Biography

Will Sampson

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Born
September 27, 1933 · Okmulgee, Oklahoma, USA
Died
June 3, 1987 · Houston, Texas, USA (complications from heart and lung transplant surgery)
Height
6′ 7″ (2.01 m)

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.
- IMDb mini biography by: Blythe379@cs.com

He is buried within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation boundaries. Craig T. Nelson, his co-star in Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986), happened to be passing through the area and wanted to pay his respects. He drove around for four or five hours trying to find the cemetery when he finally stopped at a corner store and asked where 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, it's Craig". Within three or four seconds, Nelson recalls, the sound of the cicadas tapered off and stopped entirely.
He was an enrolled member of the Muscogee Creek tribe.
He had never acted prior to being cast in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975).
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.
He has appeared in two films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) and The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976).

[on the film industry's portrayal of Indians] 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.

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