Character
Biography

Dr. Samuel Beckett
Quantum Physicist

Warning:
May Contain Spoilers

• Sam Beckett's Age Information
  
  1984: age 31
  1985: age 32
  1986: age 33
  1987: age 34
  1988: age 35
  1989: age 36
  1990: age 37

• Vital Statistics
  
  -Born: August 8, 1953 in Elk Ridge, Indiana
  
  -At the age of 17, Sam went to college at MIT. He graduated in Fall 1972 after completing four years of college in only two years. This is where he met Professor Sebastian LoNigro.
  
  -From Spring 1973 to Fall 1977, Sam worked in the physics department at MIT with Professor LoNigro. Together, they worked to prove a time-travel theory, but were limited in resources. In 1977 LoNigro left MIT to travel abroad, leaving Sam to continue his research alone.
  
  -Sam moved on to CalTech, Georgia Tech, I.I.T., and Florida Tech following his M.I.T. years.
  
  -It was during this 10-year period that Sam earned five of his seven doctorates in Quantum Physics, Medicine, Music, Archaeology, and Ancient Languages.
  
  -Sam was approached by CIA Agent Ross Adams prior to the 1983 Fall semester and agreed to come onboard the Starbright Project in hopes of furthering his research.
  
  -Sam met Donna Elesee shortly after joining the Starbright Project. She had tendered her one-month notice of resignation from the project, but Sam convinced her to stay on. Two years later, they were engaged to be married.
  
  -Sam earned a doctorate for Space Sciences in 1985 and another for Artificial Intelligence in 1988.
  
  -Donna Elesee didn't show up for the wedding to Sam on June 5th, 1986. She left the Starbright Project and moved to San Francisco, California to further her career in nuclear physics.
  
  -In 1988, Sam won a Nobel Prize for Quantum Physics research.
  
  -In May of 1990, the Starbright Project was shut down by the government on Dr. Beckett's recommendation.
  
  -Events for Sam after the closing of the Starbright Project which lead to the creation of Project Quantum Leap can be read in the Quantum Leap novel titled "Prelude."

• Father
  
  John Samuel Beckett
  
  -Died in 1973 of a heart attack.

• Mother
  
  Thelma Louise Beckett
  
  -Lived in Elk Ridge, Indiana until 1988 when she moved to Hawaii with her daughter, Katie.

• Sister
  
  Katherine (Katie) Tanner or Katie Bonnick
  
  -Born in 1957
  
  -In 1984 she is 26 years old. In 1990 she is 33 years old.
  
  -Married Chuck Tanner when she was 17. They lived together in Elk Ridge, Indiana. She was abused by Chuck during the marriage but in 1985 she finally divorces him.
  
  -Marries Lieutenant Jim Bonnick of the U.S. Navy in 1987 and moves with him from Indiana to Hawaii where he is stationed.

• Brother
  
  Thomas Beckett
  
  -Died April 8, 1970 in Vietnam.
  
  -He was a Lieutenant in a U.S. Navy SEAL squad.