Samm Levine
A quick-witted character actor beloved by a generation for his sarcastic teen role on 'Freaks and Geeks,' who later proved his chops in Tarantino's war epic.
Born 1982 (age 44)·American actor·Birthday: March 12·Millennials
Biography
Samm Levine entered the cultural consciousness as Neal Schweiber, the diminutive, movie-trivia-spouting geek with a heart of gold on the short-lived but seminal series 'Freaks and Geeks.' With his impeccable comic timing and everykid relatability, he helped define a realistic portrait of 1980s adolescence. Rather than fade after the show's cancellation, Levine parlayed that cult fame into a durable career built on sharp, memorable supporting turns. He demonstrated surprising range as the ill-fated Private Hirschberg in Quentin Tarantino's 'Inglourious Basterds,' holding his own in a tense, dialogue-heavy scene with Brad Pitt. Off-screen, he channeled his encyclopedic film knowledge into becoming a formidable champion on the movie trivia circuit. Levine's journey is that of a niche talent who understood his strengths, evolving from a beloved teen actor into a respected utility player in Hollywood.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Samm was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Samm Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Samm's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- He played the iconic role of Neal Schweiber on the critically adored cult television series 'Freaks and Geeks'.
- He appeared in Quentin Tarantino's 'Inglourious Basterds' in a key supporting role as PFC Hirschberg.
- He was a champion team captain on the film trivia competition show 'The Schmoedown,' known for his deep movie knowledge.
- He served as the regular sidekick and fill-in host on the long-running 'Kevin Pollak's Chat Show' podcast.
Did You Know?
He is an accomplished and highly ranked competitive movie trivia player.
He provided voice work for several video games, including 'Call of Duty: WWII'.
He hosted the podcast 'Samm Levine's Vinyl Vault' where he discussed classic albums.
He made his film debut in the 1998 comedy 'The Wrong Guy'.
“I was the kid who could tell you who played the cop in scene three.”
