Thrilling forum

Samson Burke is a Canadian sportsman, body-builder and actor, active in films shot in Italy, Europe and the U.S. throughout the 1960's.

He was born Samuel Burke on April 8th 1930 in Montreal, Canada, to parents Jack and Mina.[1] He is 6' 4" tall and, at the height of his career, weighed 245 lbs.

As a youth he was a competitive swimmer and represented Canada in the 1948 Olympic games. In college he gained a degree in physical education and at age 18 he also began to wrestle professionally, which he would continue for many years. This in turn led him into body-building. Having won the "Mr. Canada" title, he relocated to California, where he knew and competed against many of the body builders who would go on to work in Italian films.

Samson got the call to come to Italy in 1961 to play the lead in La vendetta di Ursus, having been recommended to producers by his old friend, Gordon Mitchell. He remained in Europe throughout the 1960's, working steadily but not prolifically (it seems he was involved in a number of uncompleted or unreleased projects), and was just as likely to be found in uncredited bit parts as he was in leading roles. He also continued to work as a wrestler throughout his time in Europe.

In 1970 he left Italy and moved to Hawaii. Following his return to the U.S. he reportedly appeared in a few TV shows and films, but I have been unable to confirm any of these. At the time of a 2002 interview[2] he had been working as a private personal trainer for around 5 years and he was still appearing at fan conventions as recently as 2009.

Samson is believed to be still alive at the time of writing.

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1961

1. La vendetta di Ursus .... Ursus (credited)
   
   1962
2. Il trionfo di Robin Hood .... Little John (credited)
3. The Three Stooges Meet Hercules .... Hercules (credited)
4. Totò contro Maciste .... Maciste (credited)
   
   1966
5. Die Nibelungen, Teil 1 - Siegfried .... Blo-Edin (credited as "Sam Burke")
   
   1967
6. Arrriva Dorellik .... (Almost) The last Dupont (uncredited)
7. Die Nibelungen 2. Teil - Kriemhilds Rache .... Blo-Edin (credited as "Sam Burke")
8. I Spy (TV series) S.3, ep. 7: "Now You See Her, Now You Don't" .... Grigor (credited as "Sam Burke")
9. Kommissar X - Drei grüne Hunde .... Khemal (credited as "Samson Burk")
   
   1968
10. Odissea (TV mini-series / feature film) Eps. 3 (credit only), 4 .... Polifemo (credited as "Sam Burke")
11. Straziami ma di baci saziami .... Guido Scortichini (credited as "Sam Burke")
    
    1969
12. 5 per l'inferno .... Sergeant Sam McCarthy (credited as "Sam Burke")
13. Fellini Satyricon .... Strong man (uncredited)
14. Sono Sartana, il vostro becchino .... Judge's henchman (uncredited)
    
    1970
15. Satiricosissimo .... Taurus / Chef (credited as "Sam Burke")
16. The Adventures of Gerard .... Strong man (uncredited)

• Ciao, Federico (1970 documentary) Includes on-set footage of Samson filming Fellini Satyricon

• Stay Hungry (1976) IMDb/SamsonBurke.com as Goliath (a member of the David & Goliath team with Fred Randall). I searched the film with no luck finding him, though with such a specific role description I'm left wondering if I somehow could have missed him.
• Kojak (TV series) Unknown episode(s). I saw this somewhere while researching, but I forget where
• Magnum P.I. (TV series) Unknown episode(s). SamsonBurke.com / Interview, as stunt double for Tom Selleck
• Unidentified Fellini project. From interview, as Centaur and Pilot

Notes and sources

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1. SamsonBurke.com appears to be an officially endorsed, and therefore reliable, source of information 2. 2002 interview with Larry Anderson and Gord Harmer, in which Samson mainly discusses his film career

La vendetta di Ursus (1961) credited, as Ursus

Il trionfo di Robin Hood (1962) credited, as Little John

The Three Stooges Meet Hercules (1962) credited, as Hercules.

Released in 1962, I suspect this was probably filmed a couple of years earlier before he arrived in Europe, but I have been unable to confirm this.

Totò contro Maciste (1962) credited, as Maciste

Die Nibelungen, Teil 1 - Siegfried (1966) credited as "Sam Burke", as Blo-Edin

Arrriva Dorellik (1967) as (Almost) The last Dupont.

He declares himself to be the last surviving Dupont, but it is then revealed there is another still living.

Die Nibelungen 2. Teil - Kriemhilds Rache (1967) credited as "Sam Burke", as Blo-Edin

I Spy (1967 TV series) Season 3, episode 7: "Now You See Her, Now You Don't", credited as "Sam Burke", as Grigor

Kommissar X - Drei grüne Hunde, aka Strategic command chiama Jo Walker (1967) credited as "Samson Burk", as Khemal