Sam Clark
{{short description|Australian actor, singer-songwriter|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Sam Clark
| background = solo_singer
| image = Sam Clark 2012.jpg
| birth_name = Samuel James Clark{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/about-town/my-melbourne-sam-clark-20111024-1mgwt.html|title=My Melbourne: Sam Clark|date=31 October 2011|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|accessdate=25 February 2017}}{{subscription required}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|10|18|df=y}}
| birth_place = Adelaide, Australia
| origin = Melbourne, Australia
| genre = Singer-Songwriter Pop rock
| occupation = Actor, singer-songwriter
| instrument = Guitar, Loop pedal
| years_active = 2007–present (acting)
2009–present (singing)
| label = Independent
| website = [http://www.samclarkofficial.com/ samclarkofficial.com]
}}
Samuel James Clark (born 18 October 1987) is an Australian actor, singer-songwriter, best known for his role as Ringo Brown on the Australian soap opera, Neighbours and Leo in the Fox/Paramount live musical television special Grease: Live. Clark made his musical debut in 2009 with the single "Broken", which peaked at number one on the Australian Physical Singles Chart[http://www.undercover.com.au/News-Story.aspx?id=10181 Sam Clark's debut single Broken holds Top spot] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100207085740/http://www.undercover.com.au/News-Story.aspx?id=10181 |date=7 February 2010 }} Retrieved 3 May 2010 His third single "Devastated" also peaked at number one on the same chart. In August 2010, Clark released his debut studio album, Take Me Home.
Early life
Clark was born in Adelaide.{{cite news|url=http://www.australiantimes.co.uk/adelaide-film-festival-goes-rogue/|title=Adelaide Film Festival goes rogue|last=O'Hanlon|first=Paul|date=6 October 2016|work=Australian Times|accessdate=25 February 2017}} He is a graduate of St. Andrew's Primary School and St Peter's College, and was a keen participant in several high school theatre productions, including a main role in West Side Story. In 2006, Clark formed a group (originally a duo) called, Solid White Line with members, Jake Long and James Brown.[https://www.myspace.com/solidwhiteline About Solid White Line] notes – Retrieved 21 August 2010
Acting career
Clark won the role of Ringo Brown after auditioning for a nationwide Dolly Magazine competition with Adelaide Kane; as the winner, he won a three-month contract with the show, which was later extended. Clark made his Neighbours debut on 24 January 2007. The character was actually three years younger than Clark's actual age.{{Cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,21180923-5003422,00.html|title=What Girls Want|work=The Courier-Mail|first=Sarah|last=Nicholson|date=6 February 2007|accessdate=3 February 2010}} Clark went through a long audition process compared with other Neighbours cast members, as he had to audition four times. On entering the show, Clark described Ringo as a "good-hearted kid", who does the normal things that a 16-year-old kid does. For his portrayal of Ringo, Clark earned a nomination for the Logie Award for Most Popular New Male Talent.{{cite web|url=https://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/full-list-nominations-50th-logie-awards/338077/|title=Full list of nominations for the 50th Logie awards|date=7 April 2008|work=Sunshine Coast Daily|accessdate=25 February 2017}}
In 2009, Clark took a three-month break from Neighbours to focus on his music career.{{cite web|url=http://holysoap.five.tv/neighbours/news/sam-to-take-a-break-2597|title=Sam to take a break|date=4 September 2009|work=Holy Soap|publisher=Five|accessdate=12 March 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090908021801/http://holysoap.five.tv/neighbours/news/sam-to-take-a-break-2597|archivedate=8 September 2009}} He returned to filming in February 2010.{{Cite news|url=http://www.metro.co.uk/showbiz/812833-second-sam-clark-song-on-neighbours|title=Second Sam Clark song on Neighbours|date=11 February 2010|work=Metro|accessdate=12 March 2010}} That July, Clark announced that he would be leaving Neighbours in order to focus more on his music career. He said "I love acting and I'm definitely going to strive for further success in that part of my life, however music has always been a passion and I want to give it my all right now."{{cite web|url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/2010/0723/neighbours.html |title=Sam clark set to leave Neighbours |publisher=RTÉ Ten |accessdate=21 August 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100728102346/http://www.rte.ie/ten/2010/0723/neighbours.html |archivedate=28 July 2010 }}
