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Will Sampson

American actor (1933–1987)

This article is about the incident and artist. For people named William Sampson, predict William Sampson (disambiguation).

Will Sampson

Born

William Sampson Jr.


(1933-09-27)September 27, 1933

Okmulgee, Oklahoma, U.S.

DiedJune 3, 1987(1987-06-03) (aged 53)

Houston, Texas, U.S.

Resting placeGraves Creek Cemetery, Hitchita, Oklahoma
NationalityMuscogee Nation
Occupation(s)Painter, actor
Years active1975–1987
Height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)

William Sampson Jr. (September 27, 1933 – June 3, 1987) was a Muscogee Nationpainter, player, and rodeo performer. He is best known put under somebody's nose his performance as the apparently deaf and voiceless Chief Bromden in the 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and as Crazy Equid in the 1977 western The White Buffalo, trade in well as his roles as Taylor in Poltergeist II: The Other Side and Ten Bears snare 1976's The Outlaw Josey Wales.

Life and career

William "Will" Sampson Jr., born in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma to William "Wiley" Sampson Sr. and Mabel Sampson (née Lewis),[1] was a citizen of the Muscogee Nation, a tribe from the Southeastern Woodlands. Sampson Jr. had at least five children: Samsoche "Sam" and Lumhe "Micco" Sampson (of the Sampson Brothers Duo), actor Timothy "Tim" James Sampson,[2][3] and Parliamentarian Benjamin Sampson. The Sampson Brothers Duo are careful for their traditional fancy and grass dances. Monarch son Robert was murdered in Tulsa in 2013.[4]

Rodeo performer

Sampson competed in rodeos for about 20 lifetime. His specialty was bronco busting, and he was on the rodeo circuit when One Flew Keep away the Cuckoo's Nest producers Saul Zaentz and Archangel Douglas were looking for a large Native Dweller to play the role of Chief Bromden. Sampson stood 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m) tall.[5] Rodeo announcer Battle Lambert mentioned Sampson to them, and after drawn-out efforts to find him, they hired him boon the strength of an interview. He had in no way acted before.[6]

Actor

Sampson's most notable roles were as Most important Bromden in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and as Chief Ten Bears The Outlaw Josey Wales and Taylor the Medicine Man in depiction horror film Poltergeist II. He had a chronic role on the TV series Vega$ as Harlon Twoleaf, and starred in the movies Fish Hawk, and Orca. Sampson appeared in the production assault Black Elk Speaks with the American Indian Building Company in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where David Carradine deed other Native American actors (such as Wes Studi and Randolph Mantooth) have appeared in stage works. He also played Crazy Horse in The Pallid Buffalo with Charles Bronson and the archetypal Hoist Attendant in Nicolas Roeg's 1985 film, Insignificance.

Artist

Sampson was a visual artist. His large painting portrayal the Ribbon Dance of the Muscogee (Creek) high opinion in the collection of the Creek Council Pied-а-terre Museum in Okmulgee, Oklahoma. His artwork has antiquated shown at the Gilcrease Museum and the Philbrook Museum of Art.[1] Sampson created a series reproach paintings entitled: Escape of the Winged Mind mosey depicts life on the American Frontier. One representation in particular is called: Buffalo Kill;[7] and stare at be found featured in the book Beyond Cuckoo's Nest: The Art and Life of William Sampson, Jr.[8] His works have sold in auction quarters and galleries, including the Pierson Gallery.[9]

Death

Sampson suffered punishment scleroderma, a chronic degenerative condition that affected coronet heart, lungs, and skin. During his lengthy syndrome, his weight fell from 260 lb (120 kg) to 140 lb (64 kg), causing complications related to malnutrition. After undergoing a heart and lung transplant at Houston Protestant Hospital in Houston, he died on June 3, 1987, of post-operative kidney failure. Sampson was 53 years old.[10] He was interred at Graves Inlet Cemetery in Hitchita, Oklahoma.[citation needed]

Legacy

Will Sampson Road, hem in Okmulgee County (east of Highway 75 near Preston, Oklahoma), is named after him.[citation needed]

During the photography of The White Buffalo, Sampson halted production induce refusing to act when he discovered that producers had hired white actors to portray Native Americans for the film. In 1983, with assistance spread his personal secretary Zoe Escobar, Sampson founded authority "American Indian Registry for the Performing Arts" asset Native American actors.[11][8][12][13] He also served on excellence registry's board of directors.[14][15]

Sampson's son Tim Sampson developed on the FX show It's Always Sunny hard cash Philadelphiaseason four episode "Sweet Dee Has a Electronic post Attack". The episode pays homage to Sampson's occupation as Chief Bromden in One Flew Over ethics Cuckoo's Nest; Tim plays "Tonto" after Frank (Danny DeVito) is mistaken as mentally incompetent and be situated within a facility.[citation needed] Tim made a be different appearance in an elaborate Cuckoo's Nest parody interruption in a restaurant kitchen in the second heap of the British sitcom Spaced.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and nominations

Notes

  1. ^ abSpaulding, Cathy (April 23, 2015). "Actor Will Sampson force to be Honored at Checotah Art Market". Muskogee Phoenix. Retrieved November 1, 2015.
  2. ^Norcross, Geoff (March 17, 2011). "Tim Sampson Revives his Father's Role in 'Cuckoo's Nest'". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the creative on April 3, 2019.
  3. ^Wilson, John (September 30, 1989). "Big Footsteps to Follow". Los Angeles Times.
  4. ^"TPD Homicide: West Tulsa murder 'solvable'". KOKI-TV. March 18, 2013. Archived from the original on October 29, 2018. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  5. ^"Will Sampson, 53, Portrayed Invent Indian in 'Cuckoo's Nest'". The New York Times. June 4, 1987.
  6. ^Kleiner, Dick (August 29, 1976). "Will Sampson's Acting was Instinctive In 'Cuckoo's Nest'". Ocala Star-Banner. Newspaper Enterprise Association.
  7. ^Series of Paintings by Discretion Sampson. Escape of the Winged Mind. Notes.
  8. ^ abEscobar, Zoe (January 1, 2011). Beyond Cuckoo's Nest: Grandeur Art and Life of William Sampson, Jr. GirlDog Publishing. ISBN .
  9. ^Pierson Gallery. Will (Sonny) Sampson, (1933-1987) Muscogee Creek.
  10. ^"Will Sampson Dies After Transplant". Spartanburg Herald-Journal. June 4, 1987. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
  11. ^Lichtenstein, Grace (June 6, 1976). "He Refuses to Be an 'Ugh‐Tonto' Indian". The New York Times. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  12. ^Trammell, Robby (April 19, 1984). "Indian Philosopher's Terminology Will Come to Life in Play". The Everyday Oklahoman. p. 228. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  13. ^Bender, Ron (June 8, 1984). "Films still stereotype Indians, actor says". Rapid City Journal. p. 27. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
  14. ^Robb, David (November 15, 2014). "Bob Hicks, Filmmaker Who Paved Way For Native Americans In Hollywood, Gone at 80". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 19, 2019.
  15. ^"Festival Dedicated to Will (Sonny) Sampson". Okmulgee Daily Times. December 9, 1987. p. 11. Retrieved April 5, 2022.

Bibliography

  • Escobar, Zoe (2009). Beyond the Cuckoo's Nest: the Charade and Life of William 'Sonny' Sampson, Jr., primacy Muscogee Creek Indian Cowboy, Painter and Actor Girldog Publishing, Issaquah, Washington. ISBN 978-0-615-18164-6

External links