Excellent Native American Actors/Actresses
by nativeamericannationfilm | created - 05 Feb 2012 | updated - 11 Jul 2013 | PublicFavorite First Nation (Native American) Actors/Actresses in the Entertainment Industry Past and Present.
1. Saginaw Grant
Actor | The Lone Ranger
Saginaw is the Hereditary Chief and a respected member of the Sac and Fox, Iowa and Otoe-Missouria Nations.
In 1936, Saginaw Morgan Grant was born to Sarah and Austin Grant Sr. at Pawnee Indian Hospital in Pawnee, Oklahoma. He was raised on a farm in Cushing, Oklahoma with two brothers and one ...
(Sac-n-Fox,Iowa and Otoe-Missouria Nations) The quintessential Elder in Hollywood films. Traditional dancer, motivational speaker, and tribe elder. Played Chief Big Bear in The Lone Ranger.
2. Will Sampson
Actor | One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
A Native American actor of the Creek Nation, Sampson's "big break" came from his memorable role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) opposite Jack Nicholson. He was also starred opposite Clint Eastwood in the western The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976). He had supporting roles in Orca (1977), The ...
A Native American actor of the Creek Nation, Sampson's "big break" came from his memorable role in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest opposite Jack Nicholson. He was also starred opposite Clint Eastwood in the western The Outlaw Josey Wales.
3. Jay Silverheels
Actor | The Lone Ranger
Jay Silverheels was born on Canada's Six Nation's Reserve and was one of 10 children. He was a star lacrosse player and a boxer before he entered films as a stuntman in 1938. He worked in a number of films through the 1940s before gaining notice as the Osceola brother in a Humphrey Bogart film Key ...
(Mohawk) The original Renaissance Native American. Known for boxing his way to Madison Square Garden and his excellent command of sports, languages, and roles. The original Tonto during the golden age of Hollywood. Deserved to be a leading man not a side kick.
4. Russell Means
Actor | Natural Born Killers
Russell Means was born an Oglala/Lakota Sioux Indian. He was the first national director of the American Indian Movement (AIM) in which role he became prominent during the 1973 standoff with the U.S. government at Wounded Knee. In 1987, he joined the U.S. Libertarian Party and announced his ...
Russell Means was born an Oglala/Lakota Sioux Indian. He was the first national director of the American Indian Movement (AIM) in which role he became prominent during the 1973 standoff with the U.S. government at Wounded Knee. In 1987, he joined the U.S. Libertarian Party and announced his candidacy for the party's presidential nomination...
5. Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman
Actor | Dances with Wolves
Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman was born on August 17, 1936 in Lake Traverse Indian Reservation, Roberts County, South Dakota, USA. He was an actor and director, known for Dances with Wolves (1990), Hidalgo (2004) and Dharma & Greg (1997). He was married to Rosie. He died on December 13, 2007 in Los...
The Quintessential Spiritual Elder. A man of great spirit, music, and humility. A man of the people.
6. Chief Dan George
Actor | Little Big Man
Actor, author, and musician Chief Dan George was born in present-day North Vancouver as Geswanouth Slahoot (later anglicized as 'Dan Slaholt'), the son of a tribal chief on Burrard Indian Reserve Nº. 3. He is the only Aboriginal actor in Canadian history to date with the right to use the title "...
Chief Dan George was born with the names Geswanouth Slahoot (which was anglicized as Dan Slaholt) to a tribal chief on Burrard Indian Reserve No. 3 in North Vancouver. His last name was changed to George when he entered a mission boarding school at the age of 5, where the use of his native language was discouraged and forbidden.
7. Jim Thorpe
Actor | Trailin' West
Jim Thorpe is an American athlete and Olympic gold medalist. Thorpe became the first Native American to win a gold medal for the United States. Considered one of the most versatile athletes of modern sports, he won Olympic gold medals in the 1912 pentathlon and decathlon, and played American ...
Another original Renaissance Native American Icon. Olympic Great, Baseball player, Football legend. Appeared in 69 movies during his lifetime.
8. Wes Studi
Actor | The Last of the Mohicans
From small-town Oklahoma native to internationally acclaimed actor and musician, Wes Studi credits his passion and multi-faceted background for his powerful character portrayals that forever changed a Hollywood stereotype. Within a few years of his arrival in Hollywood, Studi caught the attention ...
(Cherokee Nation) - Amazing depth. There is no Hollywood Native American film you do not see this actor in.