In 2012, Clark appeared in P. J. Hogan's Mental, alongside Toni Collette and Anthony LaPaglia.{{cite web|url=http://www.movieconvention.com.au/icms_docs/130093_Media_Release_-_Opening_Night_Premiere.pdf |title=Mental starts to walk red carpet at AIMC opening night |date=20 July 2012 |publisher=Australian International Movie Convention |accessdate=24 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121018062231/http://www.movieconvention.com.au/icms_docs/130093_Media_Release_-_Opening_Night_Premiere.pdf |archivedate=18 October 2012 }} He also wrote four songs for the soundtrack.{{cite news|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/sam-clark-digs-a-new-role/news-story/919657b3dd21230b6f832bb2cbc6b9ac?nk=cfb429b18655ca0e93ccfee99540e4e4-1488057316|title=Sam Clark digs a new role|date=19 June 2012|work=The Advertiser|accessdate=25 February 2017}}
In 2016, Clark made his U.S. television debut as Leo "Craterface" Balmudo in the Fox/Paramount live musical television special Grease: Live, alongside Vanessa Hudgens, Julianne Hough and Aaron Tveit under the direction of Tommy Kail (Hamilton).{{cite web|url=http://www.tvweeklogieawards.com.au/news/articles/2016/2/former-neighbours-star-hits-the-stage/|title=Former Neighbours star hits the stage|date=2 February 2016|work=TV Week|accessdate=25 February 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327023311/http://www.tvweeklogieawards.com.au/news/articles/2016/2/former-neighbours-star-hits-the-stage/|archivedate=27 March 2016}}
Music career
=2009–2010: ''Take Me Home''=
{{main|Take Me Home (Sam Clark album)}}
Since 2009, Clark has released his music through PLW Entertainment. "Broken" the debut single from Clark, was released in November 2009[https://music.apple.com/au/album/broken-single/338642653 Broken – Single by Sam Clark] iTunes Store – Retrieved 21 August 2010 The single peaked at number thirty nine on the ARIA Singles Chart[http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Sam+Clark&titel=Broken&cat=s Sam Clark – Broken] australian-charts.com – Retrieved 21 August 2010 It has had a better impact on other charts where it peaked at number one on the Australian Physical Singles Chart and at number eleven on the Australian Singles Charts (chart only for Australian origin) The second single, "Send Me a Sign" was released on 22 April 2010[https://music.apple.com/au/album/send-me-a-sign-single/366939304 Send Me A Sign – single by Sam Clark] iTunes Store – Retrieved 21 August 2010 and first premiered during an episode of Neighbours, where Clark sang it in character as Ringo Brown.[http://auspop.blogspot.com/2010/04/sam-clark-send-me-sign.html SAM CLARK : Send Me A Sign] Retrieved 3 May 2010 The single failed to make an impact on the charts and had no physical release.
In July 2010, Clark released his third single, "Devastated"[https://music.apple.com/au/album/devastated-single/380897192 Devastated – Single by Sam Clark] iTunes Store – Retrieved 21 August 2010 which debuted at number one on the Australian Physical Singles Chart.[http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display_physical_singles.asp?chart=1S50 Top 50 Physical Singles Chart] Retrieved 23 August 2010 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100311184000/http://www.ariacharts.com.au/pages/charts_display_physical_singles.asp?chart=1S50 |date=11 March 2010 }} This single included the bonus track of "Suddenly", Clark's modern take on the original song by Angry Anderson, which was played in an episode of Neighbours during his character's (Ringo Brown) wedding to Donna Freedman (Margot Robbie).{{cite web|url=http://holysoap.five.tv/neighbours/competitions/win-a-signed-sam-clark-cd-10231 |title=Win a signed Sam Clark CD! |work=Holy Soap |publisher=Channel Five |accessdate=16 October 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101019031147/http://holysoap.five.tv/neighbours/competitions/win-a-signed-sam-clark-cd-10231 |archivedate=19 October 2010 }} In August 2010, Clark began a five-week national tour across Australia, visiting fifty schools to promote the single and to also talk about his commitment to giving blood as an ambassador for the Red Cross Blood Service.[http://www.goldcoastmail.com.au/story/2010/08/19/star-on-tour-to-spread-message-of-blood/ Star on tour to spread message of 'blood'] Retrieved 21 August 2010 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001083208/http://www.goldcoastmail.com.au/story/2010/08/19/star-on-tour-to-spread-message-of-blood/ |date=1 October 2011 }} Clark's debut album Take Me Home was released on 20 August[http://www.thegroovemerchants.com/product/76128 Take Me Home | Sam Clark] The Groove Merchants – Retrieved 21 August 2010
