Sam Gibson (The Young and the Restless)

Character creation and casting

On March 9, 2011, executive producer and head writer Maria Arena Bell announced that Sean Patrick Flanery would join the cast as Sam. It was a medium I had never explored before. His full name was later given as Sam Gibson, and he first aired on April 18, 2011. Prior to his debut, TV Guide Canada columnist Nelson Branco noted in his 'Suds Report' that Sam's characteristics resembled those of Adam Newman's mother Hope Adams, leading to speculation that Sam might be "the real Adam Newman.

On September 14, various sources reported that Flanery and four other cast members were to leave the show. CBS Soaps In Depth stated the characters were on the "shopping block" as part of a "true cast shake-up. Sara Bibel of Xfinity commented that the characters were not essential to the show. TV Guide Canada's Amber Dowling reported that all actors had been let go to make way for returning and new cast members, including the anticipated return of Melody Thomas Scott as Nikki Newman.

Development

Sam, a rural veterinarian from New Mexico, was described as "kind, decent, and full of common sense." He was introduced as a love interest for Sharon Newman while she was on the run after being sentenced for the murder of Skye Newman. Daytime Confidential revealed he would enter Sharon's "orbit." On-Air On-Soaps described him as a "salt of the earth" veterinarian paired with the "troubled" Sharon.

TV Guide's Michael Logan noted Flanery would not play "yet another rich, Genoa City power-schemer" but rather a "salt o' the earth country veterinarian." Flanery said Sam "seems logical and down to earth, of average means." Sam was a widower who had not found love since his wife's death. He discovered Sharon sleeping in his barn and invited her to stay.

Sharon, a fugitive, used the pseudonym Sheri Coleman. Sam was good friends with a local girl named Piper, with whom Sheri also bonded. While in New Mexico, Sharon let her loved ones in Genoa City believe she was dead. Sharon Case said she "loved" working with Flanery and thought the storyline "turned out really lovely."

Storylines

Sam discovered 'Sheri' in his barn and assured her he would not hurt her. He let her stay in a room attached to the barn. She helped him deliver a lamb they named Fanny. Sam told her about being a widow, and they grew close.

Piper, a young animal-loving local girl, gravitated toward Sheri. Sam provided Sheri with a laptop; she looked at a memorial page on Faceplace created in her honor and was horrified to see people believed she had killed herself. Sam found it hard to ask her to leave. She attended a local fair with Sam and Piper, where she saw her ex, Adam Newman, who was in New Mexico trying to prove her death was an accident.

Sam's elderly dog O'Keefe died on a night he asked Sheri out. He showed up at the barn drunk; Sheri slapped him, but they made love after she comforted him. The next morning she ended up in his bed. She wrote a letter telling him the truth but tore it up.

At a party, Piper's father, a cop, arrested Sharon for murder and fleeing. Sam followed her to Genoa City, where she explained everything; he was not angry and supported her. Sharon was sentenced to thirty years in prison. Sam temporarily relocated to support her but returned to his life after she told him to go.

He visited again later. After Sharon was acquitted, she returned to New Mexico for a short holiday with her daughter Faith. Sam has not appeared since.