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Sam Cooke (I) (1931–1964)

Soundtrack | Actor

Sam Cooke was born January 22, 1931 in Clarksdale, Mississippi. He was one of eight children of Charles Cook Sr., a Baptist minister. When Sam sang as a little boy in church, everyone made note that his voice had "something special". He sang in church and in local gospel choirs until a group called the Highway Q.C.'s asked him to sing with them at various venues... See full bio »

Born:

Samuel Cook
in Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA

Died:

(age 33) in Los Angeles, California, USA
1 video | 163 news articles »

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Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideSoundtrack (77 titles)
2013 The Voice UK (TV series)
– Blind Auditions 2 (2013) (writer: "A Change Is Gonna Come" - uncredited)
 
2012 Scandal (TV series)
– Sweet Baby (2012) ("Nothing Can Change This Love" - uncredited)
 
2012 Dancing with the Stars (TV series)
– Personal Story/Memorable Year Week (2012) (writer: "Cupid" / "Cupid")
 
2011 The Playboy Club (TV series)
– The Dream House and How to Avoid It (writer: "Having a Party")
 
2011 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (TV series)
– Episode #19.173 (2011) (writer: "Wonderful World" - uncredited / performer: "Wonderful World" - uncredited)
 
2011 Green Lantern (writer: "That's Where It's At" / performer: "That's Where It's At")
 
2010-2011 Rock & Chips (TV series)
– The Frog and the Pussycat (2011) (writer: "Twisting the Night Away" / performer: "Twisting the Night Away")
– Five Gold Rings (2010) (writer: "Chain Gang" / performer: "Chain Gang")
– Pilot (2010) (writer: "Wonderful World" - uncredited / performer: "Wonderful World" - uncredited)
 
2011 The Green Hornet (writer: "Twisting The Night Away" / performer: "Twisting The Night Away")
 
2010 The X Factor (TV series)
– Episode #7.5 (2010) (writer: "A Change Is Gonna Come")
 
2010 The Big C (TV series)
– Pilot (2010) ("This little light of mine" - uncredited)
 
2010 Atop the Fourth Wall (TV series)
– Athena #1 (2010) ("Twistin' the Night Away")
 
2010/I Valentine's Day (writer: "Cupid")
 
2009 Soul Kitchen (performer: "Ain't That Good News")
 
2009 Familjen Babajou (TV series)
– Del 1 (2009) (writer: "A Change Is Gonna Come" / performer: "A Change Is Gonna Come")
 
2008 Eli Stone (TV series)
– Help! (2008) (writer: "A Change Is Gonna Come" - uncredited)
 
2008 The Secret Life of Bees (writer: "I'm Alright" 1986)
 
2008 The Wire (TV series)
– Took (2008) (performer: "Shake")
 
2007 How Soon Is Now? (TV mini-series)
– 1968-1969 (2007) (writer: "Shake")
 
2007 Dennis Locorriere: The Unique Voice of Dr. Hook - Hits and History Tour Live (video) (writer: "Only Sixteen")
 
2007 American Masters (TV series documentary)
– Les Paul: Chasing Sound (2007) ("Ain't That Good News")
 
2007 Talk to Me (writer: "Sweet Soul Music", "A Change Is Gonna Come" / performer: "A Change Is Gonna Come")
 
2007 Daddy's Little Girls (writer: "A Change Is Gonna Come")
 
2006 The Holiday (writer: "You Send Me" 1957)
 
2006 Independent Lens (TV series documentary)
– Negroes with Guns: Rob Williams and Black Power (2006) (writer: "A Change is Gonna Come")
 
2005 Fun with Dick and Jane (performer: "The Best Things in Life Are Free" 1927)
 
2005/I Hitch (writer: " What a Wonderful World" 1958 / performer: " What a Wonderful World" 1958)
 
2004 The West Wing (TV series)
– A Change Is Gonna Come (2004) (writer: "A Change Is Gonna Come")
 
2004 Alone with Dennis Locorriere (video documentary) (writer: "Only Sixteen")
 
2004 Cat Stevens: Majikat (TV movie) (writer: "Another Saturday Night")
 
2004 Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (writer: "You Send Me")
 
