

Personal life

Sam Miller was previously in a long-term relationship with actress Janine Wood, with whom he has a son, William Miller, born on June 8, 1996, in . William has pursued a dual career as an and footballer, notably portraying the in the 2007 BBC adaptation of . Miller also has another child, Gilly Miller, a and media composer. In 2019, Miller married actress , and the couple has two sons together. The family resides in , where Miller collaborates with the London-based production company Mustard Film. William's entry into acting reflects a continuation of the family's involvement in the entertainment industry, given both his parents' backgrounds in television and .

Career

Baseball Prospectus

Miller joined Baseball Prospectus in 2012 as a , where he contributed columns blending statistical analysis with cultural commentary on . He became in 2016, overseeing the publication's annual guidebook and editorial direction until September of that year. In November 2023, Miller returned to Baseball Prospectus as managing editor. As of 2025, he continues to contribute to the annual edition and other publications.

ESPN

In September 2016, Miller joined as a national columnist and feature writer for and . His work explored player performance, team strategies, and the societal impact of , emphasizing data-driven insights. He remained in this role until December 2020, when he was laid off amid ESPN's restructuring, subject to a that limited his media activities until early 2023.

Book and podcast

In 2015, Miller and fellow writer Ben Lindbergh served as co-general managers for the independent Sonoma Stompers, applying sabermetric principles such as defensive shifts and experimental rules. Their experience was chronicled in the 2016 The Only Rule Is It Has to Work: Our Wild Experiment Building a New Kind of Team. From 2012 to 2016, Miller co-hosted the daily podcast Effectively Wild with Lindbergh, discussing trends, interviewing experts, and blending analysis with humor; he appeared in episode 1000 before leaving for . Due to his non-compete, he made limited guest appearances until 2023. In March 2025, Miller joined The Athletic's The Windup podcast as a permanent host for the Roundtable segment.

Independent writing

Since March 2023, Miller has published the newsletter Pebble Hunting on , covering niche topics, fan behavior, historical oddities, and the of . As of November 2025, he is serializing a book-length project, The Meaning of in 18ish Fun Facts.

Filmography

Sam Miller, the writer, has no known credits in or television directing, , or producing.

Awards and nominations

British Academy Television Awards

Sam Miller shared the 2021 BAFTA TV Craft Award for Best Director: Fiction with for their work on the / series . The ceremony took place on May 24, 2021, recognizing the behind-the-scenes craftsmanship that elevated the series' intimate portrayal of trauma and consent. Miller directed the first three episodes, including the pilot "Eyes Eyes Eyes Eyes," which introduced protagonist Arabella's disorienting return from and set the nonlinear tone for exploring sexual assault's aftermath. He co-directed episodes four through twelve with Coel, blending their visions to maintain the series' raw, introspective style. This accolade affirmed Miller's skill in innovative storytelling, particularly his use of close-up cinematography and fluid pacing to convey psychological complexity without sensationalism, contributing to the series' broader critical impact on conversations about and . The win, alongside the series' multiple other BAFTA honors, solidified Miller's reputation for directing fiction that prioritizes emotional authenticity and narrative subtlety. No further BAFTA nominations or wins in directing categories have been recorded for as of 2025.

Primetime Emmy Awards

Sam Miller earned his first Primetime Emmy nomination in 2012 for Outstanding Directing for a , Movie or a Dramatic Special for his work on the thriller series , where he directed episodes that showcased his ability to build tension in psychological dramas. In 2021, Miller received two nominations in the Outstanding Directing for a Limited or or Movie category for the / series I May Destroy You. The first was for the episode "Ego Death," co-directed with , which explored themes of trauma and self-reflection through innovative narrative techniques. The second nomination was for the episode "Eyes Eyes Eyes Eyes," highlighting his precise handling of intimate, character-driven scenes in contemporary drama. These three nominations underscore Miller's international recognition for directing in the thriller and drama genres, affirming his skill in crafting compelling visual storytelling that resonates across global audiences. His work on I May Destroy You also complemented a BAFTA Television Award win for the series.