9. Benjamin Bratt
Actor | Miss Congeniality
The middle of five children, Bratt hails from a close-knit family. His mother, an indigenous Quechua Peruvian from Lima, moved to the U.S. at age 14. He grew up in San Francisco. He is known for his roles in the films Traffic (2000), Miss Congeniality (2000), and Despicable Me 2 (2013). He is ...
(Quechua Nation) - An Awesome and Emotional Actor. Known for his work with alternative beauty Sandra Bullock in "Miss Congeniality"
10. Adam Beach
Actor | Windtalkers
Adam Beach was born in Ashern, Manitoba, the son of Sally and Dennis Beach, and was raised on the Dog Creek First Nations Reserve, with his two brothers. A troubled childhood saw his mother killed by a drunk driver, and his alcoholic father drowned only weeks afterward. The three brothers went to ...
Anishinabe (Saulteaux) Nation - He speaks well and from the heart. Great emotional depths. It is good to see someone with charisma and humility leading the charge for the First Nation's people on TV.
11. Graham Greene
Actor | The Green Mile
Graham Greene was born on June 22, 1952 in Six Nations Reserve, Ontario, Canada. He is an actor and writer, known for The Green Mile (1999), Wind River (2017) and Dances with Wolves (1990). He has been married to Hilary Blackmore since December 20, 1990. They have two children.
(Oneida) born in Ohsweken on the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario. Nominated for Academy Award Best Supporting Actor for Dances with Wolves.
12. Branscombe Richmond
Actor | The Scorpion King
Highly recognizable Native American actor, stuntman and singer who is equally capable of portraying cold-hearted villains on the one hand and warm-hearted, open "good guys" on the other, as evidenced by his huge grin and hearty laugh.
The solidly built 6' 3" Richmond has regularly played the bad guy ...
(Aleutian Nation) - Often seen hanging next to Lorenzo Lamas in Renegade or Chuck Norris in the western Texas Ranger TV Series. This Bounty Hunter could have easily had his own TV Series as the Native Americans were the first Special Forces and teachers of tracking to the American Military.
13. Gil Birmingham
Actor | Wind River
Gil Birmingham is an American actor of Comanche ancestry, best known for his portrayal of Billy Black in the The Twilight Saga film series. Birmingham was born in San Antonio, Texas. His family moved frequently during his childhood, due to his father's career in the military. He learned to play the...
(Comanche Nation) - I'm glad they let the Twilight Character at least have a real Native dad. Good actor - extremely underrated.
14. Danny Trejo
Actor | Machete
Danny Trejo was born Dan Trejo in Echo Park, Los Angeles, to Alice (Rivera) and Dan Trejo, a construction worker. A child drug addict and criminal, Trejo was in and out of jail for 11 years. While serving time in San Quentin, he won the lightweight and welterweight boxing titles. Imprisoned for ...
(Yaqui Nation) - Amazingly busy yet underrated actor. Best part of a lot of movies. It's good when an actor doesn't look like an actor!
15. John Trudell
Actor | Smoke Signals
John Trudell was born in Omaha, Nebraska, to a Santee Sioux father and Mexican Indian mother. After a stint in the Navy (and Vietnam) from 1963 to 1969, he became involved with the American Indian Movement, becoming National Chairman in 1973. He held that position until 1979; it was then that his ...
(Lakota Nation) - A multiple talent as a poet, a leader, an activist, a warrior, singer and musician. Amazingly underrated, amazingly talented and his personal story is one of great value.
16. Steve Reevis
Actor | Fargo
Steve was born and raised on the Blackfeet Reservation in Browning, Montana. Son of Curley and Lila Reevis, he is the 4th of 6 siblings. He graduated from Flandreau High School and attended Haskell Indian Junior College in Lawrence, Kansas where he received a degree in arts. After junior college, ...
Steve was born and raised on the Blackfeet Reservation in Browning, Montana. Son of Curley and Lila Reevis, he is the 4th of 6 siblings. He graduated from Flandreau High School and attended Haskell Indian Junior College in Lawrence, Kansas where he received a degree in arts.
17. Rodney A. Grant
Actor | Dances with Wolves
Native American actor, Rodney Arnold Grant was born the 9th of March, 1959. After his biological parents abandoned him, his grandparents raised him from 6 months of age, up until 1982. Rodney has five adult children: three daughters from his ex-wife, all of which were raised by their mother, and ...
Native American actor, Rodney Arnold Grant was born the 9th of March, 1959. After his biological parents abandoned him, his grandparents raised him from 6 months of age, up until 1982. Rodney has three daughters, two of which reside with their mother.
