Who did Samuel French play in Killers of the Flower Moon? Actor dies at 45 after long cancer battle
-
Texan actor Samuel French passed away on May 9, 2025, after battling cancer for years. French passed away in Waco, Texas. He was 45 years old at the time of passing. Casting director and writer Paul Sinacore shared the news on his Instagram on May 10.
Samuel French played the role of the undercover FBI agent CJ Robinson in Martin Scorsese's Killers of the Flower Moon. He also acted in drama series like Texas Rising and Fear the Walking Dead and worked in films like Joe Haladin: The Case of the Missing Sister, Pegasus: Pony With a Broken Wing, The Pro Bono Watchman, and Blood Dried Hands.
More details on Samuel French's final film, Towpath
According to The Hollywood Reporter's May 12 report, Samuel French was born on January 26, 1980. At age 3, his family moved to Clifton, Texas.
The actor's last performance is the historic crime thriller Towpath, written and directed by Paul Sinacore. It stars Eric Roberts, Bourke Floyd, Donzaleigh Abernathy, Rashida L. Hudson, and Bobbie Grace, among others. French played Detective Bernard Crooke in the film.
According to the film's official website, Towpath is based on the civil rights movement of 1964, and the murder of artist and political socialite, Mary Pinchot Meyer, on October 12, 1964, on the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal towpath in Washington, DC. Meyer was the ex-wife of Cord Meyer, a CIA official. She was also the lover of US President John F. Kennedy.
After French's death, Paul Sinacore released a statement on Instagram. The director said that French was his dear friend and they shared the same vision regarding the film. He then praised the actor, saying he brought great intensity to his role.
"Samuel was a dear friend and an incredible actor. Towpath wouldn't exist without him, and the incredible intensity he brought to the role of Detective Bernard Crooke set the tone for the entire film. Together, we were on an extraordinary journey, giving everything we had to realize a shared creative vision," Sinacore wrote in his statement.
Sinacore expressed sadness that Samuel French couldn't see the final cut of the film, as he worked hard on set and gave it his all.
"Samuel carried a fire for acting that burned in every frame — unfiltered, fearless, and alive. He gave himself completely to the work, and it showed. I am deeply saddened by his loss and only wish he could have seen the final cut. He was one of a kind, and he will remain in our hearts forever," the writer and director stated.
Paul Sinacore then mentioned Samuel French's daughter, Madison, saying the actor often spoke highly of her with "pride and tenderness." The director then stated that the friendship he shared with French had a profound impact on him.
"My heart goes out to his family, and especially to his daughter—he loved her deeply and spoke of her often with pride and tenderness. His friendship had an unexpectedly profound impact on my life," Paul Sinacore wrote.
Samuel French is survived by his girlfriend Melinda, their daughter Madison, his parents Gary and Darlene, and his brothers, Andy and Danny.
TOPICS: Samuel French, Killers of the Flower Moon