References

  1. [1]
    Sam Miller, Author at Baseball Prospectus
    Ben and Sam banter about good deeds by two podcast listeners, then discuss several topics inspired by a selection of baseball writers' self-selected favorite ...
  2. [2]
    Sam Miller Joins ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine as National ...
    Sep 1, 2016 · Veteran baseball journalist Sam Miller (@SamMillerBP) has joined ESPN.com and ESPN The Magazine as a national baseball columnist and feature writer.Missing: biography | Show results with:biography
  3. [3]
    The Best of Sam Miller: Baseball's Greatest Hoax
    Sep 22, 2016 · With our dear Editor-in-Chief leaving Baseball Prospectus for his next chapter, we wanted to highlight some of our favorite chapters of his ...
  4. [4]
    How Christian Yelich turned himself into an MVP - ESPN
    It took six years for Yelich to become an All-Star. It only took another 12 months for him to become the best hitter in the world.
  5. [5]
    The Best of Sam Miller: The Spectator Attention Test
    Sep 21, 2016 · With our dear Editor-in-Chief leaving Baseball Prospectus for his next chapter, we wanted to highlight some of our favorite chapters of his ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  6. [6]
    The Only Rule Is It Has to Work - Macmillan Publishers
    “The Only Rule Is It Has to Work is a terrific read, as Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller – two of baseball's leading sabermetric writers – put their beliefs on the ...
  7. [7]
    Effectively Wild Episode 1978: Sam's Back, on Substack
    Mar 8, 2023 · Ben Lindbergh and Meg Rowley welcome back former co-host Sam Miller to banter about his return to public baseball writing, his current relationship with ...
  8. [8]
    The Annual: We Think About Commas, So You Don't Have To
    3 ene 2025 · Order the 2025 Baseball Prospectus Annual Here. Thank you for reading. This is a free article. If you enjoyed it, consider subscribing to ...
  9. [9]
    Pebble Hunting | Sam Miller | Substack
    I'm writing about baseball & the good life. Contact at pebblehunting@gmail.com. Click to read Pebble Hunting, by Sam Miller, a Substack publication with ...
  10. [10]
    Sam Miller - IMDb
    Sam Miller is an BAFTA Award winner for Directing on I May Destroy You. He's also an Emmy nominated film and television director.
  11. [11]
  12. [12]
    Sam Miller - Age, Family, Bio | Famous Birthdays
    September 28, 1962. Birth Sign Libra. Birthplace England. Age 63 years old ... He was born in Saxmundham, Suffolk, England, UK. He had a son named William ...Missing: early | Show results with:early
  13. [13]
    Sam Miller - Biography - IMDb
    Born. September 28 · Saxmundham, Suffolk, England, UK. Biography. Sam Miller is an BAFTA Award winner for Directing on I May Destroy You. He's also an Emmy ...
  14. [14]
    Burton's Will Miller: 'I definitely don't want to be known as Oliver Twist'
    Sep 19, 2017 · Miller's mother, Janine Wood, is an actress who has starred in The Bill and The Inbetweeners. When Miller returned home to Hackney, a friend ...
  15. [15]
    Gilly Miller: HOME
    top of page. HOME · WORK · SHORTS · REEL · ABOUT · CONTACT · Spotify; Instagram; Bandcamp; Apple Music. GILLY MILLER. FILM. &. MEDIA COMPOSER.
  16. [16]
    Sam Miller Movies and Shows - ‎Apple TV
    Sam Miller is a British television director and former actor from Saxmundham, England. As an actor, he is known for his role as Sgt. John Maitland in the ITV ...Missing: notable | Show results with:notable
  17. [17]
    William Miller (Movie Actor) - Age, Family, Bio | Famous Birthdays
    Family Life. His parents are actress Janine Wood and director Sam Miller. Associated With. He played the younger version of Rupert Friend's character in the ...
  18. [18]
    Sam Miller: Sgt. Maitland - The Bill - IMDb
