Samuel Lamar Jordan, actor and playwright, formerly of Chicago, Illinois, Memphis, Tennessee, and Boston, Massachusetts, died Tuesday August 8, 2000, at Providence St. Joseph's Hospital, Burbank, California, of complications of aplastic anemia.

Samuel Jordan was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and grew up in Lexington, Massachusetts, where he displayed acting talent at an early age. While in high school, he toured with the Youth Expression Theater of Cambridge, Massachusetts, a troupe of adolescent actors coached in improvising skits on themes of adolescent experience before peer audiences around the state. He also made his first television appearance co-starring in the drama Breaking the Ice produced in Boston and aired nationally.

After graduating from Lexington High School, Jordan entered Boston University's School of the Arts to pursue formal study of acting, and later he transferred to the University of Memphis from which he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in theater performance in 1993. As a student actor, he gave a number of highly-commended performances in leading and supporting roles, receiving the 1992-93 Memphis Theater Award for his role of Falstaff in Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor. Following graduation he worked as a journeyman actor in Memphis garnering leading and supporting roles at Theatre Memphis, Playhouse on the Square and Circuit Playhouse and with the River City Shakespeare Festival. Most notable were his appearances as Boy Willie in August Wilson's Piano Lesson at Playhouse on the Square (for which he received a Pyramid of Excellence Award) and "T.O." Jones, original organizer of the 1968 garbagemen's strike, in a production of I AM A MAN at Shelby State Community College.

Late in 1994, Jordan moved to Chicago to seek opportunities in a larger theatrical environment. He was soon cast in three short plays and shortly thereafter in a production of Our Town at Bailiwick Repertory Theater, presented simultaneously in voice, sign language and pantomime. In addition to making other acting appearances, Jordan continued the writing of plays, a pursuit begun while a student. He founded the "hOstage tHeater cOmpany" for which he produced six plays, including two of his own works Wall Fly and American Heart and an early work by Amiri Baraki (Leroy Jones) The Slave, to generally acclaiming reviews. Chicago playwrights and looked forward to his promising future playwright career. For three years he was coordinator of the Directors' Festival at the Bailiwick Theater. In 1998, he co-starred in episodes of the Early Edition and E.R. television series.

To stimulate his professional career, Jordan relocated to North Hollywood, California in October 1999. He was establishing himself locally as an actor and writer, and had begun several new projects, including a screen play That Prairie Speed Kills, when he was suddenly struck ill in June 2000.

Samuel Lamar Jordan was a member of the Memphis Friends Meeting of The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). He is survived by his parents, Lawrence and Carolyne Jordan of Memphis, Tennessee, his sister Lara Jordan James, brother-in-law David Alan James and nephews Davis Alexander James and Aaron Lawson James of Acton, Massachusetts, his aunts Rosemary Jordan McClain of Annapolis, Maryland, Claire Lamar Carey of Wilmington, Deleware, and Julia Lamar Langston of Madison, North Carolina, great aunts Juanita James Johnson of Tallahassee, Florida and Janie B. Holder of Chattanooga, Tennessee, cousins Tracy Williams, Ill, Peter Williams, Serena Williams, Nita Williams Walker, Mayme Williams Nwaneri, Dollie Williams Banks, Robert Williams, Carmella McClain and Mona McClain Postlewaite who reside in several East Coast and Midwest cities, and a host of beloved friends and colleagues.

A celebration of Samuel Jordan's life will be held on Saturday, August 26, 2000 at 3:00 PM in the Main Stage Theater of the University of Memphis, Central Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his name may be made to:

Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation
P.O. Box 587
Annapolis, Maryland 21404

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