Will Sampson

  • Will Sampson
  • Will Sampson
  • Will Sampson
Who's Dated Who feature on Will Sampson including awards, trivia, quotes, pictures, biography, photos, videos, pics, news, commentary, vital stats, fans and facts.
 

Career Highlights

Actor Credits



 

Will Sampson Biography

A Native American actor of the Creek Nation, Sampson`s "big break" came from his memorable role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo`s Nest (1975) opposite Jack Nicholson. He was also starred opposite Clint Eastwood in the western The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976). He had supporting roles in Orca (1977), The White Buffalo (1977) and Fish Hawk (1979). In 1986, he co-starred in Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986) as a Native American shaman. He died of complications from kidney failure and malnutrition during heart and lung replacement surgery in 1987 and was buried on the reservation where he grew up.

Biography Credit: www.imdb.com/name/nm0760225/bio
 

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Snapshot

    Name Will Sampson
    Height 6' 7"  (201 cm)
    Build Large
    Eye Color Brown - Dark
    Hair Color Black
    Date of Birth September 271933
    Birthplace Okmulgee, Oklahoma, USA
    Star Sign Libra
    Died June 31987 (Aged 54)
    Location of Death Houston, Texas
    Cause of Death (complications from heart and lung transplant surgery)
    Nationality American
    Ethnicity Other
    Occupation Actor
    Celebrity Index Wi

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Trivia

  • "Hollywood writers and directors are still using `em for livestock. They somehow just can`t seem to bring it around to give the truth about Indians."
    Trivia
  • In 1977, appeared in two movies that set man against beast, both very reminiscent of Jaws (1975): Orca (1977) and The White Buffalo (1977).
    (imdb.com)
  • He is buried on the Creek Indian Reservation. Craig T. Nelson, Poltergeist co-star, happened to be passing through the area and wanted to pay his respects. He drove around for 4 or 5 hours trying to find the cemetery when he finally stopped at a corner store and asked where Will Sampson was buried. As it turned out, the man standing next to Nelson in the store was Sampson`s cousin, and told Nelson he`d show him the spot. It was cicada season, and Nelson remembers the buzzing was overwhelming. He approached Sampson`s grave and said something to the effect of "Hey Will, its Craig". Within three or four seconds, Nelson recalls, the sound of the cicadas tapered off and stopped entirely.
    (imdb.com)
  • He is said to be the third victim of the legendary "Poltergeist Curse". Sampson starred in Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986), and during filming he allegedly claimed that the production was haunted. He supposedly used Native American rituals to bless sets and locations to stave off the curse. Regardless, the legend holds that he became another victim of the curse, dying of complications during heart and lung surgery a year after the film`s release. Other supposed victims of the curse include Dominique Dunne, who was murdered shortly after the release of Poltergeist (1982), Julian Beck who died of stomach cancer during filming of Poltergeist II, and Heather O`Rourke, who died of complications from Crohn`s Disease before Poltergeist III (1988) was released.
    (imdb.com)
  • According to an episode of "The Yellow Rose" (1983), he was 6` 7".
    (imdb.com)
  • Founder of the American Indian Registry for the Performing Arts.
    (imdb.com)
  • Was a member of the Creek Nation.
    (imdb.com)
  • Father of Tim Sampson.
    (imdb.com)
  • Born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, USA
    (imdb.com)
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