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A former actor from the popular soap Emmerdale met a tragic fate while traveling in the United States to visit family. At just 31, Sam’s untimely death in 2022 was attributed to a congenital heart condition that, according to his mother, Angela, had “reared its ugly head” unexpectedly. Known for his role as Kev in Emmerdale in 2019, Sam had ventured to California in 2022 to spend time with relatives. His mother recalled that he was enjoying his stay, engaging in activities like shooting tin cans in the mountains and building stables for horses.
Reflecting on the sudden loss, Angela expressed her disbelief: “You just don’t expect these things to happen, especially to a young man of 31 who was having the time of his life.” The news of his passing was a profound shock as Sam was on the brink of a promising acting career, having secured roles on TV shows like Emmerdale and Tales of Bacon.
In the wake of Sam’s death, an outpouring of support from family, friends, and fans of his work emerged. A crowdfunding campaign was launched to help repatriate his body from the US and cover funeral expenses, successfully raising £15,000 through 504 donations, many of which were anonymous.
Sam’s partner of over five years, Zoe Hakin, shared her thoughts during that difficult time: “It’s been amazing to see how many people loved him, and the support and the memories people had of Sam. He was vibrant and funny. He was the best part of my life, and I think anyone who met him would agree.”
His loved ones fondly remembered him as someone with an “endless supply of energy and love,” and he is deeply missed by all who knew him.
He was described as a “true performer” and after the fundraising took place, his loved ones confirmed that any extra money outside of what was required to return him home would be donated to a charity supporting youth theatre.
NTC Theatre also paid tribute to him after their ongoing support with the actor and said he was “always fantastic” when he appeared on stage and was constantly delighting audiences with his “charm, wit and wonderful musical abilities”.
Sam appeared alongside Charity Dingle when he was in Emmerdale, acting as a horse-drawn carriage coachman. His scenes took place while he was supporting Charity who was pouring a bottle down the drain, with the clip appearing in his showreel that was later submitted by his family.