    The Bill (TV Series 1984–2010) - Sam Miller as Sgt. Maitland, Sgt. John Maitland.
  19. [19]
    Fergie & Andrew: Behind the Palace Doors (TV Movie 1992) - IMDb
    Rating 5.4/10 (38) Fergie & Andrew: Behind the Palace Doors: Directed by Michael Switzer. With Pippa Hinchley, Sam Miller, Patrick Allen, Ben Aris. Biopic purporting to tell ...
  20. [20]
    Nil by Mouth (1997) - IMDb
    Rating 7.3/10 (10,814) Nil by Mouth: Directed by Gary Oldman. With Ray Winstone, Kathy Burke, Charlie Creed-Miles, Laila Morse. A rough, short-tempered patriarch of a ...Missing: Boon | Show results with:Boon<|control11|><|separator|>
  21. [21]
    Sam Miller - TV Guide
    Actor ; Krakatoa: The Last Days as Narrator. Krakatoa: The Last Days ; Nil by Mouth as Club Comic. Nil by Mouth ; The Bill as Sgt. John Maitland, Sgt. Maitland.
  22. [22]
    'Did we work through hangovers? Most definitely!' The stars of This ...
    Feb 4, 2020 · I'd done Jed Mercurio's first show, Cardiac Arrest. This Life was a chance to develop that kinetic shooting style. We broke a lot of TV rules. I ...
  23. [23]
    "MI-5" Smoke and Mirrors (TV Episode 2003) - IMDb
    Rating 8.5/10 (404) Smoke and Mirrors: Directed by Sam Miller. With Tomas Arana, Elizabeth Chambers, Samantha Coughlan, Megan Dodds. Tom ignores Harry's demands to end his ...
  24. [24]
    "Black Mirror" Loch Henry (TV Episode 2023) - IMDb
    Rating 7.3/10 (39,132) A young couple travel to a sleepy Scottish town to start work on a genteel nature documentary - but find themselves drawn to a juicy local story.Missing: Spooks Luke Cage Guerilla American
  25. [25]
    Luther, Series 3, BBC One | The Arts Desk
    Jul 3, 2013 · Ghastly as some of this stuff was, Luther is saved from terminal morbidity by the panache with which director Sam Miller handles the material.
  26. [26]
    Interview with Sam Miller - Media Centre - BBC
    May 28, 2020 · Learning how to achieve Michaela's vision for I May Destroy You whilst remaining a strong creative force for her. The role of the director is to ...Missing: acting | Show results with:acting
  27. [27]
    Michaela Coel's Chaos and Charisma in HBO's “I May Destroy You”
    Jun 29, 2020 · Coel and Sam Miller direct the series with an unaffected intimacy—we hardly notice how many shots of Arabella feature her sitting on the ...Missing: collaboration | Show results with:collaboration
  28. [28]
    I May Destroy You: Costume designer Lynsey Moore & Director Sam ...
    May 28, 2021 · Director Sam Miller and costume designer Lynsey Moore discuss working with Michaela Coel to create the world of Arabella.
  29. [29]
    Interview with Sam Miller
    ### Summary of Sam Miller's Role in Rellik
  30. [30]
    BBC, Cinemax's 'Rellik' to Star Richard Dormer - Variety
    Mar 17, 2017 · Sam Miller (“Guerrilla,” “Luther”) is the lead director and executive producer, with Hans Herbots also directing. The producer is Chris ...
  31. [31]
  32. [32]
    Sam Miller - Director, Actor - TV Insider
    Mar 27, 2024 · Sam Miller is an English actor, director, writer, and producer who has appeared in his role in Nil By Mouth as Club Comic.Missing: notable | Show results with:notable
  33. [33]
    Sam Miller to Direct 'A Gentleman in Moscow' for Paramount+ ...
    Nov 7, 2022 · BAFTA Award-winning director Sam Miller (Surface, I May Destroy You, Luther) is set to direct and executive produce the upcoming UK drama series A Gentleman in ...Missing: analysis | Show results with:analysis
  34. [34]
    Krakatoa: Volcano of Destruction (TV Movie 2006) - IMDb
    Rating 7.2/10 (875) Sam Miller. Writers. Colin Heber-Percy · Michael Olmert · Lyall B. Watson · Stars ... Krakatoa: The Last Days has done. Forget all that glossy, expensive ...
  35. [35]
    Among Giants (1998) - IMDb
