Sam Kratz
| Sam Kratz | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neighbours character | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Portrayed by | Richard Grieve | ||||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 1994–1996, 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | 13 June 1994 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | 27 July 2005 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Stanley Walsh (1994) Ric Pellizerri (2005) | ||||||||||||||||||
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Sam Kratz is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Richard Grieve. He made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 13 June 1994. Grieve quit the serial two years later and Sam departed on 21 June 1996. Grieve reprised his role in April 2005 for Neighbours' 20th anniversary episode.
Casting
[edit]After appearing in various theatre productions and small guest roles in E Street and Newlyweds,[1] Grieve was offered the chance to audition for Neighbours.[2] He was unsure about attending after learning that the casting directors were looking for "a mega-hunk" and he did not think that he fit the description. However, he borrowed a leather jacket from a friend to make himself look a bit like the character of Sam and he was told that he had the role a week later.[2] He admitted that "No-one was more surprised than me."[2] He also revealed that he used to watch the serial and had hoped that he would be able to join it or something similar.[1] Grieve relocated from Sydney to Melbourne for filming, and Neighbours marked his first major television role.[3] His character was created to fill the void left by the departure of "pin-up boy" Brad Willis (played by Scott Michaelson).[2] Grieve later stated that he had no regrets about taking on a continuing role on the soap, saying "I'm thrilled with the way things have gone. I was very nervous when I first started because it was a long-running job but it's turned out well."[4] Grieve made his first appearance as Sam during the episode broadcast on 13 June 1994.[5]
Development
[edit]Characterisation and introduction
[edit]The character's introduction sees him arrive on Ramsay Street, after his grandmother, Marlene Kratz (Moya O'Sullivan) asks him to check out the house she has purchased.[6] He befriends Brett Stark (Brett Blewitt) and Danni Stark (Eliza Szonert), who starts to look up to him, as she thinks he is "glamorous".[6] When Marlene arrives in town, she tells Sam that Brett and Danni are actually his cousins.[6] Describing his character, Grieve told Amanda Ruben from TV Week: "Sam is just an upfront, natural guy, who gets around on his friendly charm."[5] The actor said Sam's main passion is his motorbike. He also displays "a love of freedom" which makes him loath to settle down.[5] Grieve admitted that Sam's motorbike scenes were "camera trickery" as he did not have a driver's licence.[7] Ruben revealed that Sam would secure a job at the local coffee shop and his "rugged good looks" would make him popular.[5] Brett Thomas of The Age observed that Sam "causes much delight among the female population of Erinsborough – he is always dressed in bike leathers, or some grubby work clothes and is quite unaware of his rampant sex appeal."[8]
Grieve felt embarrassed by his character's wardrobe, describing some of the casual wear as "horrendous" and adding "He's got a couple of blue vests that may have looked trendy in the 70s, but now look decidedly naff!"[9] Serena Coneele from Inside Soap described Sam as being good-looking and nice, but revealed that he would have a few secrets up his sleeve.[10] Grieve told the writer, "Sam's unreal, I'd love to be more like him. I worry a lot more than he does and I've got a really bad temper. He's friendly and laid-back, and before long, he knows everyone in Erinsborough. He's that kind of guy!"[10] The actor added that wherever Sam went, trouble and disaster seemed to follow him around.[10] Josephine Monroe, author of Neighbours: The First 10 Years, stated that after a shaky start, Sam became popular in Ramsay Street. She also wrote that "Sam may look rough, with his stubble and oil stains, but he has proven himself to be a rough diamond."[11] Grieve later admitted that he would have liked Sam to have had more of a dark side, as he could be too good to be true at times.[12]
Serendipity Gottlieb and Squirrel
[edit]Writers created a close friendship between Sam and Serendipity Gottlieb (Raelee Hill), and Pauline Cronin of Sunday World reported that the characters were set to begin a romantic relationship.[7] Hill said it was a case of opposites attract, explaining "If only romances in Neighbours ever got a chance to get off the ground, then perhaps Sam and Serendipity could be destined for a big relationship. But you get the feeling right from the start that they're both going to move onto other people pretty fast – it's the way things happen in Neighbours."[7] Sam and Ren's romance gets off to a bad start when Sam grows jealous of her friend Paulo Cechero (Hannes Berger), something that Hill hoped the pair would get over quickly, as she was keen to work closer with Grieve.[7] She called him "one of the best friends I've ever had", revealing that he helped her settle in when she joined the cast. They also socialised during their spare time.[7]
