Sammy McKim, the second of five child actors from the 1930s and 1940s, blazed a trail for his siblings by becoming the first to break into the film industry.
Born in Vancouver, Canada, Sammy and his older brother David were part of a family of five siblings, with their younger siblings Lydia, Harry, and Peggy born and raised in Seattle, Washington, where the family settled after moving from Vancouver.
However, the family's residence in Seattle was short-lived, as they were forced to relocate to Los Angeles in 1935 due to their father's declining health, which ultimately led to his passing in 1938.
Sammy's freckled face, unruly hair, and pleasant disposition caught the attention of a casting agent during a visit to a movie studio, and he soon began working as an extra.
The rest of the McKim siblings followed suit, mostly landing extra roles, but none of them achieved the level of popularity as child stars. Sammy, however, proved to be the most prolific of the group.
He landed a recurring co-star role in several "Three Mesquiteers" films, which led to more prominent work alongside cowboy stars such as Hoot Gibson, and secured a contract with Republic Pictures.
In 1942, both Sammy and David attempted to enlist in the U.S. Army but were rejected due to their Canadian citizenship. The two brothers gained their American citizenship the following year and re-enlisted, putting their acting careers on hold.
Sammy went on to serve with bravery during the Korean War, earning several medals for his actions.
After leaving the military, he shifted his focus to a career in art, working at Fox Studios' art department before joining Disney, where he remained for 32 years, 12 of which were closely associated with Walt Disney himself.
Sammy continued to appear at western conventions until his passing in 2004.
