Will Sampson

Will Sampson

Deceased · Born: Sep 26, 1933 · Died: Jun 2, 1987

Personal Details

Born Sep 26, 1933 Okmulgee, Oklahoma, USA
Parents
  • William Sampson Sr.
  • Mabel Sampson
Relatives
  • Vena Mae Sampson Randall (Sibling)
  • Norma Jean Sampson Bible (Sibling)
  • Tafv Sampson (Grandchild)

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Will Sampson (September 27, 1933 – June 3, 1987) was an American actor and artist. Sampson, a Native American Muscogee (Creek), was born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma and was an imposing 6' 5" (1.96 m) tall. 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 competed in rodeos, his speciality riding bucking broncos, for about twenty years. He was on the rodeo circuit when the producers of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Saul Zaentz and Michael Douglas, were looking for a large Native American to play the role of Chief Bromden. A rodeo announcer told them about Sampson, and after lengthy efforts to find him, they hired him on the strength of an interview. He had never acted before. 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. Description above from the Wikipedia article Will Sampson, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Career

1986
Firewalker
Firewalker as Tall Eagle
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Poltergeist II: The Other Side
Poltergeist II: The Other Side as Taylor
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1985
Insignificance
Insignificance as Elevator Attendant
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1984
The Mystic Warrior
The Mystic Warrior as Wambli
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1983
Great Spirit Within the Hole
Great Spirit Within the Hole as Narrator
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1980
Fish Hawk
Fish Hawk as Fish Hawk
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Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story as Clarence's Father
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1979
From Here to Eternity
From Here to Eternity as Cpl. Cheney
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1978
Standing Tall
Standing Tall as Lonny Moon
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1977
Orca
Orca as Umilak
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The Hunted Lady
The Hunted Lady as Uncle George
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The White Buffalo
The White Buffalo as Crazy Horse/Worm
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Relentless
Relentless as Sam Watchman
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1975
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest as Chief Bromden
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