Sam Kratz
Sam Kratz is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Neighbours, played by Richard Grieve. Grieve was unsure about attending the audition for the character when he learned that producers were looking for "a mega-hunk". He borrowed a leather jacket to make himself look more like the character, and he was told that he had the role a week after the audition. He relocated to Melbourne for filming and Neighbours marked his first major television role. He made his first appearance during the episode broadcast on 13 June 1994. The character was created following the departure of the serial's male "pin-up" Brad Willis. He was given immediate links to other characters through his grandmother, Marlene Kratz, who asks him to check on her recent house purchase. Grieve described his character as friendly, laid-back, upfront, and a "natural guy". He wanted to be more like Sam, as he did not worry as much as Grieve or have a bad temper.
Sam's passion is his motorbike and he is often seen in leathers. Grieve admitted that scenes of him riding the bike were "camera trickery" as he did not have a licence. Sam is popular with the female characters. He befriends Serendipity Gottlieb and they have a brief relationship. Sam later attracts the attentions of school student Squirrel, who develops a crush on him. She announces that she is pregnant with his child, despite them never having sex. The situation occurs at bad time for Sam, who is experiencing a "downward spiral". However, it also brings him and Annalise Hartman closer, as she believes he is innocent. There was an instant attraction between Sam and Annalise, but writers kept her with Mark Gottlieb, until their wedding day in the 1994 season finale, where Mark broke up with her. Davies thought Sam was the type of man her character would normally go for.
In order to facilitate Davies' departure from the show, writers scripted an affair between Annalise and Sam's friend Stonefish Rebecchi, which he discovers during the 1995 season finale. Grieve admitted to being taken aback by the storyline, but found it to be both challenging and rewarding. Sam and Stonie's friendship is badly impacted by the affair and Sam becomes embittered. Later storylines saw him embark on a career as a model and establish a relationship with Cody Willis. For his portrayal of Sam, Grieve was nominated for Most Popular Newcomer at the National Television Awards in 1995. Critics also branded him a "heart-throb", a "hunk" and a "rough diamond". At the time, Grieve received the most fan mail out of all the male actors. Grieve quit Neighbours in early 1996 to pursue his career overseas, and his departure aired on 21 June 1996. Grieve reprised his role for the show's 20th anniversary episode in July 2005, and for a guest stint on 13 August 2025 until 4 December 2025.
Casting
After appearing in various theatre productions and small guest roles in E Street and Newlyweds, Grieve was offered the chance to audition for Neighbours. He was unsure about attending after learning that the casting directors were looking for "a mega-hunk" and he did not think that he fit the description. However, he borrowed a leather jacket from a friend to make himself look a bit like the character of Sam and he was told that he had the role a week later. He admitted that "No-one was more surprised than me." He also revealed that he used to watch the serial and had hoped that he would be able to join it or something similar. Grieve relocated from Sydney to Melbourne for filming, and Neighbours marked his first major television role. His character was created to fill the void left by the departure of "pin-up boy" Brad Willis. Grieve later stated that he had no regrets about taking on a continuing role on the soap, saying "I'm thrilled with the way things have gone. I was very nervous when I first started because it was a long-running job but it's turned out well." Grieve made his first appearance as Sam during the episode broadcast on 13 June 1994.Development
Characterisation and introduction
The character's introduction sees him arrive on Ramsay Street, after his grandmother, Marlene Kratz asks him to check out the house she has purchased. He befriends Brett Stark and Danni Stark, who starts to look up to him, as she thinks he is "glamorous". When Marlene arrives in town, she tells Sam that Brett and Danni are actually his cousins. Describing his character, Grieve told Amanda Ruben from TV Week: "Sam is just an upfront, natural guy, who gets around on his friendly charm." The actor said Sam's main passion is his motorbike. He also displays "a love of freedom" which makes him loath to settle down. Grieve admitted that Sam's motorbike scenes were "camera trickery" as he did not have a driver's licence. Ruben revealed that Sam would secure a job at the local coffee shop and his "rugged good looks" would make him popular. Brett Thomas of The Age observed that Sam "causes much delight among the female population of Erinsborough – he is always dressed in bike leathers, or some grubby work clothes and is quite unaware of his rampant sex appeal."Grieve felt embarrassed by his character's wardrobe, describing some of the casual wear as "horrendous" and adding "He's got a couple of blue vests that may have looked trendy in the 70s, but now look decidedly naff!" Serena Coneele from Inside Soap described Sam as being good-looking and nice, but revealed that he would have a few secrets up his sleeve. Grieve told the writer, "Sam's unreal, I'd love to be more like him. I worry a lot more than he does and I've got a really bad temper. He's friendly and laid-back, and before long, he knows everyone in Erinsborough. He's that kind of guy!" The actor added that wherever Sam went, trouble and disaster seemed to follow him around. Josephine Monroe, author of Neighbours: The First 10 Years, stated that after a shaky start, Sam became popular in Ramsay Street. She also wrote that "Sam may look rough, with his stubble and oil stains, but he has proven himself to be a rough diamond." Grieve later admitted that he would have liked Sam to have had more of a dark side, as he could be too good to be true at times.
