Her father, who worked for a New York cab company, was a great-great grandson of the American patriot Paul Revere.

[1][2][3] Sampson began her stage career with a two-year run in Gus Edwards’ vaudeville skit "School Days" and later a season with Blanche Ring in "Wall Street Girls".

After appearing in the comedy show “When Claudius Smiles” Sampson began her film career under the direction of D. W. Griffith in motion pictures made in New York and later Hollywood.

Nearly 90 years later, actress Alexa Davalos played Sampson in the HBO film And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself (2003).

Her marriage to Sterling, though at times rocky, lasted some 25 years and only ended after his death in 1939.