Samuel Burke, later known as Samson, was born in Montreal, Canada, to Jack and Mina Burke. He attended Baron Byng High School and McGill University, both in Montreal.
As a teenager, Sam was fascinated by bodybuilding and dedicated years to honing his physique through daily training, including swimming. He became a competitive swimmer, capturing numerous state titles, including the 100 meter Butterfly and 200 meter Breaststroke. Sam also led his Water Polo team to national championships and represented Canada in the Olympic Games, competing in the 200 meter Butterfly.
Sam was later crowned "Canada's Greatest All-Round Collegiate Athlete" and went on to participate in the 10-mile world swimming championship in Lake Ontario.
After winning local competitions, Sam won the title of "Mr. Montreal" and then "Mr. Canada". He relocated to California, where he won the "Mr. Muscle Beach" competition and was named the "Top Amateur Athlete in the World" by the International Federation of Bodybuilders.
Sam then turned his attention to professional wrestling, renaming himself "Sammy Berg - Mr. Canada". He spent several years in the ring, accumulating hundreds of wins and winning the "World Heavyweight Wrestling" title by defeating Buddy Rogers.
Sam also won the "International Television Tag Team" title with Seymour Koenig and participated in matches across the country, including several at Madison Square Gardens.
After a long career in wrestling, Sam transitioned to acting, starring in approximately 20 films in the United States and Europe. He worked with famous director Federico Fellini and starred alongside the legendary comedy team "The Three Stooges" in the Columbia Studios release, "The Three Stooges Meet Hercules".
Sam also made guest appearances in top TV shows like "I Spy" and "Magnum PI". He eventually relocated to the Hawaiian Islands, where he joined the crew of "Magnum PI" until the show wrapped in 1988.
Throughout his life, Sam remained dedicated to physical fitness, eventually establishing his own personal training business.