Serendipity Gottlieb and Squirrel
Writers created a close friendship between Sam and Serendipity Gottlieb, and Pauline Cronin of Sunday World reported that the characters were set to begin a romantic relationship. Hill said it was a case of opposites attract, explaining "If only romances in Neighbours ever got a chance to get off the ground, then perhaps Sam and Serendipity could be destined for a big relationship. But you get the feeling right from the start that they're both going to move onto other people pretty fast – it's the way things happen in Neighbours." Sam and Ren's romance gets off to a bad start when Sam grows jealous of her friend Paulo Cechero, something that Hill hoped the pair would get over quickly, as she was keen to work closer with Grieve. She called him "one of the best friends I've ever had", revealing that he helped her settle in when she joined the cast. They also socialised during their spare time.After Sam chaperones a high school dance, he attracts the attentions of Squirrel, a young student who becomes "glued to him like a fly in Vegemite." When Sam goes away on holiday with the students, Squirrel makes it clear that she has more than a crush on him. She eventually corners him and announces that she is pregnant with his child. Grieve revealed "Squirrel turns out to be a bit of a psycho! She is pregnant and she's convinced herself that Sam is the father, but he can't be because they haven't even slept together." Inside Soap's Victoria Ross commented that the Squirrel situation comes about just as Sam's life seems to be on "a general downward spiral". He had spent weeks fighting his feelings for Annalise Hartman, who was due to get married. When her wedding was called off, Sam provided Annalise with a shoulder to cry on. But before he could declare his feelings for her, Squirrel's revelation made him think twice. Grieve told Ross, "Sam doesn't tell anyone about Squirrel's accusation because he's convinced that no one will believe his story, especially Annalise. When Sam eventually tells Annalise about Squirrel's accusations, their relationship turns around because she totally believes his story and agrees to stick by him. Their friendship grows into something more serious so I suppose Squirrel did him a favour."
Relationship with Annalise Hartman
Sue Malins of the Daily Mirror observed that it had been "lust at first sight" between Sam and Annalise, but writers kept her with Mark Gottlieb, so any potential romance "seemed doomed before it had begun." Davies told Malins that there was an attraction between Annalise and Sam, but she also has strong feelings for Mark, and even though their relationship is often on-off, it eventually results in their engagement. However, Sam "will not surrender Annalise without a struggle" even as she plans her wedding. In the 1994 season finale, Annalise is jilted at the altar by Mark, ending their relationship and leading scriptwriters to establish one between her and Sam. Davies said Sam was "tall, dark and handsome" and the type of man she always thought her character would go for. She did not think Mark and Annalise had been well suited, saying that "in the end they obviously weren't." Davies also noted that it was possibly too soon for Annalise to enter into a new relationship and she herself would take a long time if she had gone through a similar break up. Grieve was excited to be working with Davies on the storyline, commenting "it's very easy for me when I'm playing Sam to be in awe of her."Grieve admitted to being so nervous about filming his first kissing scene with Davies that he almost got stage fright. He was supposed to be portraying Sam as "a romantic hero", looking relaxed and loving, but Grieve said he was "shaking in my shoes" and thought the scene would be a mess. The kiss was filmed in front of around 45 people, which did not help the portrayal of a romantic moment, and Grieve did not know Davies that well, having only worked together briefly. The scene turned out well and when Sam and Annalise's relationship "took off a short time later", he and Davies had become such good friends that their kissing scenes were fun to film.
In order to facilitate Davies' departure from the show, writers scripted an affair between Annalise and Stonefish Rebecchi. Sam discovers the affair when he and Stonie's mother Angie Rebecchi catch the pair drinking champagne in bed during the 1995 season finale. The affair was a surprise to all the actors involved, and Grieve admitted to being taken aback by the storyline. He told Caron James from TV Week: "I was thinking, 'Why rock the boat?'" However, he realised that it would be a good acting opportunity for him, as he found it "very challenging", fun and "really, really rewarding." The increasing tension suffered by Sam and Annalise also affected Grieve and Davies, as they had to film multiple scenes featuring them bickering. Grieve explained: "Kimberly and I felt it was a bit too hard and negative. We kept saying, 'This is awful! Can't we just be happy and go on picnics again?'" In addition to Sam and Annalise's relationship ending, the affair negatively impacts Sam and Stonie's friendship. Grieve said that "there are certainly no holds barred in terms of the reactions the three characters have."