Actor, producer and business owner Sam Clark passes away after brave cancer fight

Tributes are flowing for one of Queensland’s breakout performers, who has tragically lost his fight with cancer while in the prime of his life. Now his family is calling on friends and colleagues to support the fight against this aggressive disease.

Toowoomba-born actor Sam Clark passed away after a brave fight with an aggressive brain cancer.

Queensland’s theatre community is in mourning after celebrated actor Sam Clark died from complications from brain tumour.

The 40-year-old actor grew up in Toowoomba and studied at St Joseph’s Catholic College and the University of Southern Queensland before moving to Brisbane to pursue a career in the theatre.

Queensland playwright David Burton paid tribute to Sam.

“Sam and I went to the same school,” Mr Burton said.

“He was three years older than me, which always set the template for our relationship going forward. He was the permanent older cousin I clicked with every few years. Always doing something bolder, brighter, better.

“The 15-year-old Sam had the same ingredients as Sam ten, fifteen, and twenty years on. He had swagger — presumably from a loving family — but it was a mesmerising self-confidence that would serve him well.

“Anything was possible with Sam. It’s what made him a good producer. A flick of the eyebrows. A grin. A wink. Like he was gently flirting with everything. Playful and kind.”

After leaving Toowoomba, Sam fell in with a crowd of up-and-coming performers and launched his own theatre company.

He went on to produce and perform the lead role Mr Burton first play – Lazarus Won’t Get Out of Bed.

Sam Clark was born in Toowoomba and moved to the US when he was 28 to further his career.

“That show was the first professional gig for many emerging careers, including Travis Dowling, Craig Wilkinson and Josh McIntosh,” Mr Burton said.

“While other people bitched about a lack of opportunity, Sam just made it happen. A bunch of us wouldn’t have jobs without him.

“Lazarus Won’t Get Out of Bed generated enough noise to start some job opportunities emerging.”

About a year later Mr Burton’s second play – April’s Fool – was picked up and Sam auditioned for the role.

“I was surprised by this reversal in our status. I was behind the audition desk and Sam got the role because he was a great actor,” he said.

“He finished his audition and said farewell to us. ‘It’s a good script, and it’s important,’ he said. I remember that. It felt like a seal of approval from a big brother”

St Joseph’s College drama teacher Cath Barton shared fond memories of teaching Sam more than two decades ago and said he was blessed with passion and energy.

“He was very generous with his time, helping others with their performances – a natural talent who worked very hard at his craft,” she said.

“Sam had charisma and could charm students and teachers, but he was also a generous soul who would read the room carefully and include those who he felt were being left out of class activities.

“He was an exceptional action but more importantly he was a beautiful caring soul.”

UniSQ theatre lecturer Travis Dowling said Sam was larger than life, funny, determined and talented.

“The entire UniSQ graduate community, as well as the entire Brisbane Theatre community is grieving this immense loss,” he said.

“Sam was one of the hardest working artists I have ever known, but most importantly he was kind.”

“I was a year or two below Sam when I studied with him and after I finished, he started my career.

“He produced and acted in the first independent work I directed.

Sam helped grow an artistic community from his time at UniSQ that has influenced so many artists and arts workers, and for that I and many others will be forever grateful.

“The UniSQ School of Creative Arts extends its heartfelt condolences and love to Sam’s family, our community of graduates, and Sam’s amazing wife Susie.”

Sam moved to the US when he was 28 to further his professional goals and perform in several plays before launching a Broadway Crew, a marketing company for Broadway productions.

He also met, and later married, the love of his life – Susie Gannon-Clark.

“Sam lived many lives,” Susie said.

“He worked as a professional actor and theatre producer in Australia and New York City for many years before starting his company, Broadway Crew in 2018. Broadway Crew was Sam’s pride and joy and continues to thrive and grow.

“Sam proudly became an American citizen in January 2020.

“He was passionate about many things including watches, building PCs, Elton John, beer, politics, the stock market, ancient history, cold brew coffee, thongs (flip flops), movies, Pizza Shapes, Super Rooster, meat pies, finding bargains, his company, family, friends, staff, everyone he met, sitting outside, travelling, laughing, doing things for others, and living life to the fullest with no regrets.”

About 18 months ago Sam was diagnosed with a Glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer.

Ever the performer, he took to social media to document his fight and raise awareness of the dire need for a cure.

Sadly, they lost that fight on August 22.s

He is survived by his wife Susie, parents Sheryl Pilkington and Peter Clark and siblings, Chris Clark and Petra Barnes and their families.

The family is now raising money to support the Glioblastoma Research Organisation.

Click here to donate.

Originally published as Actor, producer and business owner Sam Clark passes away after brave cancer fight