Sammy Johnson
Born Ronald Samuel Johnson, Sammy Johnson (14th May 1949 to November 1998) was an English actor best known for the role of Stick in Spender. A close friend of Jimmy Nail, this was just one of the many programmes they co-starred in together (the others being Crocodile Shoes and Auf Wiedersehen, Pet). He also appeared in an adaptation of Catherine Cookson's The Gambling Man, and as Viz's famous comic book character Sid the Sexist, as well as the 1985 film Seacoal, 1989's And a Nightingale Sang, the 1997 TV film King Leek and a guest appearance in Casualty in 1996. One of his final roles was as Terry in Lost in France, a series of short topical specials that saw him play the patriarch of a family of football fans following the exploits of the England team during the 1998 World Cup. Later that year, and whilst training for Newcastle's the Great Northern Run, Johnson died of a heart attack whilst out jogging in the hills above his home in Málaga. He was 49 years old. Since his death, a memorial fund has been set up on his name and a biennial variety concert named Sunday for Sammy hosted by Tim Healy and (until 2008) Jimmy Nail, featuring sketches with North East personalities and former colleagues of Sammy. Kevin Whately, Denise Welch and Peter Beardsley are amongst the regular contributors. Away from acting, Sammy was a musician, playing guitar in bands such as Pigmeat, Ray Stubbs R&B Allstars and Matt Vinyl and the Decorators.
Sid the Sexist
as Sidney SmuttViz magazine's 'Sid the Sexist' comes to life in this animated version of the exploits of...
Movie pageAnd a Nightingale Sang
as Shipyard WorkerSet in working class Newcastle, the Stott family fight their private battles against the...
Movie pageSeacoal
as RonnieBetty and her daughter Corinna are introduced to the harsh seacoaling way of life by Ray, an...
Movie pageThe Happy Hunting Ground
as RonIn amongst the fishing quaysides of the North East of England, manipulative Bob is first able to...
Movie pageSpender : The French Collection
as Kenneth Norman 'Stick' OakleySpender Christmas Special: Spender is sent to France to escort Tommy Thornton who has been...
Movie pageIn Fading Light
as Dandy MacA feature drama set in the declining fishing industry in North Shields, the film centres on the...
Movie pageKing Leek
as PopeyeA comic tale of competitive leek growing in the north of England, where the stakes are high and...
Movie pageWycliffe
as Adrian WrightWycliffe is a British television series, based on W. J. Burley's novels about Detective...
TV Show pageAuf Wiedersehen, Pet
as Martin CooperSeven British construction workers escape Britain's ever growing dole queues and travel to...
TV Show pageSpender
as StickJimmy Nail plays tough cop Spender, forced to return to his native Newcastle after a failed...
TV Show pageCrocodile Shoes
as uncreditedCrocodile Shoes is a British 7-part television series made by the BBC and screened on BBC One in...
TV Show pageLost In France
as Terry RuddThis brief series (12 episodes of 10 or 15 minutes each screened over a three week period)...
TV Show pageThe Gambling Man
as uncreditedBased on one of Catherine Cookson's most beloved works which revolves around slick cardplayer...
TV Show page