2003 Frankie and Johnny Are Married (performer: "Frankie and Johnny" / arranger: "Frankie and Johnny")
 
2002 Crazy as Hell ("Trouble in Mind")
 
2001 Ali (writer: "Twisting the Night Away", " Don't Fight It Feel It", "Somebody Have Mercy", "It's All Right", "You Send Me", "Bring It on Home to Me", "A Change Is Gonna Come")
 
2000 Pay It Forward (writer: "You Gotta Move", "Win Your Love for Me")
 
1998 The Roseanne Show (TV series)
– Episode #1.11 (1998) (writer: "A Change Is Gonna Come")
 
1998 Lindenstraße (TV series)
– Unter Zwang (1998) (writer: "Wonderful World" - uncredited / performer: "Wonderful World" - uncredited)
 
1996 Married with Children (TV series)
– The Joke's on Al (1996) (writer: "The Chain Gang")
 
1994 Wild Reeds (writer: "Run Away")
 
1993 Mr. Bean (TV series)
– Blind Date (1993) (writer: "Cupid" - uncredited / performer: "Cupid" - uncredited)
 
1993 Hollywood's Leading Ladies with David Sheehan (TV documentary) (writer: "Cupid" - uncredited / performer: "Cupid" - uncredited)
 
1992 Malcolm X (writer: "A Change is Gonna Come" / performer: "A Change is Gonna Come")
 
1990 Rampe & Naukkis - Kaikkien aikojen superpari (writer: "Sweet Soul Music" / arranger: "Sweet Soul Music")
 
1990 Parker Lewis Can't Lose (TV series)
– Pilot (1990) (writer: " What A Wonderful World" - uncredited)
 
1990 Cadence (writer: "Chain Gang")
 
1990 House Party (writer: "Bad Boy / Having a Party")
 
1989/I True Love (writer: "Cupid")
 
1988 She's Having a Baby (writer: "CHAIN GANG" / performer: "CHAIN GANG")
 
1987 Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam (TV documentary) (writer: "A CHANGE IS GONNA COME" / performer: "A CHANGE IS GONNA COME")
 
1987 Otto - Der Neue Film (writer: "What a Wonderful World" / performer: "What a Wonderful World")
 
1987 Innerspace (writer: "Twistin' the Night Away", "TWISTIN' THE NIGHT AWAY", "CUPID" / performer: "TWISTIN' THE NIGHT AWAY", "CUPID")
 
1987 Adventures in Babysitting (music: "Bring It On Home To Me" / lyrics: "Bring It On Home To Me" / performer: "Bring It On Home To Me")
 
