| Tim Sample | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 30, 1951 Fort Fairfield, Maine |
| Occupation | Humorist |
| Known for | Maine humor |
New England humorist Tim Sample (born January 30, 1951), famous both for his presentation and his Maine accent, has sold well over a million copies of his books, albums, and videos (including four albums and a video for the Bert and I company). In the summer of 1993, Tim was recruited by Charles Kuralt as a correspondent for the Emmy Award winning TV Show CBS News Sunday Morning.[1] Over the following 11 years, Tim produced over 100 "Postcards from Maine" segments which introduced millions of CBS viewers around the nation and the world to the lifestyles of Mainers.
Born in Fort Fairfield, Maine and raised in Boothbay Harbor, Tim and his wife Kevin Sample[2] have a home in Washington County and an apartment in Portland, and despite the traveling his career calls him to do, he has never lived (or wanted to live) anywhere other than in Maine.
Tim's first album of Downeast humor was recorded in 1979 and produced by Noel Paul Stookey, "Paul" of Peter, Paul, and Mary. The liner notes for the album were written by the late humorist Marshall Dodge, who, along with his partner Rev. Robert Bryan, created the world-famous Bert and I recordings back in the 1950s. After Marshall Dodge died in 1982, Tim recorded four albums and a video for the Bert and I company. Sample and Bryan have collaborated on a number of projects since, including several TV specials, the popular recording How to Talk Yankee,[3] and the TV specials Out of Season and Maine Humor Behind the Barn.
Tim has also written and illustrated several books, including How to Talk Yankee and Saturday Night at Moody's Diner. Tim's national TV appearances include The Today Show and Good Morning America. He has also narrated many films and books on tape, including Robert McCloskey’s children's classic Bert Dow Deep Water Man, Stephen King’s The Sun Dog, and a reconstructed version of the 1930 documentary From Stump to Ship.[4] In August 2006 Tim Sample released his first two DVDs, Tim Sample 2006 and Back in the Day. Tim Sample 2006 was recorded in June 2006 at The Bangor Opera House. Back in the Day contains digitally remastered footage of Tim's performances from 1983 and 1985.