Robert Sampson
Sampson in Bridget Loves Bernie (1972)
Born
Robert LeRoy Sampson

(1933-05-10)May 10, 1933
DiedJanuary 18, 2020(2020-01-18) (aged 86)
OccupationActor
Years active1954–2020
Spouse
Maryanne Gackle
(m. 1972; div. 1976)
Children1

Robert LeRoy Sampson[1] (May 10, 1933 – January 18, 2020) was an American actor. He was known for playing the role of Father Mike Fitzgerald in the American sitcom television series Bridget Loves Bernie.[2]

Life and career

Sampson was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Roy Sampson.[2][3] He began his career in 1954, as appearing in the television series Meet Corliss Archer.[2] Sampson also guest-starred in numerous television programs including Gunsmoke, The Outer Limits (1963 TV series), Star Trek: The Original Series, Mission: Impossible, Bonanza, Dr. Kildare, Wonder Woman, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Green Acres, Hawkins, The Jeffersons, and Police Story.[2][3] He also appeared in films such as Re-Animator (as Dean Halsey), City of the Living Dead, Mr. Ricco, The Dark Side of the Moon, Robot Jox, The Sky's the Limit, Look in Any Window and Mad Dog Coll.[2][4]

Later in his career, Sampson co-starred in the film The Restless Ones, in which he was in Minneapolis, Minnesota.[3] He also co-starred in the CBS television series Bridget Loves Bernie, where Sampson played the role of Bridget Steinberg's priest-brother[5] Father Mike Fitzgerald, in which the character Bridget Steinberg is played by Meredith Baxter.[6] Sampson also played the recurring role of Sheriff Turk Tobias in the soap opera television series Falcon Crest.[2] He was also a friend of actor Paul Trinka.[7]

Death

Sampson died in January 2020 in Santa Barbara, California, at the age of 86.[1]

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1961Alfred Hitchcock PresentsJackSeason 6 Episode 14: "The Changing Heart"
1961Alfred Hitchcock PresentsRalph BirdwellSeason 6 Episode 16: "A Crime for Mothers"
1961RawhideLieutenant MeadowsS3:E27, "Incident Before Black Pass"
1963The Alfred Hitchcock HourSergeant DuncanSeason 1 Episode 30: "Dear Uncle George"

References

  1. 1 2 "Robert Sampson Obituary (1933-2020)". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. January 30, 2020. p. B5. Retrieved November 26, 2021 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rubin, Steven (November 1, 2017). Twilight Zone Encyclopedia. Chicago Review Press. pp. 991–992. ISBN 9781613738917 via Google Books.
  3. 1 2 3 "Robert Sampson, Actor Visitor In Finley". Steele County Press. Finley, North Dakota. May 26, 1966. p. 12. Retrieved November 26, 2021 via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  4. "Sampson Gets Role". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. January 16, 1961. p. 81. Retrieved November 26, 2021 via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  5. "Actor Has No Punch". Fort Lauderdale News. Fort Lauderdale, Florida. April 12, 1974. p. 91. Retrieved November 26, 2021 via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  6. Robinson, Mark (October 15, 2019). Sitcommentary: Television Comedies That Changed America. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 57. ISBN 9781538114209 via Google Books.
  7. Grapp, Bill (December 28, 1964). "Television's Trinka Visits Relatives". The Indiana Gazette. Indiana, Pennsylvania. p. 15. Retrieved November 23, 2021 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
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