The Actor Who Played Salami Sam In ‘Heavyweights’ Has Passed Away

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Those who know me know that my entire personality is made up in the following breakdown: 60% hiding deep emotional issues with superficial dick jokes, 20% quoting the movie Heavyweights, 10% fueled by substances and narcotics, and 5% being befuddled by math.

So, a big part of me was lost on Tuesday when I heard the news that Heavyweights actor Joseph Wayne Miller aka Salami Sam has passed away at the age of 36.

According to TMZ, Miller’s mother, Patricia, claims her son died in his sleep Tuesday in Chicago and was found by his girlfriend. Although the cause of death has not yet been released, his mother revealed her son suffered from sleep apnea, a potentially fatal sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts.

Heavyweights producer Judd Apatow released a statement to Page Six remembering the actor:

“When we made Heavyweights being around Joe Miller was pure joy. We could not have loved spending time with him more. He made everyone around him so happy. What a terrible loss.”

Aaron Schwartz, who played Gerald Garner in the movie, told Page Six:

“Joe always brought the fun to the set. He was one of those people you always wanted to be around. So sad. So young. Rest In Peace Joe.”

Schwartz then posted the below clip:

Rest in Peace, bud. Thanks for the laughs.

[h/t Page Six]

Matt Keohan Avatar
Matt’s love of writing was born during a sixth grade assembly when it was announced that his essay titled “Why Drugs Are Bad” had taken first prize in D.A.R.E.’s grade-wide contest. The anti-drug people gave him a $50 savings bond for his brave contribution to crime-fighting, and upon the bond’s maturity 10 years later, he used it to buy his very first bag of marijuana.