Sam Gannon, the actor who played horse-drawn carriage coachman Kev in the ITV soap Emmerdale, died suddenly at the age of 31 while visiting relatives in California in 2022. His mother, Angela Gannon, said a cardiac condition he had suffered as a youngster had "reared its ugly head" in the months before his death.
Career and roles
Gannon appeared in two episodes of Emmerdale in 2019, performing opposite Emma Atkins, who plays Charity Dingle. He also featured in the TV series Tales of Bacon and the film Babes with Blades.
Although he was making inroads on television, he was primarily known for his theatrical work. Raised in Brayton, near Selby in North Yorkshire, he joined the Northumberland Theatre Company.
Tributes and funeral
Following his death, the theatre company released a statement: "He delighted audiences with his charm, his wit and his wonderful musical abilities."
"Sam was described by many as being like a human Duracell bunny, with limitless energy, always running around the rehearsal room and almost having too many creative ideas to keep locked up in his brain. In short, Sam could be a handful at times! But he was always fantastic as soon as you got him on that stage."
His mother said at the time: "You just don't expect these things to happen, especially to a young man of 31 who was having the time of his life. He was having a great time, up in the mountains shooting tin cans, building stables for horses."
A crowdfunding campaign was launched to raise funds to bring Gannon home, and his funeral took place at York Minster in October 2022. Relatives encouraged attendees to wear vibrant colours in memory of the "sensitive, caring man".
Legacy and fundraising
Jonathan Kelly, who initiated the Just Giving appeal, wrote: "Sam was a true performer, and any extra money raised will be donated to a UK charity supporting youth theatre, a cause close to Sam's heart."
Gannon's sister, Amy, is also looking at setting up a foundation in his name to support people in a similar position who need extra support. The remaining funds were donated to youth theatre due to Gannon's deep passion for his profession.