After Sam chaperones a high school dance, he attracts the attentions of Squirrel (Brooke Howden), a young student who becomes "glued to him like a fly in Vegemite."[12] When Sam goes away on holiday with the students, Squirrel makes it clear that she has more than a crush on him. She eventually corners him and announces that she is pregnant with his child.[12] Grieve revealed "Squirrel turns out to be a bit of a psycho! She is pregnant and she's convinced herself that Sam is the father, but he can't be because they haven't even slept together."[12] Inside Soap's Victoria Ross commented that the Squirrel situation comes about just as Sam's life seems to be on "a general downward spiral".[12] He had spent weeks fighting his feelings for Annalise Hartman (Kimberley Davies), who was due to get married. When her wedding was called off, Sam provided Annalise with a shoulder to cry on.[12] But before he could declare his feelings for her, Squirrel's revelation made him think twice.[12] Grieve told Ross, "Sam doesn't tell anyone about Squirrel's accusation because he's convinced that no one will believe his story, especially Annalise. When Sam eventually tells Annalise about Squirrel's accusations, their relationship turns around because she totally believes his story and agrees to stick by him. Their friendship grows into something more serious so I suppose Squirrel did him a favour."[12]
Relationship with Annalise Hartman
[edit]Sue Malins of the Daily Mirror observed that it had been "lust at first sight" between Sam and Annalise, but writers kept her with Mark Gottlieb (Bruce Samazan), so any potential romance "seemed doomed before it had begun."[13] Davies told Malins that there was an attraction between Annalise and Sam, but she also has strong feelings for Mark, and even though their relationship is often on-off, it eventually results in their engagement.[13] However, Sam "will not surrender Annalise without a struggle" even as she plans her wedding.[13] In the 1994 season finale, Annalise is jilted at the alter by Mark, ending their relationship and leading scriptwriters to establish one between her and Sam.[14] Davies said Sam was "tall, dark and handsome" and the type of man she always thought her character would go for. She did not think Mark and Annalise had been well suited, saying that "in the end they obviously weren't."[14] Davies also noted that it was possibly too soon for Annalise to enter into a new relationship and she herself would take a long time if she had gone through a similar break up.[14] Grieve was excited to be working with Davies on the storyline, commenting "it's very easy for me when I'm playing Sam to be in awe of her."[14]
Grieve admitted to being so nervous about filming his first kissing scene with Davies that he almost got stage fright.[2] He was supposed to be portraying Sam as "a romantic hero", looking relaxed and loving, but Grieve said he was "shaking in my shoes" and thought the scene would be a mess.[2] The kiss was filmed in front of around 45 people, which did not help the portrayal of a romantic moment, and Grieve did not know Davies that well, having only worked together briefly.[2] The scene turned out well and when Sam and Annalise's relationship "took off a short time later", he and Davies had become such good friends that their kissing scenes were fun to film.[2]
In order to facilitate Davies' departure from the show, writers scripted an affair between Annalise and Stonefish Rebecchi (Anthony Engelman).[15] Sam discovers the affair when he and Stonie's mother Angie Rebecchi (Lesley Baker) catch the pair drinking champagne in bed during the 1995 season finale.[15] The affair was a surprise to all the actors involved, and Grieve admitted to being taken aback by the storyline. He told Caron James from TV Week: "I was thinking, 'Why rock the boat?'"[15] However, he realised that it would be a good acting opportunity for him, as he found it "very challenging", fun and "really, really rewarding."[15] The increasing tension suffered by Sam and Annalise also affected Grieve and Davies, as they had to film multiple scenes featuring them bickering. Grieve explained: "Kimberly and I felt it was a bit too hard and negative. We kept saying, 'This is awful! Can't we just be happy and go on picnics again?'"[15] In addition to Sam and Annalise's relationship ending, the affair negatively impacts Sam and Stonie's friendship. Grieve said that "there are certainly no holds barred in terms of the reactions the three characters have."[15]
Later storylines and departure
[edit]After discovering Annalise's affair, Sam temporarily departs the show, but returns "a changed man". He has become "embittered" and is "hell-bent on making Annalise pay for her deeds." He is also accompanied by his "evil" friend James Grimmer (Matthew Parkinson).[16]
