Will Sampson

Will Sampson

1933-09-26

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.

Also appears in

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

8.4

The Outlaw Josey Wales

The Outlaw Josey Wales

7.4

Orca

Orca

6.1

Poltergeist II: The Other Side

Poltergeist II: The Other Side

6.0

Firewalker

Firewalker

5.3

Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull’s History Lesson

Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull’s History Lesson

5.4

The White Buffalo

The White Buffalo

5.9

Crazy Mama

Crazy Mama

5.7

Insignificance

Insignificance

6.3

Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

4.5

Roanoak

Roanoak

Not yet rated

The Gunfighters

The Gunfighters

4.0

The Mystic Warrior

The Mystic Warrior

2.5

The Hunted Lady

The Hunted Lady

7.6

Standing Tall

Standing Tall

4.0

Relentless

Relentless

6.0

The Great Spirit Within the Hole

The Great Spirit Within the Hole

Not yet rated

Johnny Appleseed

Johnny Appleseed

Not yet rated

Fish Hawk

Fish Hawk

6.5

Hell Hath No Fury: The Making of The Outlaw Josey Wales

Hell Hath No Fury: The Making of The Outlaw Josey Wales

7.0