Sam Heughan Shares Some Unexpected Feels About His Absent Dad
The Outlander actor shares a heartbreaking story.
While most people only know Sam Heughan as the star of the hit Starz series Outlander, he's also a proud Scot dedicated to promoting Scottish culture and history. That's why his documentary show, Men in Kilts, co-hosted with fellow Scottish actor Graham McTavish, is a must-see for Heughan's fans who want to learn more about their favourite actor. The project showcases the actor from a more personal and heartfelt angle by having him present material he deeply cares about.
While Sam and McTavish travelled across Scotland in the first season, the second season saw them venturing to a more distant country - New Zealand.
In the second episode, Sam and Graham explored the Māori culture, talking with locals and delving into the customs of this indigenous community. The Māori are widely known around the world for their unique tattoos. So, true to their style, Sam and Graham chose to honour their experience with the Māori by getting matching tattoos from a master of traditional Māori tattooing.
However, the process wasn't as straightforward as they had expected. The tattoo master required that they each describe someone dear to them so that he could craft a custom tattoo inspired by their memories.
To fans' surprise, Sam spoke about his absent father, who left him and his mom when Sam was four. The Outlander star talked about the heartbreak he felt when his father abandoned them and about how the two of them then had to fend for themselves after that.
Sam revealed, for the first time, he later only truly reconnected with his father in his 20s after learning about his old man's illness. His father passed away soon after, but they were able to spend a few days together before that. It was clear from the way Sam talked about this experience that he deeply regrets not having had more time with him.
It's these poignant moments that draw fans to Men in Kilts. Although Sam portrays a fierce character in Outlander, in reality, he's a grounded and humble individual. The documentary offers a unique window into this side of his persona.