# Will Sampson

William Sampson Jr. (September 27, 1933 – June 3, 1987) was a Muscogee Nation painter, actor, and rodeo performer. He is 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.

## Life and career

William "Will" Sampson Jr., born in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma to William "Wiley" Sampson Sr. and Mabel Sampson (née Lewis), 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, 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.

## 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 to play the role of Chief Bromden. Sampson stood 6 feet 7 inches (2.01 m) 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. He had never acted before.

## 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. Sampson created a series of paintings entitled: Escape of the Winged Mind that depicts life on the American Frontier. One painting in particular is called: Buffalo Kill; and can be found featured in the book Beyond Cuckoo's Nest: The Art and Life of William Sampson, Jr. His works have sold in auction houses and galleries, including the Pierson Gallery.

## Death

Sampson suffered from scleroderma, a chronic degenerative condition that affected his heart, lungs, and skin. During his lengthy illness, 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 Methodist Hospital in Houston, he died on June 3, 1987, of post-operative kidney failure. Sampson was 53 years old. He was interred at Graves Creek Cemetery in Hitchita, Oklahoma.

## 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. 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

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1975 | Crazy Mama | Indian at Trading | Uncredited role |
| 1975 | One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest | Chief Bromden | |
| 1976 | Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson | The Interpreter / William Halsey | |
| 1976 | The Outlaw Josey Wales | Ten Bears | |
| 1977 | The White Buffalo | Crazy Horse / Worm | |
| 1977 | Orca | Umilak | |
| 1978 | Cowboysan | Indian Chief | Short film |
| 1979 | Fish Hawk | Fish Hawk | |
| 1985 | Insignificance | Elevator Attendant | |
| 1986 | Poltergeist II: The Other Side | Taylor | |
| 1986 | Firewalker | Tall Eagle | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1977 | Relentless | Sam Watchman | CBS television movie |
| 1977 | The Hunted Lady | Uncle George | NBC television movie |
| 1978 | Standing Tall | Lonny Moon | NBC television movie |
| 1978–1979 | Vega$ | Harlon Two-Leaf | 6 episodes |
| 1979 | From Here to Eternity | Sgt. Cheney | Not to be confused with the 1980 spinoff |
| 1980 | Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story | Clarence's Father | NBC television movie |
| 1982 | Born to the Wind | Painted Bear | Main character in summer series |
| 1982 | The Great Spirit within the Hole | Narrator | Twin Cities Public Television |
| 1983–1984 | The Yellow Rose | John Strongheart | 7 episodes |
| 1984 | The Mystic Warrior | Evan Freed | ABC miniseries |
| 1985 | Wildside | Fake Sitting Bull | Episode: "Buffalo Who?" |
| 1986 | Roanoak | Wingina | Miniseries |
| 1986 | Tall Tales & Legends | Chief | Episode: "Johnny Appleseed" |
| 1987 | The Gunfighters | Train Passenger | Television movie; final film role |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result |
| 1980 | Genie Awards | Best Performance by a Foreign Actor | Fish Hawk | Nominated |