Will Sampson

William "Will" Sampson Jr., also known by his childhood nickname, "Sonny," a Muscogee Creek man, was born in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma to William "Wiley" Sampson Sr. (August 13, 1904 – May 27, 2001) and Mabel Sampson (née Lewis, 1899–?).[1] Sampson is the father of Samsoche "Sam" and Lumhe "Micco" Sampson of the Sampson Brothers Duo, actor Tim Sampson,[2] and Destiny Sampson.[3] They are known for their traditional fancy and grass dances, and often perform with Frank Waln, a notable Lakota hip-hop artist. On July 6, 2019, Sampson's son, Timothy "Tim" Sampson died.

Sampson competed in rodeos (his specialty being bronco busting), for about twenty years. He was on the rodeo circuit when producers Saul Zaentz and Michael Douglas—of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest—were looking for a large Native American to play the role of Chief Bromden. Sampson stood an imposing 6'7" (2.01 m) tall.[4] 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.[5]

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 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 in The White Buffalo with Charles Bronson.

Sampson was an 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.[1] In 1983 he founded and served on the board of directors of the American Indian Registry for the Performing Arts.[6]

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, Texas, he died on June 3, 1987, of post-operative kidney failure. Sampson was 53 years old.[7] Sampson was interred at Graves Creek Cemetery in Hitchita, Oklahoma.

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

• Genie Award 1980: Nominated, "Best Performance by a Foreign Actor" – Fish Hawk

• Escobar Zoe. Beyond the Cuckoo's Nest: the Art and Life of William Sonny Sampson... Seattle: Girl Dog Publ., 2009. (Ill.)

• Will Sampson on IMDb
• Will Sampson interviews
• Will Sampson: Documentary Ensures Actor is Remembered. The Aboriginal Multi-Media Society (AMMSA)
• Will Sampson at Find a Grave