Will Sampson

Will Sampson

Born: September 26, 1933
Died: June 3, 1987
in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, USA
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.

Movies for Will Sampson...

That's Insignificance
Title: That's Insignificance
Character: Self
Released: June 14, 2011
Type: Movie
A behind-the-scenes look at the making of Nicolas Roeg's 1985 film INSIGNIFICANCE featuring interviews with the cast.
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Hell Hath No Fury: The Making of The Outlaw Josey Wales
Title: Hell Hath No Fury: The Making of The Outlaw Josey Wales
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: March 30, 1999
Type: Movie
John Milius narrates this featurette on the Clint Eastwood classic.
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The Gunfighters
Title: The Gunfighters
Character: Train Passenger
Released: January 1, 1987
Type: Movie
In this pilot Western produced for Canadian television, two brothers and their cousin become bandits to rescue their ranch from a greedy land developer.
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Firewalker
Title: Firewalker
Character: Tall Eagle
Released: November 21, 1986
Type: Movie
A pair of adventurers try to track down an ancient Aztec/Mayan/Egyptian/Apache horde of gold.
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Roanoak
Title: Roanoak
Character: Wingina
Released: May 26, 1986
Type: Movie
The story chronicles the first recorded meeting in the late 16th Century between British explorers-settlers and Native Americans in what is now North Carolina, and the conflicts that ensued between the two diverse cultures before this early settlement mysteriously vanished.
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Poltergeist II: The Other Side
Title: Poltergeist II: The Other Side
Character: Taylor
Released: May 23, 1986
Type: Movie
The Freeling family move in with Diane's mother in an effort to escape the trauma and aftermath of Carol Anne's abduction by the Beast. But the Beast is not to be put off so easily and appears in a ghostly apparition as the Reverend Kane, a religeous zealot responsible for the deaths of his many followers. His goal is simple - he wants the angelic Carol Anne.
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Johnny Appleseed
Title: Johnny Appleseed
Character: Chief
Released: January 1, 1986
Type: Movie
Shelley Duvall acted as host for this 1980s television series about legendary characters and historical events. This volume chronicles Jonathan Chapman (Martin Short), who loves two things: apples and his sweetheart, Betty Nature (Molly Ringwald). Following Betty's advice, he travels the countryside and sows apple seeds along the way, riling Smithville's imperious ruler (Rob Reiner) in this timeless American yarn.
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Title: Tall Tales & Legends
Character: Chief
Released: September 25, 1985
Type: TV
An anthology series that showcases various mythical characters and incidents throughout history.
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Insignificance
Title: Insignificance
Character: Elevator Attendant
Released: August 2, 1985
Type: Movie
Four 1950s cultural icons who conceivably could have met but probably didn't, fictionally do so in this modern fable of post-WWII America. Visually intriguing, the film has a fluid progression of flashbacks and flashforwards centering on the fictional Einstein's current observations, childhood memories, and apprehensions for the future.
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Title: Wildside
Released: March 21, 1985
Type: TV
Wildside is an American series aired by ABC from March to April 1985. The series stars William Smith, J. Eddie Peck, Howard Rollins, William Smith, Sandy McPeak, Terry Funk, John D'Aquino, and Meg Ryan.
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The Mystic Warrior
Title: The Mystic Warrior
Character: Wambli
Released: May 20, 1984
Type: Movie
Saga about a proud band of Sioux Indians, and the efforts of one brave to save his people from destruction through the use of mysterious powers handed down by ancestors.
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Title: The Yellow Rose
Character: John Stronghart
Released: October 2, 1983
Type: TV
The Yellow Rose is an American television series. It was broadcast on the NBC network during the 1983-1984 season. It was produced by Paul Freeman. The series was at least partly inspired by the more coltish elements of the soap opera Dallas, and dealt with the intrigues of the Texas-based ranch-owning Champion family. The show's cast included Sam Elliott, David Soul, Edward Albert, Cybill Shepherd, Chuck Connors, Noah Beery, Jr., Ken Curtis, Robin Wright and Jane Russell. The Yellow Rose was canceled after one season of twenty-two episodes. In the summer of 1990, the series was rerun again on NBC along with the short-lived Bret Maverick starring James Garner.
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The Great Spirit Within the Hole
Title: The Great Spirit Within the Hole
Character: Narrator
Released: September 12, 1983
Type: Movie
The story of Native Americans seeking to reconnect with their spiritual roots while incarcerated.
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Title: Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
Character: Clarence's Father
Released: November 5, 1980
Type: TV
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Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
Title: Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story
Character: Clarence's Father
Released: November 5, 1980
Type: Movie
