Will Sampson

This article is about Native American actor and artist Will Sampson. For people named William Sampson, see William Sampson (disambiguation).

Will Sampson
Born	Will Sampson (1933-09-27)September 27, 1933 Okmulgee, Oklahoma
Died	June 3, 1987(1987-06-03) (aged 53) Houston, Texas
Occupation(s)	Actor, Painter
Years active	1975-1987

Will Sampson (September 27, 1933 – June 3, 1987) was an American actor and artist.

Life and career

Sampson, a Native American Muscogee (Creek), was born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. Sampson's most notable roles were as "Chief Bromden" in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and as "Taylor the Medicine Man" in the horror film Poltergeist II. He had a recurring role on the TV series Vega$, as Harlon Twoleaf and starred in the movies Fish Hawk, The Outlaw Josey Wales, and Orca.

Sampson appeared in the production of Black Elk Speaks with the American Indian Theater Company in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where David Carradine and other Native American actors like Wes Studi and Randolph Mantooth starred in stage productions.

Sampson was also an artist. His large painting depicting the Ribbon Dance of his Muscogee people is in the collection of the Creek Council House Museum in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. His artwork is currently displayed online by The Kvskvnv (“kuskuna”) Association.

In an interview in TV Ontario's series Film 101, “Hollywood Asylum, Explored or Exploited?”, film actor Brad Dourif (who played Billy Bibbit in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest) stated that Sampson had been imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. After he was pardoned, after serving ten years, his release came without apology or compensation. Sampson reportedly observed the cast on set and noted, based on behavior, that only he and Dourif truly understood what it meant to be institutionalized.

Death

After undergoing a heart and lung transplant, he died on June 3, 1987, of post-operative kidney failure and pre-operative malnutrition problems. Sampson was 53 years old. He was buried at Graves Creek Cemetery in Hitchita, Oklahoma.

Filmography

Film
Year	Film	Role	Other notes
1975	Crazy Mama	Indian at Trading	Uncredited Role
	One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest	Chief Bromden
1976	Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson	The Interpreter/William Halsey
	The Outlaw Josey Wales	Ten Bears
1977	Cowboysan	Indian Chief	Short film
	The White Buffalo	Crazy Horse/Worm
	Orca	Umilak
1979	Fish Hawk	Fish Hawk
1985	Insignificance	Elevator Attendant
1986	Poltergeist II: The Other Side	Taylor
	Firewalker	Tall Eagle
Television
Year	Title	Role	Notes
1977	Relentless	Sam Watchman	CBS TV-Movie
	The Hunted Lady	Uncle George	NBC TV-Movie
1978	Standing Tall	Lonny Moon	NBC TV-Movie
1978–1979	Vega$	Harlon Two-Leaf	6 episodes
1979	From Here to Eternity	Sgt. Cheney	Not to be confused with the 1980 spinoff
1980	Alcatraz: The White Shocking Story	Clarence's Father	NBC TV-Movie
1982	Born to the Wind	Painted Bear
1983–1984	The Yellow Rose	John Strongheart	7 episodes
1984	The Mystic Warrior	Evan Freed	ABC Miniseries
1985	Wildside	Fake Sitting Bull	Episode: Buffalo Who?
1986	Roanoak	Wingina	Miniseries
	Tall Tales & Legends	Chief	Episode: Johnny Appleseed
1987	The Gunfighters	Train Passenger	TV-Movie

Awards and nominations

Genie Award

• 1980: Nominated, "Best Performance by a Foreign Actor" - Fish Hawk

External links

• Will Sampson at IMDb
• Beyond Cuckoo's Nest
• The Kvskvnv Association
• Will Sampson interviews
• Will Sampson: Documentary ensures actor is remembered. The Aboriginal Multi-Media Society (AMMSA)
• Will Sampson at Find a Grave
• Greatest Native American, #173