Samson was born Samuel Burke, in Montreal, Canada, to his parents Jack
and Mina Burke. Sam attended Baron Byng High School and McGill
University, both in Montreal. As a teenager, Sam was interested in
bodybuilding and worked for many years to tune and shape his body. Part
of his daily training regiment was swimming. Sam became a competitive
swimmer, capturing a number of "state" titles, including the 100 meter
Butterfly and 200 meter Breaststroke. Sam's love of the water also saw
him leading his Water Polo team to win the national championships. Sam
represented Canada in the Olympic Games competing in the 200 meter
Butterfly. He was also selected as "Canada's Greatest All-Round
Collegiate Athlete". After leaving amateur swimming Sam participated in
the 10 mile world swimming championship in Lake Ontario, in Ontario
Canada.
After competing in and winning numerous local competitions, Sam won the
title of "Mr. Montreal". He set his sights high, pushed himself hard,
and entered the national championships. Sam was again triumphant, and
captured the high profile title of "Mr. Canada". With this massive
accomplishment under his belt, Sam turned his sights southward and
relocated to sunny southern California. Continuing his regiment of hard
work, Sam entered and won the coveted "Mr. Muscle Beach" competition.
The International Federation of Bodybuilders named Sam the "Top Amateur
Athlete in the World" at the world bodybuilding championships.
With his ultimate physique and physical fitness, Sam decided to try his
hand at wrestling. Like everything Sam tries, he succeeded...and
succeeded big. After consultation with famed wrestling promoter-booking
agent Rudy Dusek, Samuel Burke was renamed "Sammy Berg - Mr.Canada".
Sam spent several years in the ring, racking up hundreds of wins on his
own, as well as a tag team partner. Sam won the "World Heavyweight
Wrestling" title in the late 1950s by beating then Champion, Buddy
Rogers. Along with Seymour Koenig, Sam also won the "International
Television Tag Team" title in the late 50s. Sam participated in
matches across the country, including several fights at famed Madison
Square Gardens. Sam fought hundreds of matches against high profile
wrestlers and boxers, including: Primo Canara, Antonio Rocca, Lou Thesz
and even Joe Lewis, just to mention a few.
Sam again thought it was time for a change, and set his sights on
Hollywood. Sam starred in approximately 20 films in the United States
and Europe. Sam worked with famous director Federico Fellini in two
films, and starred with the legendary comedy team "The Three Stooges"
in the Columbia Studios release, "The Three Stooges Meet Hercules". Of
course, Sam played Hercules! Sam also made several guest starring
appearances in top TV shows like "I Spy" and "Magnum PI".
After several years of physically exhausting roles, he decided it was
time to take life a little easier. Sam decided to relocate to the
beautiful Hawaiian Islands, where he joined the crew of the hit show,
Magnum PI. Sam worked on Magnum PI until the show wrapped in 1988.
Of course, through the years, he continued with his first
love...physical fitness. Today Sam operates his own personal training
business.