Filmed on location at Alcatraz Island, this two-part "whole story" actually concentrates on a handful of the denizens behind the cold grey walls of "The Rock". Michael Beck plays the real-life Clarence Carnes, an Oklahoma Choctaw Indian said to be the youngest man ever incarcerated in the notorious maximum security prison. Serving a 99-year sentence for a gas station holdup and murder, Carnes makes periodic attempts to escape, the final attempt being the most violent. Many of the subordinate characters are fictional (as are most of the details concerning Carnes' escape efforts); the one exception is Robert Stroud, the "Birdman of Alcatraz", here portrayed by Art Carney as a gentle, kindly philosopher. Telly Savalas, a costar of the Burt Lancaster vehicle Birdman of Alcatraz, also guest starred in the 1980 film. Originally titled Alcatraz and Clarence Carnes, this made-for-TV movie wavers between gritty realism and "I'm bustin' outta here!" artifice.
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Title: From Here to Eternity
Character: Sgt. Cheney
Released: March 10, 1980
Type: TV
From Here to Eternity was short-lived dramatic television series that aired in 1980. It was a spinoff of the successful 1979 miniseries of the same title. The series featured most of the cast members from the original miniseries, including William Devane and Kim Basinger. Barbara Hershey replaced Natalie Wood for the role of Karen Holmes.
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Fish Hawk
Title: Fish Hawk
Character: Fish Hawk
Released: January 25, 1980
Type: Movie
A hardened and embittered man turns his life around with the help of a farm boy in this uplifting family tale. Down on his luck and dependent on booze, Native American Fish Hawk (Will Sampson) changes his fate when he accepts a job hunting down a bear that's been killing local livestock. His temporary residence with the Boggs family brings young Corby (Charles Fields) into his life, and the boy's friendship gives Fish Hawk a new reason to live.
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Title: From Here to Eternity
Character: Cpl. Cheney
Released: February 14, 1979
Type: TV
The lives of the men and families of G Company, 24th Infantry Division, United States Army, on the eve of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
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Standing Tall
Title: Standing Tall
Character: Lonny Moon
Released: January 21, 1978
Type: Movie
Set in Montana in the year 1934, a half-breed rancher and his wife are harassed by a ruthless land robber, who forces them to stand tall and defend their land, life and dignity.
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The Hunted Lady
Title: The Hunted Lady
Character: Uncle George
Released: November 28, 1977
Type: Movie
An undercover policewoman finds herself framed for murder. Forced to flee for her life, she determines to clear her name and bring the real killers to justice.
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Relentless
Title: Relentless
Character: Sam Watchman
Released: September 14, 1977
Type: Movie
An Arizona state trooper, who is also an Indian, pursues a gang of paramilitary-type robbers into the mountains. The gang has killed the trooper's uncle and taken a woman hostage, and the trooper must use his tracking and hunting skills to find the gang and rescue the hostage.
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Orca
Title: Orca
Character: Umilak
Released: July 22, 1977
Type: Movie
After witnessing the killing of his mate and offspring at the hands of a reckless Irish captain, a vengeful killer whale rampages through the fisherman's Newfoundland harbor. Under pressure from the villagers, the captain, a female marine biologist and an Indigenous tribalist venture after the great beast, who will meet them on its own turf.
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The White Buffalo
Title: The White Buffalo
Character: Crazy Horse/Worm
Released: May 1, 1977
Type: Movie
In this strange western version of Moby Dick, Wild Bill Hickok hunts a white buffalo he has seen in a dream. Hickok moves through a variety of uniquely authentic western locations - dim, filthy, makeshift taverns; freezing, slaughterhouse-like frontier towns and beautifully desolate high country - before improbably teaming up with a young Crazy Horse to pursue the creature.
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The Outlaw Josey Wales
Title: The Outlaw Josey Wales
Character: Ten Bears
Released: June 30, 1976
Type: Movie
After avenging his family's brutal murder, Wales is pursued by a pack of soldiers. He prefers to travel alone, but ragtag outcasts are drawn to him - and Wales can't bring himself to leave them unprotected.
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Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson
Title: Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson
Character: The Interpreter (William Halsey)
Released: June 24, 1976
Type: Movie
Buffalo Bill plans to put on his own Wild West sideshow, and Chief Sitting Bull has agreed to appear in it. However, Sitting Bull has his own hidden agenda, involving the President and General Custer.
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One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Title: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Character: Chief Bromden
Released: November 19, 1975
Type: Movie
A petty criminal fakes insanity to serve his sentence in a mental ward rather than prison. He soon finds himself as a leader to the other patients—and an enemy to the cruel, domineering nurse who runs the ward.
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Crazy Mama
Title: Crazy Mama
Character: Indian at Trading Post
Released: June 1, 1975
Type: Movie
Melba Stokes, her mother Sheba and daughter Cheryl embark on a crime spree after their California beauty parlor is repossessed. Their destination is Arkansas, where the three generations of women want to reclaim the family farm.