Editing Will Sampson (section)

== Rodeo performer ==
Sampson competed in rodeos for about 20 years. His specialty was [[Bareback bronc and Saddle bronc riding|bronco busting]], and he was on the rodeo circuit when ''[[One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (film)|One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest]]'' producers [[Saul Zaentz]] and [[Michael Douglas]] were looking for a large Native American to play the role of Chief Bromden. Sampson stood {{convert|6|ft|7|in}} tall.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/06/04/obituaries/will-sampson-53-portrayed-an-indian-in-cuckoo-s-nest.html |title=Will Sampson, 53, Portrayed An Indian in 'Cuckoo's Nest' |date=June 4, 1987|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news|author-link=Dick Kleiner|first=Dick|last=Kleiner |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=o8wwAAAAIBAJ&pg=7115%2C6612318 |title=Will Sampson's Acting was Instinctive In 'Cuckoo's Nest'|publisher= [[Newspaper Enterprise Association]]|work= [[Ocala Star-Banner]] |date=August 29, 1976}}</ref>