Will Sampson: biography, filmography. Pictures of Will Sampson

Will Sampson was born on September 27, 1933. He is known as an American film actor and artist. Few people know that Will in his youth was actively engaged in rodeo. However, we learn about the most interesting moments of life of this amazing actor and artist from our article.

Childhood and youth

Sampson was born in Oklahoma, near the town of Morris. Will is a pure-blooded mascot (self-name of the Indian nationality of cries). The first Native American name is Sampson-Cascan, which in translation from mascot means "left-handed". It is known that Will received an eight-year education at a local school, then went to serve in the navy of America. When Sampson returned to his home, then the genesis of his activities was everything that could bring at least some income.

Rodeo Rider

When Will turned 14 years old, he seriously got carried away rodeo. A real Indian cowboy has won the competition more than once. It should be noted that he was engaged in his favorite business up to 40 years.

Will Sampson preferred bullraiding - the most dangerous category of rodeo. This sport is to stay as long as possible riding on an angry bull or jump from a horse to its back, trying to knock it to the ground.

The result of this unusual passion was a serious hand injury, then - back. The latter entailed surgical intervention. This is the career of the famous rodeo master.

Artist

Since his earliest childhood Will Sampson, whose photo can be seen in our article, was fond of painting. It should be noted that the future actor led a wandering lifestyle. But this did not prevent him from showing his paintings at various exhibitions. Thanks to this, Will achieved universal recognition.

At the beginning of the creative path, Sampson worked everywhere and on everything that would fall under his arm. Most often his pictures were poured out images of his native mascots, as well as various historical events and traditions of this Indian nationality. It is worth saying that Will Sampson possessed photographic memory. He could easily transfer some scenes of rodeo, which corresponded exactly to reality.

It is known that Will carried out the orders of Oklahoma Governor George Nye himself. The artist also illustrated such publications as Arizona Highways, Kuota Horse, Highline Highlights, etc.

In 1951, Will Sampson was awarded his first award as an artist. Handed her in the Philbrook Center for Painting. And in 1969 he was awarded the Okhmugli Cultural Foundation award in the nomination "Art and Entertainment Arts". Also, Will received multiple awards as the most popular artist.

It is worth mentioning that Sampson was allowed to create within the walls of the Smithsonian Institution, the Library of Congress, the Museum of Eamon Carter, the House of the Creek Nation Council in Okmulgee, and the Philbrook Arts Center.

In 1960, Will took up the post of vice president of the Union of Artists of Oklahoma and director of the Art Gallery of Chiefs in Okmugli.

Star movie

In 1975, at random chance, Will falls on the casting of the American western "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". There he has the opportunity to play a leader named Broadman. For this role, Sampson was to be nominated for an Oscar. But at the last moment the judges changed their mind. The nominee then became Billy Bibbit.

Will Sampson, films with which millions of viewers around the world watched, was not upset, because in front of him was waiting for an even brighter future movie. Unfortunately, the film "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" was allowed to be viewed only 12 years after its release. At that time, the actor had already left for another world. But the Soviet audience has already had time to enjoy the talent of Will through other interesting pictures - "Death among icebergs" and "Indian hawk".

Fame

Fame came to the actor at the age of 45 years. It should be said that to his popularity, Will Sampson, whose height was 196 cm, was skeptical, because he believed that no film in which he was shot, and did not reach the level of his favorite painting "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." In addition, he really considered his confession to be only painting.

Gossip

Around the actor and the artist there are still legends. It is rumored that Will had magical powers. It is rumored that Sampson died precisely because he was destroyed by the evil forces with which he fought, saving the actors of the movie "Poltergeist." The picture, as the press claimed then, took the lives of several people, including the main character - a 12-year-old girl.

Personal life

The personal life of Will Sampson has always been the focus of attention. It is known that the actor and the artist had 9 children from different marriages. It is worth saying that Will always took an active part in the education of all without exception.

Tim - the eldest son of Sampson - was brought up by aunts and grandmothers away from their parents. It is known that the young man tried himself in a stunt. From the father, the guy was given the ability to create. Also Tim is very fond of playing acoustic guitar.

After graduation, the young man returned to his father. He, in turn, has attached it to work in the background in some films. Subsequently, not without the help of his father, Tim built his film career.

Will Sampson, whose wife is still unknown to anyone, has always been proud of his children.

Death

It is known that in the last 10 years of his life Sampson was suffering from scleroderma (inflammatory defeat of small vessels of the whole body). This ailment led to serious problems with the heart and lungs. Unfortunately, after the transplant surgery of these organs, Sampson passed away. It happened on June 3, 1987 in Texas, the city of Houston. The actor was buried in an Indian cemetery in Oklahoma.

A few years after Sampson's death, he was awarded a reward, which Will was posthumously awarded for contributing to the cinema, as well as for creating unusual images on the screen.

In 2008, the memory of the actor was immortalized on the Walk of Fame in the city of Tulsa. The ceremony was held under the leadership of the Governor of Oklahoma and the second leader of the Muscovy nation. In 2009, Escobar published a biography of Will Sampson. The book was illustrated by paintings and graphic works of the artist.