Will Sampson

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Will Sampson
Born	Will Sampson September 27, 1933(1933-09-27) Okmulgee, Oklahoma
Died	June 3, 1987 (aged 53) Houston, Texas
Occupation	Actor, Painter
Years active	1975 - 1987

Will Sampson (September 27, 1933 - June 3, 1987) was an American actor and artist.

Sampson, a Native American Muscogee (Creek), was born in Hitchita, Oklahoma. 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 also 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 was also a noted 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.

In need of a heart and liver transplant, he died on June 3, 1987 of post-operative kidney failure and pre-operative malnutrition problems. Will was 53 years old. He was buried in Hitchita's Graves Creek Cemetery.

[edit] Filmography

• The Gunfighters (1987)
• Firewalker (1986)
• Poltergeist II -- The Other Side (1986)
• Insignificance (1985)
• Fish Hawk (1979)
• Orca -- The Killer Whale (1977)
• The White Buffalo (1977)
• The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)
• Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson (1976)
• Crazy Mama (1975)
• One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

[edit] Television

• Vega$ - (1978-1981)
• The Yellow Rose - (1983)

[edit] External links

• Will Sampson at the Internet Movie Database
• http://www.kvskvnv.com
• http://www13.addr.com/~rodneygrant/will.htm
• http://lyutichee.narod.ru/WillSampson.html
• http://lyutichee.narod.ru/WSlinks.html
• http://www.ammsa.com/buffalospirit/2004/footprints-WillSamson.html