Actor. He was best known for playing the character roles of clerks, priests, and doctors, usually in action, crime, or western films and television series. He will be best remembered for playing the role of the 'Clerk' in the mystery thriller film drama, "In The Heat Of The Night" (1967). The film which was directed by Norman Jewison, which was based on the novel of the same name by John Ball, which was written for the screen by Stirling Silliphant, and which also starred Sidney Poitier, Rod Steiger, and Warren Oates, tells the story of a black Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, police detective who is mistakenly suspected of a local murder while passing through a racially hostile Mississippi town, and after being cleared he is reluctantly asked by the police chief to investigate the case. The film was nominated or won numerous awards including an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for Rod Steiger as 'Chief Bill Gillespie.' He was born one of three children as Samuel Pharr Reese in Montgomery, Alabama, to John D. Reese Jr. (1888-1975), and his wife Mary S. Pharr Reese (1891-1988), on September 11, 1930. He was educated locally in elementary school and later attended Lanier High School in Montgomery, Alabama. Following his education, he became interested in acting, and then went to New York City, New York, to study acting at the Feagins School of Drama, and then he eventually went on and performed at the Summerstock Theater in New England for three years before he moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue his acting career further. He made his actual television debut in the episode entitled, "Decoy," of the classic action crime drama television series, "The Detectives," which originally aired on November 6, 1959, and which also starred Robert Taylor, Tige Andrews, and Russell Thorson. Besides, "In The Heat Of The Night" (1967), his many other film credits include, "PT 109" (1963), "Captain Newman, M.D." (1963), and "King Rat" (1965)." Besides, the episode entitled, "Decoy," of the classic action crime drama television series, "The Detectives," which originally aired on November 6, 1959, his many other television credits include, "Law Of The Plainsman," "Black Saddle," "Zane Grey Theatre," "Death Valley Days," "Dr. Kildare," "The Virginian," 'The Outer Limits," "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour," "Kentucky Jones," "That Girl," "The Andy Griffith Show," "Gunsmoke," "The Big Valley," "Occasional Wife," "Iron Horse," and "I Spy." His last film role was playing the 'Priest' in the comedy-drama western film, "The Traveling Executioner" (1970). The film which was directed by Jack Smight, which was written for the screen by Garrie Bateson, and which also starred Stacy Keach, Marianna Hill, and Bud Cort, tells the story of Jonas Candide, an ex-carny who in 1918 travels around the bayou with a portable electric chair. At $100 a head, he renders his services with loving care. But then he falls for a female "client." He retired from acting shortly thereafter and returned home to his native Montgomery, Alabama. He did, however, work as a dialogue coach on the films, "Making It" (1971), and "Ace Eli And Rodger Of The Skies" (1973). He also wrote television scripts for the long-running television soap opera, "The Search For Tomorrow," and scripts for film producer and film director Alfred Hitchcock, and was also called upon occasionally out of retirement by studios to help coach actors and actresses on Southern speech including Ann-Margret for her appearance in the television production of Tennessee Williams play, "A Streetcar Named Desire" (1984). He also wrote the novel, "I'm Waiting" (1974). He was also known as Sammie Reese. He passed away from an extended illness following a stroke in Montgomery, Alabama, on September 11, 1985, on his 55th birthday. Other sources differ and give a date of death of September 12, 1985. A longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church in Montgomery, Alabama, his funeral service was held through the Leak-Memory Chapel and he was buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Montgomery, Alabama. He never married nor had any children.