Will Sampson

Acting

Will Sampson

Born — Died

1933-09-26 — 1987-06-03

Place of birth

Okmulgee, Oklahoma, USA

Known for

Acting

Credits

31 titles

Will Sampson (September 27, 1933 – June 3, 1987) was a Native-American businessman, entrepreneur, rodeo performer, actor and painter/artist. He was born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma and was an imposing 6' 7" (2.01 m) tall and also wore size 18 4E shoes. 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. Mr. Sampson appeared in the production of Black Elk Speaks with the American Indian Theater Company in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where David Carradine and other Native…

Known for

American Playhouse poster
6.6

American Playhouse is an anthology television series periodically broadcast by Public Broadcasting Service in the United States.

American Playhouse

1982

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest poster
8.4

A petty criminal fakes insanity to serve his sentence in a mental ward rather than prison. He soon finds himself as a leader to the other patients—and an enemy to the cruel, domineering nurse who runs the ward.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

1975

Orca poster
6.2

After witnessing the killing of his mate and offspring at the hands of a reckless Irish captain, a vengeful killer whale rampages through the fisherman's Newfoundland harbor. Under pressure from the villagers, the captain, a female marine biologist, and an Indigenous tribalist venture after the great beast, who will meet them on its own turf.

Orca

1977

The Outlaw Josey Wales poster
7.5

After avenging his family's brutal murder, Wales is pursued by a pack of soldiers. He prefers to travel alone, but ragtag outcasts are drawn to him - and Wales can't bring himself to leave them unprotected.

The Outlaw Josey Wales

1976

Tall Tales & Legends poster
6.0

An anthology series that showcases various mythical characters and incidents throughout history.

Tall Tales & Legends

1985

Poltergeist II: The Other Side poster
6.0

The Freeling family move in with Diane's mother in an effort to escape the trauma and aftermath of Carol Anne's abduction by the Beast. But the Beast is not to be put off so easily and appears in a ghostly apparition as the Reverend Kane, a religious zealot responsible for the deaths of his many followers. His goal is simple - he wants the angelic Carol Anne.

Poltergeist II: The Other Side

1986

Film credits

1980s · 8 titles

Poltergeist II: The Other Side poster
6.0

The Freeling family move in with Diane's mother in an effort to escape the trauma and aftermath of Carol Anne's abduction by the Beast. But the Beast is not to be put off so easily and appears in a ghostly apparition as the Reverend Kane, a religious zealot responsible for the deaths of his many followers. His goal is simple - he wants the angelic Carol Anne.

Poltergeist II: The Other Side

1986

Firewalker poster
5.3

A pair of adventurers try to track down an ancient Aztec/Mayan/Egyptian/Apache horde of gold.

Firewalker

1986

Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story poster
5.5

Filmed on location at Alcatraz Island, this two-part "whole story" actually concentrates on a handful of the denizens behind the cold grey walls of "The Rock". Michael Beck plays the real-life Clarence Carnes, an Oklahoma Choctaw Indian said to be the youngest man ever incarcerated in the notorious maximum security prison. Serving a 99-year sentence for a gas station holdup and murder, Carnes makes periodic attempts to escape, the final attempt being the most violent. Many of the subordinate characters are fictional (as are most of the details concerning Carnes' escape efforts); the one exception is Robert Stroud, the "Birdman of Alcatraz", here portrayed by Art Carney as a gentle, kindly philosopher. Telly Savalas, a costar of the Burt Lancaster vehicle Birdman of Alcatraz, also guest starred in the 1980 film. Originally titled Alcatraz and Clarence Carnes, this made-for-TV movie wavers between gritty realism and "I'm bustin' outta here!" artifice.

Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

1980

Insignificance poster
6.4

Four 1950s icons meet in the same hotel room, and two of them discover more in common between them than they ever anticipated.

Insignificance

1985

Johnny Appleseed poster
NR

Shelley Duvall acted as host for this 1980s television series about legendary characters and historical events. This volume chronicles Jonathan Chapman (Martin Short), who loves two things: apples and his sweetheart, Jenny Smith (Molly Ringwald). Following Mother Nature's advice, he travels the countryside and sows apple seeds along the way, riling Smithville's imperious ruler (Rob Reiner) in this timeless American yarn.

Johnny Appleseed

1986

The Gunfighters poster
4.7

In this pilot Western produced for Canadian television, two brothers and their cousin become bandits to rescue their ranch from a greedy land developer.

The Gunfighters

1987

The Great Spirit Within the Hole poster
8.0

The story of Native Americans seeking to reconnect with their spiritual roots while incarcerated.

The Great Spirit Within the Hole

1983

No artwork available
6.7

A hardened and embittered man turns his life around with the help of a farm boy in this uplifting family tale. Down on his luck and dependent on booze, Native American Fish Hawk (Will Sampson) changes his fate when he accepts a job hunting down a bear that's been killing local livestock. His temporary residence with the Boggs family brings young Corby (Charles Fields) into his life, and the boy's friendship gives Fish Hawk a new reason to live.

