He was brother to Kenneth (who died in September 1964), Raymond (Jimmy) and two sisters Valerie and Catherine.

After playing bass guitar at Live Theatre in a panto he was asked to act in the show.

He appeared in several TV productions and often worked with local writers like C. P. Taylor, Tom Hadaway, Leonard Barras and Arthur McKenzie but continued to be a musician with the 'Ray Stubbs R&B Allstars' as well as forming 'Matt Vinyl and the Decorators'.

He then turned to scriptwriting and moved to Spain in the hills above Málaga, where he died while out jogging in 1998 at the age of 49.

There is a biennial variety concert named Sunday for Sammy hosted by Tim Healy and (until 2008) Jimmy Nail, featuring sketches with North East personalities.