    Rating 5.8/10 (1,013) Among Giants: Directed by Sam Miller. With Pete Postlethwaite, Rachel Griffiths, James Thornton, Lennie James. A woman drifter finds her soul-mate while ...
  36. [36]
    Among Giants - Variety
    Jun 15, 1998 · Directed by Sam Miller. Screenplay, Simon Beaufoy. Crew: Camera (Rank color), Witold Stok; editors, Ellen Pierce Lewis, Paul Green; music, Tim ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  37. [37]
    Elephant Juice (1999) - IMDb
    Rating 4.8/10 (435) Elephant Juice: Directed by Sam Miller. With Emmanuelle Béart, Sean Gallagher, Daniel Lapaine, Daniela Nardini. Four young couples attempt to navigate the ...Missing: 1998 | Show results with:1998
  38. [38]
    Elephant Juice | Rotten Tomatoes
    Rating 14% (2) Synopsis An engaged couple (Emmanuelle Béart, Daniel Lapaine) and their acquaintances seek love and meaning through sex and relationships. Director: Sam Miller.Missing: 1998 | Show results with:1998
  39. [39]
    No Good Deed (2014) - IMDb
    Rating 5.6/10 (23,328) No Good Deed: Directed by Sam Miller. With Idris Elba, Taraji P. Henson, Leslie Bibb, Kate del Castillo. An unstable escaped convict terrorizes a woman who ...User reviews · Full cast & crew · Plot · Parents guide
  40. [40]
  41. [41]
    Sam Miller: Movies, TV, and Bio - Amazon.com
    Sam Miller is an BAFTA Award winner for Directing on I May Destroy You. He's also an Emmy nominated film and television director.
  42. [42]
    "I May Destroy You" Eyes Eyes Eyes Eyes (TV Episode 2020) - IMDb
    Rating 7.2/10 (1,016) Eyes Eyes Eyes Eyes: Directed by Sam Miller. With Michaela Coel, Marouane ... Ego Death Bar Crawler; (uncredited). Director. Sam Miller · Writers · Michaela ...
  43. [43]
    Winners announced: British Academy Television Craft Awards - Bafta
    May 24, 2021 · ... Sam Miller win in Director: Fiction, with Michaela Coel also collecting the award for Writer: Drama and the Editing Team winning Editing: ...Missing: nominations | Show results with:nominations
  44. [44]
    'I May Destroy You, 'Small Axe' Triumph at BAFTA TV Craft Awards
    May 24, 2021 · BBC/HBO's “I May Destroy You” won the key awards of director, fiction, editing, fiction and writer, drama. BBC/Amazon's “Small Axe” had the most ...
  45. [45]
    I May Destroy You (TV Series 2020) - Full cast & crew - IMDb
    Directors · Sam Miller · Sam Miller. 12 episodes • 2020 · Michaela Coel · Michaela Coel. 9 episodes • 2020 ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  46. [46]
    BAFTA TV Craft Awards: 'Small Axe,' 'I May Destroy You' Clean Up
    May 24, 2021 · Small Axe and I May Destroy You were the big winners at the 2021 BAFTA TV Craft awards, celebrating the best creativity behind the camera.
  47. [47]
    Awards - Sam Miller - IMDb
    Broadcast Awards, UK (1), Bafta TV Craft (1), Black Reel Awards for Television (1). 1 win & 9 nominations. Primetime Emmy Awards. Michaela Coel in I May Destroy ...
  48. [48]
    Emmy Winners and Nominees 2012: The Complete List
    Sep 23, 2012 · Sam Miller, Luther Paul McGuigan, Sherlock: A Scandal in Belgravia. Lead Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie Woody Harrelson, Game Change Kevin ...<|control11|><|separator|>
  49. [49]
    2021 Emmy Awards: Complete list of winners and nominees
    Sep 20, 2021 · ... Sam Miller and Michaela Coel; "I May Destroy You" (Episode: "Eyes Eyes Eyes Eyes"), Directed by Sam Miller; "Mare of Easttown," Directed by ...
  50. [50]
    All The Emmys Winners, From Jason Sudeikis To 'I May Destroy You'
    Sep 19, 2021 · I May Destroy You, "Ego Death," Directed by Sam Miller & Michaela Coel. I May Destroy You, "Eyes Eyes Eyes Eyes," Directed by Sam Miller. Mare ...
  51. [51]
    Sam Miller | Television Academy
    3 Nominations ; Outstanding Directing For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie - 2021 ·, Directed by. I May Destroy You. Ego Death ; Outstanding Directing For A ...