The character embarks on a new career path after Marlene enters him into a "Grandchild of the Year" competition and he is spotted by the editor of Teen Girl magazine.[17] Sam is asked to model for the magazine and is pleasantly surprised when he is offered "a generous sum of money" to be the face of a new Stefano Gold aftershave campaign.[17] The offer of money leaves Sam "unable to resist" and he signs the contract, however, during his first photoshoot he learns that he is expected to pose in the nude.[17] A writer for Inside Soap quipped "He's always been a man of principle, but perhaps the glitz and glamour of a career in modelling have got the better of him. Still, the thought of the rest of Ramsay Street seeing him in the nude could turn him of the idea. And whatever would Marlene say?"[17] The writer noted that if Sam keeps his clothes on, it would be the perfect opportunity to show everyone that he is more than "a pretty face".[17]
Sam has a brief romance with Cody Willis (Peta Brady).[18] Following her death in March 1996, he is left "inconsolable".[19] Cody's ghost later appears to a slightly drunken Sam and tells him to get on with his life.[19]
Grieve decided to quit Neighbours in early 1996, so he could travel to the UK to appear in the West End production of Grease.[20][21] His departure occurred at a time when the serial had lost four other actors from its main cast, including Brady and Blewitt.[21] As Grieve was filming his final scenes, his agent informed him that his application for a British work visa had been turned down, following a "crackdown" on Australian actors working in the British acting industry.[21] Grieve commented: "I was aware that there could be difficulties. I'm trying to look on the bright side."[21] He insisted that he had been ready to leave Neighbours despite the setback and writers had his character "ride into the sunset."[21] Grieve hoped to secure theatre work in Australia instead.[21] In July 2005, Grieve reprised his role for the show's 20th anniversary episode, "Friends for Twenty Years".[22]
Storylines
[edit]Sam arrives in Ramsay Street when his grandmother Marlene buys Number 24 Ramsay Street from Madge Bishop (Anne Charleston). Sam moves into the house but mistakenly sells the furniture belonging to Lou Carpenter (Tom Oliver), the previous tenant instead of the old furniture Marlene has shipped to the house. This leads to Lou suspecting Sam of being dodgy but ultimately changes his mind after the mistake is explained. Sam quickly makes friends with local teenagers Brett and Danni Stark who live next door at Number 22 with their mother Cheryl Stark (Caroline Gillmer) and Lou and is later told by Marlene that the Stark kids and Cheryl are his cousins and aunt, respectively.
Annalise Hartman catches Sam's eye, but she is engaged to Mark Gottlieb (Bruce Samazan) who she is living with. Squirrel, one of Brett and Danni's classmates, takes a liking to Sam after he chaperones a dance. Sam rebuffs Squirrel, but she later returns and tells him he is the father of her baby. This is proved to be untrue when Danni urges Squirrel to confess. When Annalise returns after a holiday to get over Mark jilting her at the altar and later a cancer scare, Sam confesses his love for her and the two become an item. Sam's father, Patrick (Shane Porteous) arrives in Erinsborough keen to build bridges with his son but Sam is less than eager to reconcile with him as he and his mother had often left Sam in Marlene's care as a child while they furthered their careers. Sam is further angered when Patrick tells him that he has separated from Sarah, Sam's mother. The two men eventually reconcile after going on a Bush Retreat.
Sam notices Annalise becoming more and more distant and shows disinterest in their sex life. It soon emerges that Annalise is having an affair with Stonefish Rebecchi (Anthony Engelman). Sam is upset and throws Annalise out. Things are not helped when Sam goes to visit Annalise at a motel and finds Stonie there. This results in Sam punching Stonie. Sam and Annalise try to salvage their relationship, but are unable to and Annalise leaves for London. Sam later becomes a male model for Stefano Gold and has a relationship with Cody Willis (Peta Brady). This is cut short when Cody is shot during a siege with drug dealers and dies a week later in hospital. Sam blames himself and grieves her death until Cody appears to him as ghostly during a whisky-induced hallucination and tells him to get on with his life. When Sam wakes up, he finds one of Cody's rings in his hand.
Annalise later gets in touch with Sam and tells him she wants to reconcile in London and they can travel Europe together. Sam jumps at the chance and leaves after attending the wedding of Annalise's sister Joanna (Emma Harrison) to Rob Evans (Graham Harvey). Sam sells his Handy Sam's business to Malcolm Kennedy (Benjamin McNair). Sam and Annalise marry. Five years later, Sam appears in Annalise's documentary about Ramsay Street and says the girls were the best reason to live on Ramsay Street, although Annalise was the only one for him.
