Samuel Kitchener "Sam" Pearson is a fictional character in the popular ITV soap opera Emmerdale played by Toke Townley, for 12 years from the serial's opening episode in 1972 until Townley's death in September 1984, almost two months prior to the character's death. Sam was the father of Annie Sugden and grandfather to Peggy Skilbeck, Joe Sugden and Jack Sugden. Sam was one of the original nine characters of the series.