Leonard Samson

*"I confess as a man, as Betty's lover, that I've always hoped you were dead. Not because I don't like you but because I love Betty, and I've known unless you were really gone or she believed you were, that, uh... there'd always be three of us in this relationship."*
―Leonard Samson to Bruce Banner[src]
Doctor **Leonard Samson** is a psychiatrist working at Culver University who became romantically involved with Betty Ross for a time. When Bruce Banner returned from hiding and came back into Ross' life, Samson became jealous and decided to call Betty's father Thaddeus Ross and have Banner arrested, thus inadvertently instigating the Battle at Culver University.

## Biography

### Love Life

#### Dating Betty Ross

*"She's with somebody?"
"Yeah, he's a head shrink. They say he's one of the best."*
―Bruce Banner and Stanley Lieber[src]
Leonard Samson was the leading psychiatrist at Culver University, where he met and began dating Betty Ross, a colleague of his. Although he was kind and cared for her, Samson was always aware that Ross was still in love with her former partner, Dr. Bruce Banner, who had gone on the run five years prior and not been seen or heard from in this time.

When Samson and Ross went to get dinner together, they decided to visit Ross' old friend Stanley Lieber and eat at his restaurant, although Lieber was closing up he agreed to feed the pair. While they waited for their food Samson and Ross enjoyed a long conversation, however Ross suddenly became distracted having seen something in the kitchen. Ross went to investigate but found nothing, she questioned Lieber who admitted that she had indeed seen Bruce Banner who had returned to America.

#### Helping Bruce Banner

*"You don't drop a career and fall off the face of the Earth because you have an anger management issue, Bruce. You see a shrink."
"It's a little bit more complicated than that."*
―Leonard Samson and Bruce Banner[src]
Betty Ross found Bruce Banner attempting to go back on the run and convinced him to come back with her, Samson agreed to have him as a guest in his home. While having dinner Samson spoke about one of his cases when Banner began to cry, claiming it was a long time he had been in such a comfortable and friendly situation.

Later that night Banner found Samson drinking wine and tending to the fire. Samson spoke to Banner about his own fears of having Betty Ross' former lover in his home and his regrets for not being able to have as strong a connection with her as she had with Banner. They went onto discuss Banner's return to America and Banner confessed he had issues that he needed to cure and he could be very dangerous when he lost control, when Samson compared the issues to anger management Banner assured him it was more complicated.

#### Informing General Ross

*"I give you my word, her safety is my main concern at this point."
"You know, it's a point of professional pride for me that I can tell when somebody's lying. And you are."*
―Thaddeus Ross and Leonard Samson[src]
Feeling uneasy of Banner's presence, Samson contacted Betty's father General Thaddeus Ross, tipping him off as to Banner's whereabouts, causing the Battle at Culver University. Samson ran to the University where he found General Ross in battle with Hulk and attempted to find Betty only to witness her nearly being killed by a helicopter crash. Despite being knocked down by the ensuing explosion, Samson had witnessed Hulk protecting Betty deadly crash and carry her away from danger.

Samson spoke to General Thaddeus Ross at his home in the aftermath of the battle, although Ross assured him that he would put all his resources into finding Betty Ross, Samson told him that he knew he was lying as Ross' primary concern was not for his daughter but for capturing Hulk. When Samson expressed his belief that Betty would do whatever she could to protect Banner, General Ross told him that that would make her a fugitive of the law and he won't be able to protect her from that. As Ross left, Samson called out that he now understands why Betty refused to talk about her father during their time together, which causes Ross to comment on his daughter's poor choice in men, referring to Banner and Samson.

#### Confessing to Betty Ross

*"Leonard, did you call someone the night Bruce was at our house? Is that why they came for him?"
"I... I was afraid. Please forgive me."*
―Betty Ross and Leonard Samson[src]
Betty Ross did not return for several weeks, during which time Hulk was involved in a major battle with another monster, resulting in Bruce Banner disappearing once again. Eventually, Ross phoned Samson to confirm that she was alive. When Samson begged her to come home, she forced him to confess that he had called Thaddeus Ross and caused the disaster. Despite Samson's tearful apology, Ross told him she would not return, but forgave him.

## Personality

*"A really nice guy."*
―Stanley Lieber[src]
Leonard is a very intelligent and capable psychiatrist, and a good person. He's very correct and sensitive, and he's ready to do anything to please the woman he loves, even to accept his rival in his house and leaving Betty's side for not hurting his feelings.

However, he starts to be worried about Betty and calls her father, who brings the army to the campus and starts a massive attacks on Bruce, who becomes Hulk and flees with Betty in his arms. Leonard soon realizes his mistake as he sees the creature trying to protect Betty and the soldiers are only interested in taking Bruce in custody with no worry for the civilians involved.

## Abilities

*"I'm also a psychiatrist. And I'm very committed to putting light into dark corners, so to speak."*
―Leonard Samson to Bruce Banner[src]
* **Master Physician**: Samson is a medical doctor specialized in psychiatry, considering himself as one of the best in his field. He is also a professor of that subject at Culver University.

## Facilities

* **Leonard Samson's House**: Samson resided in his home where Betty Ross let Bruce Banner stay for the night.
* **Culver University**: Samson witnessed the military engage the Hulk in a battle that had the military almost kill his lover, Betty Ross.

## Relationships

* Bruce Banner/Hulk - Former Rival, Patient and Friend
* Stanley Lieber

## Trivia

* In the comics, Leonard Samson got the abilities of superhuman strength, stamina, durability, and consciousness from gamma radiation, becoming the hero **Doc Samson**.

## Behind the Scenes

* Louis Leterrier chose Ty Burrell to portray Samson in *The Incredible Hulk* because, in an early script, the character was very much like the one Burrell interpreted in Zack Snyder's *Dawn of the Dead*.
* Almost all of Samson's scenes were cut from the final release of *The Incredible Hulk*.
* In 2008, Ty Burrell had expressed interest in portraying a super powered Leonard Samson faithfully to the comic books in a possible sequel to *The Incredible Hulk*.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 *The Incredible Hulk*
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 *The Incredible Hulk* Deleted Scene
3. ↑ 'INCREDIBLE HULK' STARS, DIRECTOR ALREADY HAVE WISH LIST FOR 'HULK 2': IRON MAN, SAMSON, THE LEADER AND MORE

## External Links

* Leonard Samson on the Marvel Cinematic Universe Wiki