Toheeb Jimoh

Toheeb Jimoh is a British-Nigerian actor who gained international recognition for his portrayal of Sam Obisanya in the Apple TV+ comedy-drama series Ted Lasso, which aired from 2020 to 2023. His performance in the show brought him widespread industry attention and established him as a prominent young talent in television and theater.

Born in Brixton, South London, to Nigerian parents, Jimoh spent part of his early childhood in Nigeria after relocating there as a toddler. He returned to London at seven years old, later attending The Norwood School. He pursued formal acting training at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, completing his studies and graduating in 2018.

Shortly after completing his education, Jimoh began building his professional screen and stage career. In 2020, he starred as the title figure in the BBC One television film Anthony, portraying Anthony Walker in an imaginative narrative depicting the victim's potential life had he survived a 2005 racist attack. That same year, he appeared as Marcus in the Amazon sci-fi series The Feed and participated in stage productions, including A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Sheffield Crucible and Nine Lessons and Carols at the Almeida Theatre.

Jimoh's major breakthrough arrived when he was cast in Ted Lasso. Although his character, Sam Obisanya, was originally scripted as Ghanaian, the creative team modified the role's origin to Nigerian to align with Jimoh's heritage. In addition to his work on Ted Lasso, he secured a role as the journalist Tunde in the Amazon thriller series The Power, adapted from Naomi Alderman's novel, and made a minor appearance in Wes Anderson's feature film The French Dispatch.

Alongside his screen work, Jimoh has maintained an active presence in classical theater. In the summer of 2023, he portrayed Romeo in a production of Romeo and Juliet staged at the Almeida Theatre in London. In 2024, he played Hal in Player Kings, Robert Icke's stage adaptation of Shakespeare's Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, performing alongside actors Ian McKellen and Richard Coyle.

Throughout his career, Jimoh has received significant recognition for his television performances. For his role in Ted Lasso, he secured a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award and earned both a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Critics' Choice Breakthrough Award.