18. Chaske Spencer
Actor | The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Chaske Spencer is an award-nominated actor who currently stars in Marvel Studios' new series ECHO as 'Henry "Black Crow" Lopez, Maya's (Alaqua Cox) well-intended uncle with ties to Fisk's (Vincent D'Onofrio) criminal underworld. His recent co-lead opposite Emily Blunt in Hugo Blick's limited series...
(Lakota Sioux tribe) and raised on Indian Reservations in Montana and Idaho. Feature film SKINS, DREAMKEEPER, and Steven Spielberg’s INTO THE WEST. “Sam Uley” the alpha male leader of the werewolves, in the popular TWILIGHT SAGA film series NEW MOON, ECLIPSE, and BREAKING DAWN parts 1 and 2.
19. Alex Meraz
Actor | The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Alex Meraz was born on January 10, 1985 in Mesa, Arizona, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009), The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010) and Suicide Squad (2016). He has been married to Kim since December 31, 2007. They have two children.
(Tarascan Nation) - Multi-talented dancer, actor, and Twilight heart throb!
20. Alex Kruz
Actor | Fallen: The Search of A Broken Angel
Alex Kruz is known for Fallen: The Search of A Broken Angel (2023), The Garden Left Behind (2019) and Parivara (2016).
(Kañari Quichua & Mescalero Apache) Actor who has a similar personal story to John Trudell - Military veteran who lost his family and turned to art to cope. Endorsed by The Somaly Mam Foundation for his contributions towards rescue operations. First project he led "Red Cloud: Deliverance" about a Quechua Warrior Shaman won multiple awards on the Indie circuit. The Quechua are the largest population of Indigenous speakers at 11-14 million people.
21. Julia Jones
Actress | The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
Julia Jones is one of the entertainment industry's brightest talents.
Julia stars in a leading role on Dexter: New Blood, Showtime's record-shattering, most watched series to date. She can also be seen in Peacock's comedy series Rutherford Falls, Disney+'s hit series The Mandalorian, and HBO's ...
(Choctaw and Chickasaw) The Native American Hollywood leading lady.
22. Eddie Spears
Actor | DreamKeeper
Eddie Spears was born on November 29, 1982 in Chamberlain, South Dakota, USA. He is an actor, known for DreamKeeper (2003), Hell on Wheels (2011) and Bone Tomahawk (2015).
(Lakota Nation) One of the Brothers. Great seeing them in action together.
23. Michael Spears
Actor | Into the West
Born in Chamberlain, South Dakota and residing in Montana, Spears has five brothers, one sister, and is Lakota Sioux Tribe. His first role was in the film "Dances With Wolves" as Otter. Michael went on to appear in "Skins", "Into The West", "Yellow Rock", Cyril Morin's "The Activist", and had a ...
(Lakota Nation)
24. Raoul Max Trujillo
Actor | Riddick
Raoul Max Trujillo, aka Raoul Maximiano Trujillo de Chauvelon, was born in Northern New Mexico. He is a mixed blood descendant of Tlaxcalan (Nahuatl), Ute, Apache, Comanche, Pueblo., French, Sephardic Jew and Andalusian Moor. After high school, he spent three years serving in the military in ...
Apache & Ute Nations
25. Rudy Youngblood
Actor | Apocalypto
Rudy Youngblood is Native American of Comanche and Cree decent. Growing up, he never called one place home, but went to school and graduated in the small town of Belton,Texas. He is proud of his roots. Prior to making his on-screen debut in Mel Gibson's Oscar nominated film, "Apocalypto"(2006), ...
(Comanche, Cree & Yaqui Nations) Amazing in Mel Gibson's "Apocalypto"
26. Kimberly Guerrero
Actress | The Glorias
Kimberly is a Native American actor who has enjoyed a long career in film, television, and theatre. Some of Kimberly's recent credits include playing "Auntie B" in FX on the hit comedy RESERVATION DOGS, "Katie Clarke" opposite Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer in the lauded Amazon/BBC limited series ...
Colville, Salish-Kootenai, & Cherokee Nations
27. Shauna Baker
Actress | Rutherford Falls
Canadian born, Shauna Baker was raised by her Dené Grandmother on a reservation in northern Canada. Shauna was extensively involved in business before her entertainment career began. Despite her success in the corporate world, she instinctively knew she was not following her dreams. Shauna started ...
Carrier Dene Nation
28. Michelle Latimer
Director | Trickster
Michelle is an award-winning director, writer and show-runner whose films have screened globally, including Sundance Film Festival, Toronto International, Berlin International, Rotterdam, Oberhausen, Cannes, The National Art Gallery of Canada and the MoMA. Her recent documentary feature adaptation ...
