Sam Merlotte is a fictional character from The Southern Vampire Mysteries book series, written by author Charlaine Harris.

In Dead Ever After, the final book in the series, Sam and Sookie begin a romantic relationship.

Sam's storyline in True Blood, the television adaptation, diverges significantly from character in the novels.

As a homeless teenager, Sam met Maryann Forrester, an immortal Maenad with the ability to transform her entire body, or selected parts, into other creatures.

Frightened, Sam stole a change of clothes and $100,000 in cash from her dresser while Maryann showered, escaping and later using the money to buy the local bar in Bon Temps.

Soon after they meet, he learns that his father has repeatedly forced his mother and Tommy to compete in dog fights.

His father, Joe Lee Mickens, attacks Tommy in an attempt to capture him and force him to participate in dog fighting once again.

In the fourth season, Sam joins a group of fellow shifters and starts a romance with one of its members, Luna Garza.

In season five, when members of Sam's shifter circle are killed by mysterious masked assailants, Luna's daughter Emma is nearly shot.

The assailants turn out to be an anti-supernatural gang led by former sheriff Bud Dearborne.

Halfway through the interview, Luna shifts back into her real form on camera and reveals the existence of shifters to the world.

Sick from her extensive skin-walking, Luna dies in the first episode of the sixth season after making Sam promise to take care of Emma.

In the sixth season, Sam meets Nicole Wright, a supernatural rights activist, who approaches him hoping to tell his story as a shifter.

Using this as a distraction, Sam takes Emma back and ultimately rescues Nicole when she is attacked by the pack.

In Season 7, Sam is outed to all the residents of Bon Temps as a shifter after being seen by a local named Vince.

After their rescue, Nicole decides to move closer to her parents in Chicago due to the predictable dangers of Bon Temps.

In the show's epilogue, Sam returns to Bon Temps with Nicole and their toddler for Thanksgiving at Sookie's house.