Sammy Lerner, born Samuel Manuel Lerner on January 28, 1903, in Săveni, Kingdom of Romania, was a renowned songwriter for American and British musical theatre and film. He emigrated to the United States with his family at the age of seven, settling in Detroit, Michigan. Lerner graduated from Wayne State University and subsequently moved to New York City, where he began his career writing songs for vaudeville performers, including Sophie Tucker, and contributed lyrics to the Ziegfeld Follies.

With the advent of sound in film, Lerner transitioned to writing songs for motion pictures. He is best known for his work with Fleischer Studios, where he created iconic songs for cartoon characters such as Betty Boop and Popeye the Sailor. His song "I'm Popeye the Sailor Man" became particularly famous, featuring the memorable line, "I'm strong to the finich 'cause I eats me spinach." This theme song has been a lasting part of Popeye's legacy across various media.

In addition to his work in cartoons, Lerner wrote popular songs in the 1930s and 1940s, including "Is It True What They Say About Dixie?" and the English lyrics for Marlene Dietrich's "Falling in Love Again" from the film "The Blue Angel." He spent some time in London in 1936 to write for British musical theatre and film before returning to the United States in 1938. Lerner was an active member of the Dramatists Guild, ASCAP, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Sammy Lerner passed away from cancer on December 13, 1989, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 86. He was survived by his wife, Dorothy, to whom he was married for 53 years. His contributions to music, particularly in the realm of animated films, have left a lasting impact on the industry.