Cliff Notes – Killers of the Flower Moon star Samuel French dies aged 45

Samuel French, known for his role in Martin Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon, passed away at the age of 45 after a battle with cancer.
His final film, Towpath, directed by Paul Sinacore, is yet to be released; Sinacore praised French as an “incredible actor” and a dear friend.
French is survived by his 12-year-old daughter, Madison, and his girlfriend, Melinda, along with other family members.

Killers of the Flower Moon star Samuel French dies aged 45

Killers of the Flower Moon actor Samuel French has died at the age of 45.

Paul Sinacore, the director of Samuel’s final film Towpath – which is yet to be released – was the first to share the news of his death.

French, who died last Friday while in a Waco, Texas hospital, starred as Agent CJ Robinson in the Martin Scorsese-directed film, fronted by Leonardo DiCaprio.

‘Samuel was a dear friend and an incredible actor,’ Paul said in a statement.

‘Samuel carried a fire for acting that burned in every frame — unfiltered, fearless, and alive. 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.

‘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.’

Towpath is an upcoming historical drama also starring Eric Roberts, which focuses on a murder that takes place in 1964 during the civil rights movement.

French died after cancer had spread through his body over the past couple of years, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

For his Killers of a Flower Moon role, French attended a casting call in his native Waco, where he was spotted by the director and hired.

After his scene with De Niro, SInacore recalled to the US outlet how Scorsese said: ‘No one could have played Robinson as well as you did.’

French is survived by his daughter, Madison, 12; his girlfriend, Melinda, the mother of their daughter; his parents, Gary and Darlene; and his brothers, Andy and Danny.

The US actor also starred in 2024 horror thriller film Blood Dried Hands, and his other credits include small parts in Fear the Walkng Dead and Texas Rising.

Born in 1980, when French was a young boy his family moved to Clifton, Texas where he graduated high school before living in Austin and Dallas.

While saying in a 2024 interview that he couldn’t wait to ‘get out of’ small town life, he also rushed to get back to the country.

‘That’s why I became an actor to tell true stories that happened in history that need to be told,’ he told 25 News while talking about Killers of the Flower Moon.

‘This is one of those stories that is long overdue.’