1987 Heaven (documentary) (writer: "That's Heaven To Me" / performer: "That's Heaven To Me")
 
1987 Rags to Riches (TV series)
– Pilot (1987) (writer: "Chain Gang")
 
1987 The Best of Bandstand: The Superstars (video short) (writer: "Good News" / performer: "Good News")
 
1986 That's Life! (writer: "HAVING A PARTY" / performer: "HAVING A PARTY")
 
1985 Miami Vice (TV series)
– Buddies (1985) (writer: "Sweet Soul Music" - uncredited)
 
1985 Happy Families (TV series)
– Edith (1985) ("Chain Cang")
 
1985 Sweet Dreams (performer: "You Send Me")
 
1985 Blue Money (TV movie) (writer: "Shake")
 
1985 Moonlighting (TV series)
– Next Stop Murder (1985) (writer: "Chain Gang")
 
1985 Witness (writer: " WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD" 1959)
 
1984 The Flamingo Kid (writer: "Chain Gang" / performer: "Chain Gang")
 
1984 Roman Za'ir (performer: "What a Wonderful World")
 
1983 Breathless (writer: " What A Wonderful World" / performer: " What A Wonderful World")
 
1981 An American Werewolf in London (performer: "BLUE MOON")
 
1981 American Pop (writer: "You Send Me" / performer: "You Send Me")
 
1980 The Blues Brothers (writer: "SOOTHE ME", "HOLD ON, I'M COMIN'")
 
1978 Animal House (performer: "Wonderful World", "Twistin' the Night Away")
 
1978 The Buddy Holly Story (writer: "You Send Me" - uncredited)
 
1977 Between the Lines (writer: "Havin' A Party")
 
1975 The Old Grey Whistle Test (TV series)
– Dr. Hook (1975) (writer: "Only Sixteen")
 
1970 This Is Tom Jones (TV series documentary)
– Episode #3.9 (1970) (writer: "Ain't That Good News?" - uncredited)
 
1970 Pornography in Denmark: A New Approach (documentary) (writer: "Shake" - uncredited)
 
1964-1965 Shindig! (TV series)
– Episode #2.11 (1965) (writer: "Shake")
– Episode #1.46 (1965) (writer: "Only Sixteen")
– Episode #1.43 (1965) (writer: "Bring It Home to Me")
– Episode #1.2 (1964) (performer: "The Girl from Ipanema", "Hi-Lili, Hi-Lo")
 
1963 The Jerry Lewis Show (TV series)
– Episode #1.11 (1963) (writer: "Twistin' the Night Away" / performer: "Twistin' the Night Away", "The Riddle Song I Gave My Love a Cherry")
 
1958 Houseboat (performer: "Love Song from Houseboat Almost in Your Arms")
 
1958 The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (TV series)
– Episode #3.16 (1958) (performer: "Ol' Man River")
 
Show ShowActor (1 title)
1960 G.E. True Theater (TV series)
Sam
– The Patsy (1960) … Sam
 
Show ShowSelf (17 titles)
1964 Shindig! (TV series)
Himself - Singer
– Episode #1.1 (1964) … Himself - Singer
 
1964 Missing Links (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 30 June 1964 (1964) … Himself
 
1957-1964 New American Bandstand 1965 (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #7.28 (1964) … Himself
– Episode #2.216 (1959) … Himself
– Episode #1.130 (1958) … Himself
– Episode #1.94 (1957) … Himself
 
1964 The Mike Douglas Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 18 February 1964 (1964) … Himself
 
1962-1964 The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 7 February 1964 (1964) … Himself
– Episode dated 16 November 1962 (1962) … Himself
 
1963 The Jerry Lewis Show (TV series)
Himself - Singer
– Episode #1.11 (1963) … Himself - Singer
 
1963 The Merv Griffin Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #1.116 (1963) … Himself
 
1963 Music Shop (TV movie)
Himself
 
1962 Thank Your Lucky Stars (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #3.7 (1962) … Himself
 
1961 Play Your Hunch (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 13 April 1961 (1961) … Himself
 
1958-1959 The Dick Clark Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #2.28 (1959) … Himself
– Episode #2.6 (1958) … Himself
– Episode #1.6 (1958) … Himself
 
1958 The Arthur Murray Party (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 6 October 1958 (1958) … Himself
 
1958 The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (TV series)
Himself - Singer
– Episode #3.23 (1958) … Himself - Singer
– Episode #3.16 (1958) … Himself - Singer
 
1958 The Big Record (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #1.20 (1958) … Himself
 
1957 Club 60 (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 4 December 1957 (1957) … Himself
 
1957 The Ed Sullivan Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #11.10 (1957) … Himself
– Episode #11.6 (1957) … Himself
 
1957 The Guy Mitchell Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #1.6 (1957) … Himself
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (8 titles)
2011 Tracks (TV series documentary)
 
2008 The Wrecking Crew (documentary)
Himself
 
2005 Soul Deep: The Story of Black Popular Music
Himself
 
2003 Sam Cooke: Legend (video documentary)
Himself
 
1995 Rock & Roll (TV mini-series documentary)
Himself
 
1995 The History of Rock 'N' Roll, Vol. 5 (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1993 Apollo Theatre Hall of Fame (TV special documentary)
Himself
 
1987 The Best of Bandstand: The Superstars (video short)
Himself
 

Related Videos

The Voice: Season 2: Episode 10 -- Christina watches as Jesse Campbell delivers his take on Sam Cooke's "What a Wonderful World."
Edit

Personal Details

Other Works:

CD: "Greatest Hits" (RCA) See more »

Publicity Listings:

1 Biographical Movie  | 1 Print Biography  | 6 Articles  | See more »

Alternate Names:

Dale Cooke

Height:

5' 10" (1.78 m)
Edit

Did You Know?

Trivia:

He was a huge influence on other R&B and rock-'n-roll singers. Among others, Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye considered him a favorite. See more »

Star Sign:

Aquarius