Will Sampson

William Sampson Jr. (September 27, 1933 – June 3, 1987) was a Native American painter, actor, and rodeo performer. He was best known for his performance as the apparently mute Chief Bromden in the 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and as Crazy Horse in the 1977 western The White Buffalo, as well as his roles as Taylor in Poltergeist II: The Other Side and Ten Bears in 1976's The Outlaw Josey Wales.

Early life He was of Muscogee descent. Sampson was born in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma to William "Wiley" Sampson Sr. and Mabel Sampson (née Lewis). He and his family were members of the Muscogee Nation.

Career

Rodeo performer Sampson competed in rodeos for about 20 years. His specialty was bronco busting, and he was on the rodeo circuit when One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest producers Saul Zaentz and Michael Douglas were looking for a large Native American man to play the role of Chief Bromden. Sampson stood 6 ft 7 in (201 cm) tall. Rodeo announcer Mel Lambert mentioned Sampson to them, and after lengthy efforts to find him, they hired him on the strength of an interview. Sampson's only prior acting experience was as an extra in the B-movie Crazy Mama.

Actor Sampson's most notable roles were as Chief Bromden in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and as Chief Ten Bears The Outlaw Josey Wales and 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, 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 (such as Wes Studi and Randolph Mantooth) have appeared in stage productions. He also played Crazy Horse in The White Buffalo with Charles Bronson and the archetypal Elevator Attendant in Nicolas Roeg's 1985 film, Insignificance.

Artist Sampson was a visual artist. His large painting depicting the Ribbon Dance of the Muscogee (Creek) is in the collection of the Creek Council House Museum in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. His artwork has been shown at the Gilcrease Museum and the Philbrook Museum of Art. and can be found featured in the book Beyond Cuckoo's Nest: The Art and Life of William Sampson, Jr.

Personal life Sampson Jr. had at least five children: William Lance Sampson Junior who died after driving drunk on the reservation, Samsoche "Sam" and Lumhe "Micco" Sampson (of the Sampson Brothers Duo), actor Timothy "Tim" James Sampson, and Robert Benjamin Sampson. The Sampson Brothers Duo are known for their traditional fancy and grass dances. His son Robert was murdered in Tulsa in 2013.

Illness and death Sampson suffered from scleroderma, a chronic degenerative condition that affected his heart, lungs, and skin. During his lengthy illness, his weight fell from to , causing complications related to malnutrition. After undergoing a heart and lung transplant at Houston Methodist Hospital in Houston, he died on June 3, 1987, of post-operative kidney failure. Sampson was 53 years old.

Legacy Will Sampson Road, in Okmulgee County (east of Highway 75 near Preston, Oklahoma), is named after him.

During the filming of The White Buffalo, Sampson halted production by refusing to act when he discovered that producers had hired white actors to portray Native Americans for the film. In 1983, with assistance from his personal secretary Zoe Escobar, Sampson founded the "American Indian Registry for the Performing Arts" for Native American actors. He also served on the registry's board of directors.

Sampson's son Tim Sampson appeared on the FX show It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia season four episode "Sweet Dee Has a Heart Attack". The episode pays homage to Sampson's work as Chief Bromden in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest; Tim plays "Tonto" after Frank (Danny DeVito) is mistaken as mentally incompetent and placed within a facility. The role was of additional significance because DeVito co-starred with Sampson Jr. in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest as the character "Martini." Tim made a similar appearance in an elaborate Cuckoo's Nest parody set in a restaurant kitchen in the second series of the British sitcom Spaced.

Filmography Film

Television Year Title Role Notes1977 Relentless Sam Watchman TV movie The Hunted Lady Uncle George 1978 Standing Tall Lonny Moon 1978–79 Vega$ Harlon Two-Leaf 6 episodes 1979 From Here to Eternity Sgt. Cheney Miniseries 1980 Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story Clarence's Father TV movie 1982 Born to the Wind Painted Bear 4 episodes 1982 The Great Spirit within the Hole Narrator Twin Cities Public Television 1983–84 The Yellow Rose John Strongheart 7 episodes 1984 The Mystic Warrior Evan Freed 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 Institution Year Category Nominated work Result Genie Awards 1980 Best Performance by a Foreign Actor Fish Hawk