Actor Sam Bottoms ‘Apocalypse Now,’ ‘Last Picture Show’ dies 53

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

He is perhaps best remembered for his role as Lance Johnson, a Navy Gunner’s Mate stationed on a river boat in Francis Ford Coppola’s 20th century opus, Apocalypse Now.

Bottoms earlier appeared with Clint Eastwood in The Outlaw Josey Wales.

At the age of 16 while watching the shooting of the film The Last Picture Show, which his older brother Timothy was starring in, Peter Bogdanovich decided to give him a screen test. Sam ended up getting the part of Billy in the movie.

Death of Sam Bottoms
Sam Bottoms died of glioblastoma multiforme, a brain tumor.
Sam Bottoms was 53 years old at the time of his death.

Bottoms was born in Santa Barbara, California, the third son of James "Bud" Bottoms (a sculptor and art teacher) and Betty (Chapman). He is the brother of actors Timothy Bottoms, Joseph Bottoms and Ben Bottoms.

The Last Picture Show – Sam Bottoms as Billy

Sam Bottom’s Television & Filmography continues on next page

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Television
NYPD Blue (2004)
My Neighbor’s Daughter (1998)
Mercenary II: Thick & Thin (1997)
The X Files (1995)
Zooman (1995)
Murder, She Wrote (1989-1991)
21 Jump Street (1990)
Island Sons (1987)
The Witching of Ben Wagner (1987)
Gringo mojado (1986)
No Earthly Reason (1984)
Return to Eden (1983)
Desperate Lives (1982)
East of Eden (1981)
The Eddie Capra Mysteries (1978)
Greatest Heroes of the Bible (1978)
Marcus Welby, M.D. (1976)
Cage Without a Key (1975)
Lucas Tanner (1974)
Savages (1974)
Doc Elliot (1974)

[edit] Filmography
Finishing the Game (2007)
SherryBaby (2006)
Winter Passing (2005)
Shopgirl (2005)
Havoc (2005)
Seabiscuit (2003)
Looking Through Lillian (2002)
True Files (2002)
Shadow Fury (2001)
The Unsaid (2001)
Joseph’s Gift (1998)
Snide and Prejudice (1997)
Project Shadowchaser III (1995)
Sugar Hill (1994)
The Trust (1993)
North of Chiang Mai (1992)
Dolly Dearest (1992)
Ragin’ Cajun (1991)
After School (1988)
Gardens of Stone (1987)
Hunter’s Blood (1987)
Prime Risk (1985)

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