Will Sampson

Will Sampson September 27 1933 June 3 1987 was a NativeAmerican businessman entrepreneur rodeo performer actor and painterartist He was born in Okmulgee Oklahoma and was an imposing 6 7 201 m tall and also wore size 18 4E shoes Sampsons most notable roles were as Chief Bromden in One Flew Over the Cuckoos 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 NativeAmerican actors like Wes Studi and Randolph Mantooth starred in stage productions Mr Sampson competed in rodeos his speciality riding bucking broncos for about twenty years He was on the rodeo circuit when the producers of One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest Saul Zaentz and Michael Douglas were looking for a large Native American man to play the role of Chief Bromden a 68 300 lb NativeAmericanEuropeanAmerican man A rodeo announcer told them about Sampson and after lengthy efforts to find him they hired him on the strength of an interview He had never acted before Mr Sampson was also an artist His large painting depicting the Ribbon Dance of his Muscogee people is in the collection of the Creek Council House Museum in Okmulgee Oklahoma His artwork is currently displayed online by The Kvskvnv kuskuna Association