Samuel Osei Sarpong Jr. (19 December 1974 – 26 October 2015) was a British-born American actor, model, and musician. He performed in over sixty feature films and fifty-five television shows, including such films as Carmen The Hip Hopera, Love Don't Cost a Thing, Keeping Up with the Steins, Anchor Baby and No Weapons, for which he won best lead actor at the San Diego Black Film Festival. He was also the host on MTV's Yo Momma "Actor Sam Sarpong is a perfect role model." The News Letter, 5 August 2005. for three seasons. He was one of the first black male models for designer Tommy Hilfiger and was the face of the brand for over six years.Tim Engle, "Singing, acting, modeling: Sam Sarpong is on the verge of something big" , Kansas City Star, 24 May 2008 (pay site).

Personal life and death Sam Sarpong was born in London and moved to Los Angeles with his father, Sam Sarpong Sr., who is a native of Ghana, when he was 11 years old. He attended El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, California, where he was a basketball star. When his father moved to Pasadena, Sarpong lived with a friend's family so he could continue attending El Camino Real. When his aspirations for a college and professional basketball career proved unsuccessful, he turned to acting and modelling.Fernando Dominguez, "Running the Fast Break Again : Two Years Out of High School, Sarpong Homes In on Show-Business Career", Los Angeles Times, 2 July 1995.

Sarpong died on 26 October 2015 at the age of 40 after jumping from the Colorado Street Bridge in Pasadena, California. His death was ruled a suicide by the Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner, pending an autopsy.

Career Sarpong was a co-host of MTV's show Yo Momma, and had since gone on to serve as the host of the BET Awards pre-show All Access, for seven years. At the 2013 BET Awards, he presented the "Best International Artist" category.

Sarpong starred as Paul Unanga in the film Anchor Baby and won Best Lead Actor for this role at the 2012 New York Film Festival. He also guest-starred in "Lord of the Bling", an episode of Veronica Mars.

Sarpong was a fashion editorial magazine campaign for the brand Louis Vuitton, a recipient of the MAA Fashion Award for Male Model of the Year, and twice named by Today's Black Woman magazine on their "Fifty Most Beautiful People" list. He was added to Us Weekly′s "Hot 100 Young Hollywood with Style" list in 2007.Albert Benefo Buabeng, "10 facts about the late Sam Sarpong" , Pulse.com.gh, 29 October 2015.

Sarpong was featured in modelling campaigns for the brand Boy London, and in the past served as the international face of the Nelson Mandela Foundation clothing line.

He posthumously appeared in the seventh episode of American Crime Story playing Byron/Neighbor Man No. 1.

Selected filmography

Sunset Park (1996) – Washington Heights Basketball Player (uncredited) No Easy Way (1996) – Gee (uncredited) Carnival of Wolves (1996) – Gang member #3 All's Fair in Love & War (1997) Mr. Show with Bob and David (1997-1998) – Professor Murder American History X (1998) – Jail Inmate (uncredited) Hash Brown's (1999) – Gangster Touch (2000) Chasing Sunsets (2001) – Terrance King Rikki (2002) – Louis Masked and Anonymous (2003) – Blunt Swirl (2003) – Max (uncredited) Love Don't Cost a Thing (2003) – Kadeem Everybody Hates Chris (2005, TV Series) – Mario ("Everybody Hates Babysitters") Johnny Was (2006) – Skip Keeping Up with the Steins (2006) – Terrence Smythe Grad Night (2006) – Jerrod Elliott Nailed (2006) – Scott Scott Marked (2007) – Marcus Young Cesar (2007) – Tariq Grindin (2007) – Morris Carts (2007) – Conrad 7-10 Split (2007) – Himself (uncredited) The Sweep (2008) – Chrome Unemployed (2008) – Big Dime Farm House (2008) – Jonas Single Black Female (2009) – Will The House That Jack Built (2009) – Mace Dedd Brothers (2009) – Sugar Church (2010) – Jay Anchor Baby (2010) – Paul Unanga The Preacher's Family (2011) – Deion Hines Trigger (2012) – Trey Crossed the Line (2014) – Twist Battered (2014) – Ray Fleming Tamales and Gumbo (2015) No Weapon Formed Against Us (2015) – Deion

References

External links

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