- His mother, Prunella Scales, starred in the vastly popular British comedy series Fawlty Towers (1975) with John Cleese. Sam once said that in his teens he used to frequent the set and that Mr. Cleese would ask him if he had any good ideas for insults to put into the show.
- Won the prestigious London Critic's Circle best Shakespearean performance award for playing 'Hamlet'.
- He is a frequent co-star of his father, Timothy West. In many of the production in which they appear together, they play father and son.
- His mother, Prunella Scales, played Queen Elizabeth II in A Question of Attribution (1991) about the life of Anthony Blunt. He played Blunt in Cambridge Spies (2003). He would later play Queen Elizabeth II's father King George VI in Hyde Park on Hudson (2012).
- He is a highly respected Shakespearean actor who has played both Richard II and Hamlet for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
- Attended Oxford 1985-1988. BA honors English literature.
- Has twice portrayed Prince Albert Victor Eddy (son of Edward VII) on television: first, as a child, in Edward the King (1975) and later as the Duke of Clarence in The Ripper (1997).
- Succeeded Michael Grandage as artistic director of Sheffield Theatres in 2005.
- He is a huge fan of Doctor Who (1963).
- He was awarded the John and Wendy Trewin Award for Best Shakespearian Performance at the 2001 London Critics Circle Theatre Award (Drama) for his performance in Hamlet at the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Barbican Theatre.
- Resigned as artistic director of Sheffield Theatres in December 2006; will leave role in April 2007.
- Hobbies include cooking, gardening, poker, and traveling. Collects stamps and board games.
- Became a father for the 1st time at age 47 when his partner Laura Wade gave birth to their daughter on May 3, 2014.
- Became a father for the 2nd time at age 51 when his partner Laura Wade gave birth to their daughter on August 19, 2017.
- Performing in Harold Pinter's play, "Betrayal", at the Donmar Warehouse, London as the character of "Robert". (June 2007)
- He played Eddy, HRH Prince Albert Victor of Wales, in both Edward the King (1975) and The Ripper (1997). His mother Prunella Scales later played Queen Victoria, Eddy's grandmother, in Looking for Victoria (2003).
- Performing in a T.S. Eliot play, "Family Reunion", at the Donmar Warehouse in London as the character of "Harry". (November 2008)
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