=2011–present: ''My Own Way''=
In November 2011, Clark made his first independent release with EP My Own Way. He described the sound as "more folk and acoustic". The following year, he made an appearance at Bents Park as part of the South Tyneside Summer Festival concerts, alongside Matt Cardle and Ryan O'Shaughnessy.{{cite news|url=http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/x-factor-champ-matt-cardle-next-up-at-festival-1-4746062|title=X Factor champ Matt Cardle next up at festival|last=Prince|first=Daniel|date=17 July 2012|work=Shields Gazette|accessdate=25 February 2017}}
Discography
{{Infobox artist discography
| Artist = Sam Clark
| Studio = 1
| EP = 1
| Music videos = 3
| Singles = 3
}}
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable" |
| scope="col" style="width:8em;"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:16em;"| Album details |
|---|
| Take Me Home
|
|
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" style="width:8em;"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:16em;"| EP details |
|---|
| scope="row" | My Own Way
|
|
=Singles=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2" | Year
!rowspan="2" | Single !| Chart positions !rowspan="2" | Album |
|---|
| style="font-size:90%;"
!width="40"| AUS |
| 2009
|align="left"|"Broken" | style="text-align:center;"| 39 |rowspan=3|Take Me Home |
| rowspan="2"|2010
|align="left"|"Send Me a Sign" | style="text-align:center;"| — |
| align="left"|"Devastated"
| style="text-align:center;"| — |
| colspan="5" style="text-align:center; font-size:8pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or receive certification |
=Music videos=
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! style="width:175px;"|Title !Director |
|---|
| 2009
|"Broken" |Tom Marks |
| rowspan="2"|2010
|"Send Me a Sign" |Joel Kohn |
| "Devastated" |
Filmography
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2007–2010
| Series regular |
| 2012
| Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries | Paul Waddington | |
| 2012
| Mental | Trout | |
| 2016
| Dance Night Obsession | Officer Kirby | |
| 2016
| Monday at 11:01 AM | Bellhop | |
| 2016
| Leo Balmudo | |
| 2018
|David Beckham impersonator | |
| 2019
|Tell Me I Love You |Ben O'Shea | |
| 2022
|Death Camp |Austin | |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result ! Ref. |
|---|
| 2007
| Best Newcomer | rowspan="3"| Neighbours | {{Nom}} | {{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/scoop/a64083/inside-soap-awards-2007-the-nominations.html|first=Kris|last=Green|title=Inside Soap Awards 2007: The Nominations|work=Digital Spy|publisher=Hachette Filipacchi|date=3 July 2007|accessdate=11 June 2010}} |
| 2008
| Most Popular New Male Talent | {{Nom}} |
| 2009
| Inside Soap Awards | Sexiest Male | {{Nom}} | {{cite web|url=http://tv.sky.com/inside-soap-awards-2009-nominees |title=Inside Soap Awards 2009: Nominees |work=Sky |publisher=BSkyB |accessdate=29 June 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716082425/http://tv.sky.com/inside-soap-awards-2009-nominees |archivedate=16 July 2011 }} |
| 2010
| Bachelor of the Year | {{n/a}} | {{Nom}} |
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category|Sam Clark}}
- {{Official website|http://www.samclarkofficial.com/}}
- {{IMDb name|2604932}}
- Sam Clark on [https://soundcloud.com/samclarkofficial SoundCloud]
{{Sam Clark}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clark, Sam}}
Category:Male actors from Adelaide
Category:Australian male soap opera actors
Category:Musicians from Adelaide
Category:People educated at St Peter's College, Adelaide
Category:21st-century Australian singers
Category:21st-century Australian male singers
Category:Australian male singer-songwriters
Category:Australian expatriate male actors in the United States