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W. Andrew Robinson
Tramell Tillman | |
|---|---|
 Tillman in January 2023 | |
| Born | June 1985 (age 39)[1] Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Education | |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2015–present |
| Website | www |
Tramell Tillman (/trəˈmɛl/ trə-MEL; born June 1985)[1][2] is an American actor. He is known for his role as Seth Milchick in the Apple TV+ series Severance (2022–present).
Early life and education
Tillman was born in Washington, D.C.[1] His mother worked for the U.S. government, his father worked for Amtrak, and he grew up with five older siblings in Largo, Maryland.[1][3][4] He was raised Baptist.[1]
In 2003, he graduated from Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, Maryland,[5] then enrolled at Xavier University of Louisiana in New Orleans as a pre-med student with plans to become an orthopedic surgeon; however, he did not enjoy it.[4] In 2005, after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, his parents became concerned for his safety and convinced him to transfer to Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi.[6] He changed his major at Jackson State,[4] graduating summa cum laude in 2008 with a B.S. in mass communication.[4][7] In 2014, he earned an MFA in acting from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was the first African-American person to graduate from this program.[4]
Career
Tillman has said that he has always admired acting as an art form, and has credited his mother—who inadvertently gave him his first acting role at the age of 10, when she volunteered to appear in their church's Christmas play and needed someone to play her character's son—with inspiring him to go into acting to overcome his shyness.[8]
Tillman worked in the nonprofit sector for over a decade before pursuing acting professionally, and drew on his own experiences in corporate America for his breakout role as Seth Milchick in the Apple TV+ series Severance (2022–present).[9] He referred to Milchick as "an amalgamation of colleagues, of former bosses, [and] of caricatures of people" who he worked with during that time.[10]
Personal life
Tillman has lived in New York City since 2014.[1] He is gay.[1][11]
Acting credits
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Barron's Cove | Felix | |
| 2024 | Sweethearts | Coach Reese | |
| 2025 | Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning | TBA | Post-production |
| TBA | Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother | TBA | Filming |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Difficult People | Good Samaritan | 1 episode |
| 2018 | Dietland | Steven | 10 episodes |
| 2019 | Elementary | Detective Ocasio | 1 episode |
| 2019 | Godfather of Harlem | Bobby Robinson | 6 episodes |
| 2020 | Hunters | Detective Sommers | 2 episodes |
| 2022–present | Severance | Seth Milchick | 19 episodes |
| 2024 | Hit-Monkey | Double-Tap (voice) | 7 episodes |
Theater
| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Carmen Jones | Sergeant Brown | Classic Stage Company | Off-Broadway |
| 2019 | The Great Society | Bob Moses / Various Characters | Lincoln Center Theatre | Broadway |
| 2022 | Good Night, Oscar | Alvin Finney | Goodman Theatre | Chicago |
| 2024 | Shit. Meet. Fan. | Logan | MCC Theater | Off-Broadway |
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Independent Spirit Awards | Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series | Severance | Nominated | [12] |
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Nominated | [13] | ||
| 2025 | Pan African Film and Arts Festival Awards | Rising Star Award | Won | [14] |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Vujić, Katja (January 17, 2025). "Tramell Tillman Is in Bloom". The Cut. Archived from the original on March 31, 2025. Retrieved February 1, 2025.
- ^ Barna, Ben (March 21, 2025). ""I'm Probably Clinically Insane": Meet Tramell Tillman, the Man Behind Severance's Mr. Milchick". Interview Magazine. Archived from the original on April 12, 2025. Retrieved April 3, 2025.
- ^ Bahr, Sarah (February 15, 2025). "Tramell Tillman of 'Severance' Gives Himself a Performance Review". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 29, 2025. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Samson, Pete (March 10, 2022). "Severance Star Tramell Tillman Talks Work/Life Balance". Mr Feelgood. Archived from the original on March 13, 2022. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
- ^ "Freeman's Barber Shop Scholarship Fund". Freeman’s Barber Shop. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved April 17, 2022.
- ^ Brown, Marquita (August 28, 2010). "Freedom School praised by ed secretary". The Clarion-Ledger. p. 11. Archived from the original on March 24, 2025. Retrieved February 19, 2025.
Tramell Tillman said he started college at Xavier University in New Orleans, but transferred to JSU at his parents' request after Hurricane Katrina.
- ^ Lucas, Sherry (January 24, 2020). "Jackson State grads debut on Broadway: 'You don't go higher in the theatrical world'". Mississippi Today. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
- ^ Davenport, Emily (February 15, 2022). "Tramell Tillman talks role in new AppleTV+ thriller 'Severance' directed by Ben Stiller". amNewYork. Archived from the original on March 20, 2022. Retrieved April 20, 2022.
- ^ Maas, Jennifer (February 25, 2022). "'Severance' Actor Tramell Tillman Breaks Down the Break Room". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on April 14, 2022. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
- ^ Campbell, Nakeisha (December 20, 2024). "'Severance' Star Tramell Tillman Teases What Fans Can Expect in Season 2 & More". purewow.com. PureWow.
- ^ Bull, Megan (January 28, 2025). "Severance star Tramell Tillman's life away from the cameras". HELLO!. Archived from the original on March 31, 2025. Retrieved March 30, 2025.
- ^ Bergeson, Samantha; Lattanzio, Ryan (December 13, 2022). "'Severance,' 'Pachinko,' 'The Rehearsal' Among Independent Spirit Award TV Nominees: Full List". IndieWire. Archived from the original on November 30, 2024. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (January 11, 2023). "SAG Awards Nominations: The Complete List". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on January 11, 2023. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
- ^ ""Severance" Actor Tramell Tillman Honored with Pan African Film & Arts Festival's "Rising Star Award" At The 2025 Filmmaker Awards Brunch Presented By Apple TV+" (PDF) (Press release). Los Angeles, CA: Pan African Film and Arts Festival. February 18, 2025. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 13, 2025. Retrieved April 13, 2025.
