SAD NEWS: ITV star devastating de@th from rare condition thousands of miles from home
Sam Gannon d!ed suddenly aged 31 while visiting family in California
Sam Gannon was just 31 when he d!ed(Image: ITV)
Sam Gannon appeared poised to break into the television industry when he landed the role of horse-drawn carriage coachman, Kev, in the enduring ITV soap, Emmerdale.
Performing opposite Emma Atkins, who portrays the cherished Charity Dingle, the promising actor featured in two episodes during 2019 and his prospects looked bright.
However, at just 31-years-old, and while visiting relatives in the United States, Sam passed away unexpectedly after being afflicted by a rare condition in 2022.
While Sam may have been making inroads on television, he was primarily recognised for his theatrical work. Raised in Brayton, close to Selby in North Yorkshire, he became part of the Northumberland Theatre Company.
The theatre released a statement following his heartbreaking passing: “He delighted audiences with his charm, his wit and his wonderful musical abilities.
Sam Gannon appeared in several episodes of Emmerdale
“Sam was described by many as being like a human Duracell bunny, with limitless energy, always running around the rehearsal room and almost having too many creative ideas to keep locked up in his brain. In short, Sam could be a handful at times! But he was always fantastic as soon as you got him on that stage.
“He has also been described as a genuinely lovely lad, a wonderful human and a good friend to many.”
Sam was staying with family in California when he d!ed. His heartbroken mother, Angela Gannon, revealed a cardiac condition he’d suffered as a youngster had “reared its ugly head” in the months preceding the tragedy.
At the time, she said: “You just don’t expect these things to happen, especially to a young man of 31 who was having the time of his life. He was having a great time, up in the mountains shooting tin cans, building stables for horses.”
Sam was visiting family when he passed away(Image: ITV)
A crowdfunding campaign was launched to raise sufficient funds to bring Sam home to his loved ones, with his funeral taking place at York Minster in October, 2022. His relatives encouraged attendees to don vibrant colours in memory of their “sensitive, caring man”.
On the Just Giving platform, Jonathan Kelly, who initiated the appeal, wrote: “Sam was a true performer, and any extra money raised will be donated to a UK charity supporting youth theatre, a cause close to Sam’s heart.
“Amy, Sam’s sister, is also looking at setting up a foundation in Sam’s name to support people who find themselves in a similar position to him and need extra support.”
Sam’s courageous relatives donated the remaining funds to youth theatre due to Sam’s deep passion for his profession.
The promising actor had also appeared in TV series Tales of Bacon, alongside film Babes with Blades.
