Will Sampson

Will Sampson was a Muscogee Nation painter, actor, and rodeo performer whose towering 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) stature and commanding presence made him an iconic figure in American cinema of the 1970s and 1980s. Born on September 27 1933 in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, to William “Wiley” Sampson Sr. and Mabel Lewis, he grew up on the Muscogee Creek reservation where he learned traditional dances and honed his skills as a bronco‑busting rider, competing on the rodeo circuit for roughly two decades before ever stepping onto a soundstage. His unexpected discovery by producers Saul Zaentz and Michael Douglas occurred while he was performing in a rodeo; a recommendation from announcer Mel Lambert led to his casting as the silently powerful Chief Bromden in the 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, a role he secured despite having no prior acting experience. Sampson’s performance, marked by a haunting blend of stoic dignity and subtle inner turmoil, earned critical praise and cemented his status as one of the few Native American actors to achieve mainstream recognition during that era. Following his breakout, Sampson appeared as Ten Bears in The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976), as the Medicine Man Taylor in Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986), and portrayed the legendary warrior Crazy Horse in The White Buffalo (1977), among numerous other film and television credits such as a recurring role on Vega$. In parallel with his acting career, he pursued visual arts, creating large‑scale paintings like the Ribbon Dance of the Muscogee, displayed at the Creek Council House Museum, and a series titled Escape of the Winged Mind exhibited at institutions including the Gilcrease and Philbrook museums. His artistic legacy reflects a deep connection to his heritage and a dedication to portraying Native American culture on both canvas and screen. Sampson suffered from scleroderma, a debilitating disease that ultimately required a heart‑lung transplant at Houston Methodist Hospital; complications led to his death on June 3 1987 at age 53. His influence endures through initiatives such as the American Indian Registry for the Performing Arts, which he founded in 1983 to support Native talent, and through memorials like Will Sampson Road in Okmulgee County. His children—William Lance, Samsoche “Sam,” Lumhe “Micco,” Timothy James, and Robert—continue to honor his memory, with Tim Sampson occasionally appearing in contemporary media tributes. Will Sampson’s unique blend of athletic vigor, artistic vision, and cinematic power remains a singular chapter in the history of Indigenous representation in Hollywood.