Samuel John Bottoms (October 17, 1955 – December 16, 2008) was an American actor and producer.
Early life Bottoms was born in Santa Barbara, California in 1955, 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).Sam Bottoms FilmReference.com
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. He had 2 children.
Filmography Film
Year Title Role Notes1971 The Last Picture Show Billy 1973 Class of '44 Marty1974 Zandy's Bride Mel Allan1976 The Outlaw Josey Wales Jamie1979 Apocalypse Now Lance B. JohnsonUp from the Depths Greg Oliver1980 Bronco Billy Leonard James1984 Gringo mojadoMurray Lewis Jr. 1985 Prime Risk Bill Yeoman1986 Hunter's Blood David Rand 1987 Gardens of Stone Lt. Webber1988 After School Father Michael McCarren1991 Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse HimselfDocumentaryDolly Dearest Elliot WadeRagin' Cajuns Legs1992 North of Chiang Mai Michael1993 Sugar Hill Oliver ThompsonThe Trust James Baker1995 Project Shadowchaser III Kody1997 Snide and Prejudice Therapist Schaub1998 Joseph's Gift Robert Keller2001 The Unsaid Joseph CaffeyShadow Fury Mitchell Madsen2002 Looking Through Lillian GeneTrue Files Alex Lomax2003 Seabiscuit Mr. Blodget2005 Havoc Lt. MarisShopgirl Dan ButtersfieldWinter Passing Brian2006 SherryBaby Bob Swanson Sr.2007 Finishing the Game 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) as Harlan Fields 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