Will Sampson was a Muscogee Nation painter, actor, and rodeo performer who rose to fame for his portrayal of Chief Bromden in the 1975 film One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. He also appeared in other movies such as The Outlaw Josey Wales, Poltergeist II: The Other Side, and The White Buffalo. However, his life was cut short by a rare and chronic condition that affected his heart, lungs, and skin. Here is the tragic story of Will Sampson’s cause of death and how he left a legacy for Native American artists.
A Promising Career in Hollywood
Will Sampson was born on September 27, 1933, in Okmulgee County, Oklahoma, to William “Wiley” Sampson Sr. and Mabel Sampson (née Lewis). He was a citizen of the Muscogee Nation, a tribe from the Southeastern Woodlands. Sampson Jr. had at least five children: Samsoche “Sam” and Lumhe “Micco” Sampson (of the Sampson Brothers Duo), actor Timothy “Tim” James Sampson, and Robert Benjamin Sampson. The Sampson Brothers Duo are known for their traditional fancy and grass dances. His son Robert was murdered in Tulsa in 2013.
Sampson competed in rodeos for about 20 years. His specialty was bronco busting, and 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″ tall. 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.
Sampson’s performance as the apparently deaf and mute Chief Bromden earned him critical acclaim and recognition. He went on to star in other films that featured Native American characters, such as Crazy Horse in The White Buffalo with Charles Bronson and Ten Bears in The Outlaw Josey Wales with Clint Eastwood. He also played Taylor the Medicine Man in the horror film Poltergeist II: The Other Side and the Elevator Attendant in Nicolas Roeg’s 1985 film Insignificance.
Sampson was also a visual 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. In 1983 he founded and served on the board of directors of the American Indian Registry for the Performing Arts.
A Struggle with Scleroderma
Sampson suffered from scleroderma, a chronic degenerative condition that affected his heart, lungs, and skin. Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease that causes the body’s immune system to attack its own tissues, resulting in inflammation, scarring, and hardening of the skin and internal organs. Scleroderma can affect various parts of the body, such as the blood vessels, digestive system, kidneys, lungs, heart, and joints. There is no cure for scleroderma, and treatment options are limited.
During his lengthy illness, Sampson’s weight fell from 260 lb (120 kg) to 140 lb (64 kg), causing complications related to malnutrition. He also experienced difficulty breathing, chest pain, fatigue, joint stiffness, skin ulcers, and Raynaud’s phenomenon (a condition that causes some areas of the body to feel numb and cold in response to cold temperatures or stress).
Sampson underwent a heart-lung transplant on April 21, 1987 at Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas. It was deemed a “last-chance” transplant by his doctors, who hoped it would improve his quality of life and extend his survival. However, Sampson developed a post-operative fungal infection that spread throughout his body. He also suffered from kidney failure and required dialysis.
A Legacy Remembered
Sampson died on June 3, 1987 at the age of 53 in Houston. He was buried on the reservation where he grew up in Graves Creek Cemetery in Hitchita, Oklahoma. He was survived by his children, parents, sisters, and many friends and fans.
Sampson’s death was mourned by many people who admired his work and his spirit. Actor Jack Nicholson, who appeared with Sampson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest issued a statement saying he would “miss a great friend”. Marilyn Pourier, an executive with a Boulder Indian legal assistance fund assisted by Sampson said “He was so big and so strong and so kind, you thought he’d be around forever”.
Sampson’s legacy lives on through his films, paintings, and the American Indian Registry for the Performing Arts. He is remembered as one of the first Native American actors to break stereotypes and portray authentic and complex characters on screen. He is also regarded as a role model and a mentor for aspiring Native American artists who want to follow his footsteps.
Will Sampson’s cause of death was a tragic end to a remarkable life. He was a man of many talents and passions, who used his gifts to express his culture and identity. He was a pioneer, a leader, and a legend in the Native American community and beyond.
Sources: Wikipedia, The Oklahoman, Dead or Kicking, IMDb, The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture.
