Samuel French, who starred in the hit movie Killers of the Flower Moon, has died at the age of 45 as his close friend and director of his final film paid tribute to the actor
Star of Killers of the Flower Moon, Samuel French, has tragically died at the age of 45, with a close friend paying tribute to the actor. The star, who died in a hospital in his hometown of Waco, Texas, was recognised for his role as Agent CJ Robinson in the hit film fronted by Leonardo DiCaprio and Lily Gladstone.
Paul Sinacore, the director of Samuel’s last film, Towpath, broke the sad news on Instagram with a snap of his friend alongside a heartfelt statement. “Samuel was a dear friend and an incredible actor,” Paul expressed.
“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.
“We were on an extraordinary journey together, giving our all to bring a shared creative vision to life. Samuel had a passion for acting that shone through in every frame – raw, fearless, and vibrant.
“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,” reports the Mirror.
“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.”
The statement also disclosed that he passed away on Friday morning.
Towpath is Paul’s forthcoming historical drama centred around “political intrigue and mystery”.
The talented actor’s final on-screen outing sees him portray a detective set amidst the backdrop of the 1964 civil rights movement.
According to a report by The Hollywood Reporter, Samuel had been courageously fighting a form of cancer that had spread throughout his body over the past couple of years.
In a poignant social media post shared in April, Samuel had referred to 2024 as the “worst year known to mankind”. His last selfie, posted on April 23, showed him looking unwell, with the caption reading: “Getting IV for much needed hydration.”
Samuel’s final post on social media came on April 28, where he proudly shared a screengrab from his appearance in Monster’s Within, alongside news of his win for Best Supporting Role at the 2025 Cowpokes International Film Festival.
At the time, Samuel expressed his heartfelt gratitude, writing: “This is my third win for the best supporting role. Cyrus in our feature @monsterswithinmovie @cowpokesff last night….”
He also gave a shout-out to the film’s director and writer, saying: “Huge thank you to our director/writer @devinmontgomeryy for creating an amazing character that i could sink my teeth into, and congratulations to the rest of our amazing cast.”
Want all the biggest Showbiz and TV news straight to your inbox? Sign up for our free Daily Star Showbiz newsletter.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