Reception
[edit]For his portrayal of Sam, Grieve received a nomination for Most Popular Newcomer at the first National Television Awards in 1995.[23] The Age's Brett Thomas reported favourably on Grieve's casting as part of the newspaper's "Television This Week" feature. He wrote "Hunk alert, hunk alert! The casting move guaranteed to give any teen soap a bit of extra zing – the introduction of a new heartthrob – occurs on Neighbours this week when 24-year-old Richard Grieve joins the crew."[8] Thomas also compared Sam to Grant Show's Melrose Place character Jake Hanson, adding that fans of that show "may sense a touch of the Jake factor here."[8] When he made his debut in the UK, Serena Coneele from Inside Soap stated "At long last, a hunk who isn't squeaky clean is about to burn into Ramsay Street on a motorbike! Sam Kratz looks set to get the Erinsborough women running hell for leather to their make-up bags, and with his smouldering looks, it's not difficult to see why."[10]
A reporter for the Weekly News called the character "kind-hearted" and a "heart-throb".[2] They reported that Grieve received "the biggest sack of fan mail" out of all the male actors, and he said that fans often gave him advice on what his character should do, while others told him about their troubles.[2] Josephine Monroe commented that Sam was "a handsome biker always on the edge of the law".[6] John Millar from the Daily Record thought Sam was "a few shrimps short of the barbie" and added "I have had grave fears about Sam's sanity ever since I spotted a poster for the Elvis film flop Harum Scarum on his wall. If he thought that was good, then there's no hope for him."[24]
The Sun-Herald's Pamela Jane called Sam "sexy", while her colleague Rachel Browne branded him a "motor bike-riding rough diamond".[4][25] When Sam and Annalise began dating, Sue Malins of the Daily Mirror said "the next red-hot Ramsay Street romance is about to start sizzling."[13] A writer for the BBC's Neighbours website said that Sam's most notable moment was "Confessing his love for Annalise."[26]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Richard Grieve". The Best of Aussie Soaps from TV Week. No. 1. 1995. pp. 10–11.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Richard feared love scene would be a total nightmare". Weekly News. 20 April 1996. Retrieved 26 June 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ "Profile: Richard Grieve". Inside Soap. No. 39. October 1995. p. 30.
- ^ a b Browne, Rachel (22 April 1995). "Just wild about Troppo". The Sun-Herald. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
- ^ a b c d Ruben, Amanda; James, Caron (18 June 1994). "New kids on the block". TV Week. No. 51. pp. 62–63.
- ^ a b c d Monroe 1996, p. 35.
- ^ a b c d e Cronin, Pauline (11 June 1995). "Sizzling fling on Ramsey Street". Sunday World. Retrieved 23 June 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b c Thomas, Brett (12 June 1994). "Television this week – Neighbours". The Age. Retrieved 25 June 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Dunn, Judith (9 November 1995). "He hates that look!". Shields Daily Gazette. Retrieved 23 June 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b c d Coneele, Serena (April 1995). "Ramsay Street's Prince Charming". Inside Soap. No. 32. p. 32.
- ^ Monroe 1996, p. 36.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Ross, Victoria (September 1995). "Don't call me Daddy". Inside Soap. No. 37. p. 53.
- ^ a b c d Malins, Sue (5 April 1995). "New Neighbour Sam makes his Mark". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 23 June 2025 – via British Newspaper Archive.
- ^ a b c d Ruben, Amanda (7 January 1995). "On the rebound!". TV Week. pp. 18–19.
- ^ a b c d e f James, Caron (11 November 1995). "Kimberley's final fling!". TV Week. pp. 4–5.
- ^ "Monday 5 August – Neighbours". Inside Soap. No. 54. 27 July – 9 August 1996. p. 56.
- ^ a b c d e "Centrefold!". Inside Soap. No. 58. 21 September – 4 October 1996. pp. 40–41.
- ^ Malins, Sue (23 September 1996). "Glad To Get The Bullet; Interview : Peta Brady". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 26 June 2025.
- ^ a b "3 October Thursday – Neighbours". Inside Soap. No. 58. 21 September – 4 October 1996. p. 59.
- ^ Friend, Bernie (28 August 2008). "Footloose role for Aussie soap star". Southend Echo. Archived from the original on 20 April 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f "Richard's quit Neighbours for nothing!". Inside Soap. No. 49. 18–31 May 1996. p. 17.
- ^ Green, Kris (14 April 2005). "More Neighbours returns confirmed". Digital Spy. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 24 January 2010.
- ^ "Vote! Vote! Vote!". Inside Soap. No. 35. July 1995. pp. 35–36.
- ^ Millar, John (14 August 1996). "Flings can only get worse for lucky Luke". Daily Record. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2012.
- ^ Jane, Pamela (15 January 1995). "Poolside romance". The Sun-Herald. Retrieved 25 June 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Character: Sam Kratz". BBC Online. Archived from the original on 22 June 2003. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
- Monroe, Josephine (1996). Neighbours: The First 10 Years. Penguin Group. ISBN 978-0-7181-4212-4.