Tragic moment that shocked Anh Do
It’s no secret that we’re huge fans of Anh Do and Samuel Johnson here at Over60, so when last night’s episode of Anh’s Brush with Fame brought the two together, it was always going to be incredible. But a tragic secret from Johnson’s past shocked not only the viewers, but Do himself.
As if dealing with his sister Connie’s heartbreaking battle with terminal breast cancer wasn’t enough, the 38-year-old Gold Logie-winning actor revealed it wasn’t the first tragedy he’d had to deal with.
Just three years after the Johnson’s family home burned down, Sam and Connie’s mother took her life. “I was too young to really gauge the effects of it, but she had all kinds of psychosis, she was in and out of institutions,” he revealed to Do.
“She was in and out of institutions – she tried over and over again... countless times. By the time she eventually succeeded, I’m told there was a bit of relief, for her. According to my older sister, it was probably best that I didn’t grow up with her.”
Then, just a few years later, Connie was first diagnosed with cancer at the tender age of 11. “I looked over at my dad, he was just white... he was curled up on the couch, weeping, bawling.”
Despite all the hardship, Johnson still has incredibly happy memories from his childhood, describing his dad as “a phenomenal man”.
“He was more than capable of bringing up the kids on his own,” Sam gushed. "I remember growing up with a dad who was authoritarian, but also effeminate... so I had a two-in-one deal. I had a great childhood. I had heaps of fun. I don’t remember hardship, I remember the value of not being able to get everything you want.”
Sadly, there was more heartbreak to come. In 2006 came the moment Sam describes as his life’s “biggest sadness” – the suicide of his girlfriend, Lainie Woodlands.
“I’m still very upset for her, and for her family,” he admitted. “You know how they reckon that you come to terms with your grief as you go along? Not with this one. With every year, it gets more profound, my sadness grows. I feel it a lot more profoundly than the loss of my mother.”
Anh then asked a question many might have in the wake of all this adversity – “So you’ve lost your mum, your girlfriend, and now your sister is gravely ill – do you ever think... how unfair is life?”
Sam’s response is a total testament to the positive, inspiring man he is.
“I’m not a victim. I don’t know if I’m just bullsh**ing myself, but I see my time with Lainie as a gift. Maybe I lost her earlier than I would have liked but I had some of her. I got to share my life with her. You don’t always get as much as you want of everything, you don’t get as much of your loved ones as you want. But you get them, don’t you?”
If you need help or support, give Lifeline a call on 13 11 14 or visit Lifeline.org.au.