Will Sampson

Actor

About

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Also Known As

William Sampson Jr.

Birth Place

Okmulgee, Oklahoma, USA

Born

September 27, 1933

Died

June 03, 1987

Cause of Death

Complications From Scleroderma

Biography

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When Michael Douglas' assistant spotted a tall Native American actor named Will Sampson at an art show, they knew they had their Chief Bromden. Douglas was producing Milos Forman's adaptation of Ken Kesey's classic novel "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," and the 6 ' 5" Sampson proved to be wise casting for Chief Bromden, the silent mental patient presumed to be deaf and dumb who watches...

Filmography

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Firewalker (1986)

Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986)

Fish Hawk (1981)

Harlon Two Leaf

Standing Tall (1978)

The Hunted Lady (1977)

Photos & Videos

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Buffalo Bill And The Indians (1976) -- (Movie Clip) Ain't All That Different From Real Life

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975) -- (Movie Clip) Mr. McMurphy's Here

Biography

When Michael Douglas' assistant spotted a tall Native American actor named Will Sampson at an art show, they knew they had their Chief Bromden. Douglas was producing Milos Forman's adaptation of Ken Kesey's classic novel "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," and the 6 ' 5" Sampson proved to be wise casting for Chief Bromden, the silent mental patient presumed to be deaf and dumb who watches as the institution is upended by the arrival of free-spirited inmate R.P. McMurphy (played memorably by Jack Nicholson). The film was released to great acclaim in 1975, collecting Oscars for Best Picture, Best Actor (Nicholson), Best Director (Forman), and Best Actress (Louise Fletcher for her portrayal of the villainous Nurse Ratched). In 1976, Sampson went on to appear in the Clint Eastwood western "The Outlaw Josey Wales." Sampson then scored a recurring role on the small screen in the detective series "Vegas" from 1978 to 1981. His most notable role next to Chief Bromden may be "Taylor the Medicine Man" in "Poltergeist II," the 1986 sequel to the Spielberg-produced horror sensation of 1982. Sampson's passion did not end with acting: he founded the American Indian Registry for the Performing Arts in 1982 and was an avid painter for most of his life.

Filmography

Cast (Feature Film)

Firewalker (1986)

Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986)

Fish Hawk (1981)

Harlon Two Leaf

Standing Tall (1978)

The Hunted Lady (1977)

The White Buffalo (1977)

Relentless (1977)

The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

Cast (Special)

Cast (TV Mini-Series)

The Mystic Warrior (Do Not Use) (1984)

Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story (1980)

From Here to Eternity (1979)

Life Events

Videos

Buffalo Bill And The Indians (1976) -- (Movie Clip) Ain't All That Different From Real Life Paul Newman (title character), with his publicist (Kevin McCarthy, as “Arizona John Burke,” also a historical figure) insists on a staged greeting for his newly recruited Wild West Show co-star, at first mistaking interpreter Halsey (Will Sampson) for Sitting Bull (Frank Kaquitts), in Robert Altman’s Buffalo Bill And The Indians Or, Sitting Bull’s History Lesson, 1976.

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975) -- (Movie Clip) Mr. McMurphy's Here Joining director Milos Forman’s opening, Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher) arriving (on location at the Oregon State Mental Hospital in Salem), introducing patients (William Duell, Vincent Schiavelli, Will Sampson) then Jack Nicholson as McMurphy, in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, 1975.

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975) -- (Movie Clip) Put The Ball In The Hole McMurphy (Jack Nicholson), who’s faking mental illness, tries to get the Chief (Will Sampson) into basketball, recruiting Bancini (Josip Elic), dismissing orderly Washington (Nathan George), Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher) observing, in Milos Forman’s One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, 1975.

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest (1975) -- (Movie Clip) You All Crazy? With assist from the Chief (Will Sampson), McMurphy (Jack Nicholson) grabs a bus and leads fellow mental patients (Danny DeVito, Brad Dourif, William Redfield, Vincent Schiavelli et al) on a breakout, picking up Candy (Marya Small), in Milos Forman’s One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest, 1975.

Family

Mabel Sampson

Mother

Tim Sampson

Son

Actor. Born c. 1956; appeared in Broadway revival of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" in 2001 playing the role of Chief Bromden.

T J Sampson

Grandson

Born c. 1980.

Tafv Sampson

Granddaughter

Born c. 1990.

Bibliography

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