Sammy Horowitz is an award-winning playwright, screenwriter, former professional boxer and stuntman from Chicago who spent over 8 years in Illinois prison.
Upon his release, Sammy found himself struggling to adapt to a world in which the cards were now stacked against him with a felony conviction and little to no job prospects or experience. He trained in boxing and mixed martial arts during the day and worked as a bouncer at night but continued to use drugs and alcohol. His best friend since 3rd grade died from a heroin overdose in 2011, and Sammy himself overdosed shortly thereafter but doctors in the ER were able to resuscitate him. Sammy made the decision to get completely clean and sober from all drugs and alcohol on September 17th, 2012, and continued to train in boxing, fighting regularly.
After many amateur fights and becoming a semifinalist in the Chicago Golden Gloves, Sammy turned professional. Through boxing, he made connections in Television and Film. With his athletic abilities he became a working Hollywood stuntman, performing in over 80 episodes of television and many movies. Sammy met his wife at a wrap party in 2014. After hearing his stories, she suggested he get them down on paper and introduced Sammy to his now best friend and writing partner, Adam.
Sammy’s original play Musket and the Rat opened to critical acclaim in Los Angeles in 2020 and his short “Danny Boy” has received multiple awards and wide recognition on the festival circuit. Together, Sammy and Adam have gone on to write for both television and film. Sammy and his wife Sari now live in Los Angeles, where Sammy is passionate about activism, especially with regards to the criminal justice system and the prison industrial complex.