Samuel French, ‘Killers of the Flower Moon’ Actor, Dies at 45

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45-year-old Samuel French, an up-and-coming Texas actor famed for his role as the undercover FBI agent CJ Robinson in Martin Scorsese’s film “Killers of the Flower Moon“, has sadly passed away.

French passed away last Friday at a hospital in his native Waco, Texas, as confirmed by director Paul Sinacore to The Hollywood Reporter. For the past two years, he had been fighting a formidable cancer that eventually affected his entire body.

In his last movie, Eric Roberts will appear alongside French, portraying a detective, in the forthcoming historical drama “Towpath” directed by Sinacore. This film is set in the year 1964 amidst the civil rights movement. You can watch the trailer here.

Samuel was not just a friend, but an exceptional performer,” Sinacore expressed. “The movie ‘Towpath‘ wouldn’t have been made without him, and the profound depth he infused into the character of Det. Bernard Crooke shaped the entire film’s atmosphere. Alongside him, we embarked on a remarkable creative voyage, pouring our hearts out to bring our shared vision to life.

Samuel had an undying passion for acting that shone through in every scene – raw, bold, and vibrant. He poured all of himself into his work, and it was evident to everyone. I’m heartbroken by his passing and can only imagine how proud he would be of the finished product. He was truly unique, and his memory will live on forever in our hearts.

In Scorsese’s 2023 epic, French portrayed Robinson, a cowboy-turned-FBI agent who was part of the team investigating the Osage murders – a high-profile case from the 1920s. During filming, he had an impactful one-on-one scene with Robert De Niro, which was captured on his debut day on set.

In Waco, French went for an audition and got noticed by Scorsese, who later employed him. Following his on-screen performance alongside De Niro, the director praised him, saying, “There’s no one else who could have portrayed Robinson as skillfully as you did,” as mentioned by Sinacore.

In various roles, French has been featured. He made an appearance in the History channel miniseries titled “Texas Rising” back in 2015, graced a 2020 episode of “Fear the Walking Dead”, and will star as the lead detective in the upcoming series “Joe Haladin: The Case of the Missing Sister”, due for release in 2023.

Among his various projects, he was also involved in the movies such as “Pegasus: A Pony with a Damaged Wing” (2019), “The Volunteer Guardian” (2022) and “Stained Hands of Blood” (2024).

Jerry French was born on January 26, 1980. By the time he was three years old, he and his family had relocated to the nearby town of Clifton, Texas. After completing high school in that location, Jerry spent periods living in Austin and Dallas, but as he expressed last year, he felt an urgent need to return to the countryside.

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Jerry French was born on January 26, 1980. At age three, he and his family moved to Clifton, Texas, where he later graduated from high school. Subsequently, he resided in Austin and Dallas for temporary stays, but last year, he admitted that he longed to get back to the countryside as quickly as possible.

Among those who carry on are his 12-year-old daughter, Madison; his partner, Melinda (who is also the mother of their child); his folks, Gary and Darlene; and his siblings, Andy and Danny.

Towpath “meant the world to him,” Sinacore said. “He said it would change his career.”

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2025-05-13 02:25