Sam Bottoms

Samuel John Bottoms (October 17, 1955 – December 16, 2008) was an American actor and producer.

Early life

Bottoms was born in Santa Barbara, California, the third son of James "Bud" Bottoms (a sculptor and art teacher) and Betty (Chapman), both of whom outlived him. He was the brother of actors Timothy Bottoms (born 1951), Joseph Bottoms (born 1954) and Ben Bottoms (born 1960).

Career

When Bottoms was 16 years old, he was on the set of ''The Last Picture Show'', in which his older brother Timothy starred, when the director Peter Bogdanovich decided to give him a screen test. He ended up in the movie as the character of Billy, who has no spoken lines but plays a pivotal role in the drama. Five years later, Bottoms appeared with Clint Eastwood in '' The Outlaw Josey Wales''.

Bottoms may be best remembered for his role as surfer Lance B. Johnson, a Navy Gunner's Mate stationed on a river boat in Francis Ford Coppola's ''Apocalypse Now''. Bottoms acquired hookworm during the chaotic production in the Philippines, and the parasite "wrecked his liver".

Death

At age 53, Bottoms died of glioblastoma multiforme, a type of brain tumor, on December 16, 2008. He was cremated and his ashes given to his widow.

Filmography

Film

*''The Last Picture Show'' (1971) as Billy
*''Class of '44'' (1973) as Marty
*''Zandy's Bride'' (1974) as Mel Allan
*'' The Outlaw Josey Wales'' (1976) as Jamie
*''Apocalypse Now'' (1979) as Lance B. Johnson
*''Up from the Depths'' (1979) as Greg Oliver
*'' Bronco Billy'' (1980) as Leonard James
*''Gringo mojado'' (1984) as Murray Lewis Jr.
*''Prime Risk'' (1985) as Bill Yeoman
*''Hunter's Blood'' (1986) as David Rand
*'' Gardens of Stone'' (1987) as Lt. Webber
*''After School'' (1988) as Father Michael McCarren
*'' Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse'' (1991) as Himself
*''Dolly Dearest'' (1991) as Elliot Wade
*''Ragin' Cajun'' (1991) as Legs
*''North of Chiang Mai'' (1992) as Michael
*'' Sugar Hill'' (1993) as Oliver Thompson
*'' The Trust'' (1993) as James Baker
*''Project Shadowchaser III'' (1995) as Kody
*'' Snide and Prejudice'' (1997) as Therapist Schaub
*''Joseph's Gift'' (1998) as Robert Keller
*''The Unsaid'' (2001) as Joseph Caffey
*'' Shadow Fury'' (2001) as Mitchell Madsen
*''Looking Through Lillian'' (2002) as Gene
*'' True Files'' (2002) as Alex Lomax
*'' Seabiscuit'' (2003) as Mr. Blodget
*'' Havoc'' (2005) as Lt. Maris
*'' Shopgirl'' (2005) as Dan Buttersfield
*'' Winter Passing'' (2005) as Brian
*''SherryBaby'' (2006) as Bob Swanson Sr.
*''Finishing the Game'' (2007) as Martey Kurtainbaum (final film role)

Television

*'' Doc Elliot'' (1974) as Gary Basquin
*'' Savages'' (1974) as Ben Campbell
*''Lucas Tanner'' (1974) as Ron Gibbons
*''Cage Without a Key'' (1975) as Buddy Goleta
*'' Marcus Welby, M.D.'' (1976) as Ed
*''Greatest Heroes of the Bible'' (1978) as Joseph
*'' The Eddie Capra Mysteries'' (1978)
*'' East of Eden'' (1981) as Cal Trask
*'' Desperate Lives'' (1982) as Ken Baynes
*''Return to Eden'' (1983)
*''No Earthly Reason'' (1984) as Coley
*''Island Sons'' (1987) as Sam Faraday
*''The Witching of Ben Wagner'' (1987) as Mr. George 'Dad' Wagner
*''Murder, She Wrote'' (1989–1991) as Joe Hellinger / Sgt. Joe Rice
*'' 21 Jump Street'' (1990) as Robert Johnson
*''Zooman'' (1995) as Policeman
*''The X Files'' (1995) as Michael Kryder
*''My Neighbor's Daughter'' (1998) as Dennis Cromwell
*''Mercenary II: Thick & Thin'' (1997) as Camera Man
*''NYPD Blue'' (2004) as David Lewis

Producer

*''Picture This: The Times of Peter Bogdanovich in Archer City, Texas'' (1991)

References

External links

*
*

AP Obituary
in the Los Angeles Times
Obituary in ''Arts of War on the Web'', January 5, 2009

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bottoms, Sam
1955 births
2008 deaths
American male television actors
American male film actors
Deaths from brain cancer in the United States
Male actors from Santa Barbara, California
20th-century American male actors