If you're a fan of Outlander [1], then odds are you're probably equally obsessed with its star, Sam Heughan [2]. While the 36-year-old is known for making hearts swoon as Jamie [3], his outrageously sexy physique isn't the only reason we adore him. Whether you're new to the Heughligans fandom or you've been following him for a while now, you will no doubt get a kick out of his most interesting facts.
He's a Taurus
The actor was born on April 30, 1980, in Balmaclellan, Dumfries and Galloway, in Scotland.
He Founded His Own Charity
He's been a big supporter of Bloodwise over the years, but he also launched his own charitable foundation, My Peak Challenge [5], in 2015, which encourages people to get active while raising money for blood-cancer research.
He's a Natural Blond
Sam actually colored his locks [6] to match the character description of Jamie Fraser in the Outlander [7] books.
He’s Really Into Munro-Bagging
The hobby includes hiking the mountains in Scotland [8] and then journaling about it.
He’s Named After a Lord of the Rings Character
During a radio appearance, the actor confirmed that his parents named him after Samwise Gamgee [9]. His brother, Cirdan, was also named after the Telerin elf from the franchise.
He’s a Licensed Fencer
Not only is he licensed in fencing [10], but he also has a teaching qualification.
He's a Huge Sci-Fi Nerd
One of the reasons Sam wanted to be on Outlander [11] so badly was so that he could work with Star Trek's Ronald D. Moore [12]. He's also obsessed with the time-traveling franchise Back to the Future.
He Auditioned For Game of Thrones 7 Times
Sam auditioned for Renly, Loras, and some of the members of the Night's Watch but never got the part [13]. Thankfully, he found a role that stuck when he auditioned for Outlander [14].
He Has a Musical Side
Even though he says he's not a "confident singer," he did admit to knowing how to play the trombone and trumpet [15].