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Sammy Johnson

Sammy Johnson

Birth : 1949-05-14, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, England, UK

Death : 1998-11-01

History

Born Ronald Samuel Johnson, Sammy Johnson (14th May 1949 to November 1998) was an English actor best known for the role of Stick in Spender. A close friend of Jimmy Nail, this was just one of the many programmes they co-starred in together (the others being Crocodile Shoes and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet). He also appeared in an adaptation of Catherine Cookson's The Gambling Man, and as Viz's famous comic book character Sid the Sexist, as well as the 1985 film Seacoal, 1989's And a Nightingale Sang, the 1997 TV film King Leek and a guest appearance in Casualty in 1996. One of his final roles was as Terry in Lost in France, a series of short topical specials that saw him play the patriarch of a family of football fans following the exploits of the England team during the 1998 World Cup. Later that year, and whilst training for Newcastle's the Great Northern Run, Johnson died of a heart attack whilst out jogging in the hills above his home in Málaga. He was 49 years old. Since his death, a memorial fund has been set up on his name and a biennial variety concert named Sunday for Sammy hosted by Tim Healy and (until 2008) Jimmy Nail, featuring sketches with North East personalities and former colleagues of Sammy. Kevin Whately, Denise Welch and Peter Beardsley are amongst the regular contributors. Away from acting, Sammy was a musician, playing guitar in bands such as Pigmeat, Ray Stubbs R&B Allstars and Matt Vinyl and the Decorators.

Profile

Sammy Johnson

Sammy Johnson

Sammy Johnson

Movies

Spender : The French Collection

Spender : The French Collection

Kenneth Norman 'Stick' Oakley

Spender Christmas Special: Spender is sent to France to escort Tommy Thornton who has been extradited to the UK.

Sidney Smutt

Viz magazines 'Sid the Sexist' comes to life in this animated version of the exploits of 'Tyneside's silver tongued cavalier'

And a Nightingale Sang

And a Nightingale Sang

Shipyard Worker

Set in working class Newcastle, the Stott family fight their private battles against the backdrop of the conflict of World War II. Helen Stott, over thirty and with a limp, is resigned to being left on the shelf until she meets and falls in love with Norman, a serviceman from London. In contrast, her younger sister Joyce has quite a way with men, and finds herself a little too popular with the troops, especially when her husband pops up on leave from his regiment.

In Fading Light

In Fading Light

Dandy Mac

A feature drama set in the declining fishing industry in North Shields, the film centres on the upheaval caused in a traditional fishing community by the unexpected arrival of a young woman.

Ronnie

Betty and her daughter Corinna are introduced to the harsh seacoaling way of life by Ray, an ex-seacoaler returning from a job with ICI. His offer of a caravan on a cliff top and promises of the Klondyke that awaits them at least seem preferable to the violent marriage she has left behind. The film sets Betty's struggle for survival against the wider struggles of the seacoaling community, surviving on the fringes of capitalism. Despite the exploitation by a local entrepreneur, run-ins with dole snoops and School Board men and the ever encroaching regulations of a hostile council, their lives retain a kind of anarchic romance, which is reflected in the film's lyrical style.

Songs

Bobby blows all his college savings on a van and tries to get the girl of his dreams. It's a wild time with Bobby and his friends.

The Happy Hunting Ground

The Happy Hunting Ground

Ron

In amongst the fishing quaysides of the North East of England, manipulative Bob is first able to wangle his way into a prominent position within a fish distribution firm. It isn’t long before he has his sights not only on the boss’s job - but also his wife as well. Part of the BBC Play for Today strand.