While Sam was determined, the journey to stardom is never easy. First of all, he had to drop out of college to pursue acting full-time, much to the disdain of family members who shared the same mindset as his father. Secondly, he had to audition and search for gigs all around his hometown. Fortunately, he got his first notable recognition from a local newspaper that praised his acting skills in “Guys and Dolls.” For Sam, this was the beginning of his success story.
Through the ups and downs, he eventually found success in Hollywood as he landed roles in both television and film, with some notable appearances in movies like “Mission Impossible” and “Once an Eagle.” Although many of his fans claimed that it was his performance in “Once an Eagle” that drew them to him, it was his role in the classic film “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” that shot him right up to the widespread fame and recognition he desired.
In his quest for stardom, he’d moved out to Hollywood where he landed the role, which was his first credited one. Robert Redford and Paul Newman had been the titular pair of Western Outlaws, and although Sam’s role, Card Player Number Two, wasn’t as huge as theirs, he was really happy about it. For him, it was the first step to prosperity.
Considering the role he played, Sam never got to speak with Katherine Ross, the film’s leading lady who had played Robert Redford’s lover all too well. But as fate would have it, almost a decade later, the duo would reconnect on the 1978 film “The Legacy.” As you’d probably guessed, they soon fell head over heels for each other.
Interestingly, Sam later shared that the film wasn’t exactly great, but it was a legacy for him and Catherine. Six years after the film’s release, the co-stars tied the knot and eventually had a daughter named Cleo.