Fish Hawk

1980

1970s · 9 titles

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest poster
8.4

A petty criminal fakes insanity to serve his sentence in a mental ward rather than prison. He soon finds himself as a leader to the other patients—and an enemy to the cruel, domineering nurse who runs the ward.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

1975

Orca poster
6.2

After witnessing the killing of his mate and offspring at the hands of a reckless Irish captain, a vengeful killer whale rampages through the fisherman's Newfoundland harbor. Under pressure from the villagers, the captain, a female marine biologist, and an Indigenous tribalist venture after the great beast, who will meet them on its own turf.

Orca

1977

The Outlaw Josey Wales poster
7.5

After avenging his family's brutal murder, Wales is pursued by a pack of soldiers. He prefers to travel alone, but ragtag outcasts are drawn to him - and Wales can't bring himself to leave them unprotected.

The Outlaw Josey Wales

1976

The White Buffalo poster
6.0

In this strange western version of Moby Dick, Wild Bill Hickok hunts a white buffalo he has seen in a dream. Hickok moves through a variety of uniquely authentic western locations - dim, filthy, makeshift taverns; freezing, slaughterhouse-like frontier towns and beautifully desolate high country - before improbably teaming up with a young Crazy Horse to pursue the creature.

The White Buffalo

1977

Crazy Mama poster
5.6

Melba Stokes, her mother Sheba and daughter Cheryl embark on a crime spree after their California beauty parlor is repossessed. Their destination is Arkansas, where the three generations of women want to reclaim the family farm.

Crazy Mama

1975

Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson poster
5.6

Buffalo Bill plans to put on his own Wild West sideshow, and Chief Sitting Bull has agreed to appear in it. However, Sitting Bull has his own hidden agenda, involving the President and General Custer.

Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson

1976

Standing Tall poster
6.0

Set in Montana in the year 1934, a half-breed rancher and his wife are harassed by a ruthless land robber, who forces them to stand tall and defend their land, life and dignity.

Standing Tall

1978

The Hunted Lady poster
7.7

An undercover policewoman finds herself framed for murder. Forced to flee for her life, she determines to clear her name and bring the real killers to justice.

The Hunted Lady

1977

Relentless poster
7.3

An Arizona state trooper, who is also an Indian, pursues a gang of paramilitary-type robbers into the mountains. The gang has killed the trooper's uncle and taken a woman hostage, and the trooper must use his tracking and hunting skills to find the gang and rescue the hostage.

Relentless

1977

Series credits

American Playhouse poster
6.6

American Playhouse is an anthology television series periodically broadcast by Public Broadcasting Service in the United States.

American Playhouse

1982

American Playhouse poster
6.6

American Playhouse is an anthology television series periodically broadcast by Public Broadcasting Service in the United States.

American Playhouse

1982

Tall Tales & Legends poster
6.0

An anthology series that showcases various mythical characters and incidents throughout history.

Tall Tales & Legends

1985

The Yellow Rose poster
7.6

The Yellow Rose is an American television series. It was broadcast on the NBC network during the 1983-1984 season. It was produced by Paul Freeman. The series was at least partly inspired by the more coltish elements of the soap opera Dallas, and dealt with the intrigues of the Texas-based ranch-owning Champion family. The show's cast included Sam Elliott, David Soul, Edward Albert, Cybill Shepherd, Chuck Connors, Noah Beery, Jr., Ken Curtis, Robin Wright and Jane Russell. The Yellow Rose was canceled after one season of twenty-two episodes. In the summer of 1990, the series was rerun again on NBC along with the short-lived Bret Maverick starring James Garner.

The Yellow Rose

1983

No artwork available
4.2

From Here to Eternity was short-lived dramatic television series that aired in 1980. It was a spinoff of the successful 1979 miniseries of the same title. The series featured most of the cast members from the original miniseries, including William Devane and Kim Basinger. Barbara Hershey replaced Natalie Wood for the role of Karen Holmes.

From Here to Eternity

1980

Wildside poster
6.8

Wildside is an American series aired by ABC from March to April 1985. The series stars William Smith, J. Eddie Peck, Howard Rollins, William Smith, Sandy McPeak, Terry Funk, John D'Aquino, and Meg Ryan.

Wildside

1985

From Here to Eternity poster
7.3

The lives of the men and families of G Company, 24th Infantry Division, United States Army, on the eve of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

From Here to Eternity

1979

Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story poster
5.0

Fact-based story of the lives and attempted 1946 escape of several inmates in the famous correctional facility. Young inmate Clarence Carnes masterminds a grand escape involving several inmates who have nothing to lose, serving life sentences.

Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story

1980

The Mystic Warrior poster
6.2

Saga about a proud band of Sioux Indians, and the efforts of one brave to save his people from destruction through the use of mysterious powers handed down by ancestors.

The Mystic Warrior

1984

Roanoak poster
NR

The story chronicles the first recorded meeting in the late 16th century between British explorers-settlers and Native Americans in what is now North Carolina, and the conflicts that ensued between the two diverse cultures before this early settlement mysteriously vanished.

Roanoak

1986

No artwork available
7.0

The series, set on the American frontier in 1825, follows the lives of a tribe of Plains Indians who call themselves The People.

Born to the Wind

1981