Metis Nation
29. Kaniehtiio Horn
Actress | Journey to the Center of the Earth
Kaniehtiio 'Tiio' Horn is a Canadian actress from Kahnawake, the Mohawk reserve outside of Montreal. Since graduating from Dawson College's Professional Theatre Program in 2005 she has established herself as a versatile actress with roles on television including the multiple award-winning comedy ...
Mohawk Nation
30. Q'orianka Kilcher
Actress | The New World
At fourteen years old, Q'orianka Kilcher emerged into the front ranks of young actresses with her portrayal of Pocahontas opposite Colin Farrell and Christian Bale in Terrence Malick's 'The New World', an epic about the encounter between English and North American societies in the early 1600s. Her ...
Quechua & Huachipaeri Nations
31. Tahmoh Penikett
Actor | Battlestar Galactica
He is the son of former Yukon premier Anthony David John Penikett (Tony). A graduate of the Victoria Motion picture school, Tahmoh also studied at the Lyric School of Acting in Vancouver. Tahmoh and his family (his father, and his twin sisters Sarah and Stephanie) make their home in Vancouver, ...
Upper Tanana Nation
32. August Schellenberg
Actor | Black Robe
August Schellenberg was born on July 25, 1936 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He was an actor, known for Black Robe (1991), The New World (2005) and Free Willy (1993). He was married to Joan Karasevich. He died on August 15, 2013 in Dallas, Texas, USA.
Seneca Nation
33. Jay Tavare
Actor | Adaptation.
Jay Tavare describes himself best when he says he is a storyteller and a citizen of the world.
Jay's acting performances in several Oscar winning films--with some of our era's most talented and acclaimed directors and actors--are the natural outcome of his eclectic life experiences and the direct ...
White Mountain Apache & Navajo Nations
34. Noah Watts
Actor | Assassin's Creed III
Noah Watts is known for Assassin's Creed III (2012), Ringer (2011) and Sons of Anarchy (2008).
Crow Nation
35. Karina Lombard
Actress | Legends of the Fall
Karina Lombard is an actor, screenwriter and director. She is Italian, French, Native American. Born in Tahiti, the youngest of five children, and raised and educated in Spain, Switzerland and Peru. She is fluent in English, Spanish, Italian, French and German. She resides in Venice, California.
She...
Lakota Nation
36. Roseanne Supernault
Actress | Cold Road
Nôses Kisik-Papimohtew (Mother Walks-in-the-Sky), also known as Roseanne Supernault, is a classically trained Actress who was raised on East Prairie Métis Settlement, and also hails from the Whitefish Lake Atikameg First Nation in the Treaty 8 territory of Canada. Born in the Treaty 8 territory to ...
Cree & Metis Nations
37. Rachelle White Wind Arbez
Actress | XIII: The Conspiracy
Rachelle White Wind Arbez is known for XIII: The Conspiracy (2008), Elijah (2007) and Moccasin Flats (2003).
Anishinabe (Ojibway) & Cree Nations
38. Kyle Nobess
Actor | Cold Pursuit
Kyle Nobess was born and raised in Winnipeg Manitoba Canada. A credited Film Actor and Screen Play Writer. He began his film and television training in 2005, attending local film schools throughout the city. Kyle has had various types of exposure to television, From supporting roles to becoming one...
Metis Nation
39. Wesley French
Actor | The Breach
Wesley French was born on Good Friday April 13th, 1979 in London, Ontario, Canada. He is a member of the Chippewas of the Thames 1st Nation reservation in Southwestern Ontario. He is an actor known for Cashing In (2009-2014), Skinwalkers (2006) and In Einem Wilden Land (Wild Land) (2013). He ...
Anishinabe (Chippewa) Nation
40. Elizabeth Frances
Actress | Love
Born on a military base in Okinawa and raised in San Diego, Elizabeth Frances is a talented, multi-ethnic actress best known for her on-camera roles such as Angela Maryboy in Drunktown's Finest, produced by Robert Redford which premiered at Sundance Film Festival; Bad Penny in the Emmy®-nominated ...
Cherokee Nation
41. William J. Finley
Actor | The Bold and the Beautiful
William J. Finley is known for The Bold and the Beautiful (1987), NCIS (2003) and Criminal Minds (2005).
Cherokee Nation
42. Ryan Cunningham
Ryan Cunningham is known for Dracula 2000 (2000), Downtown (2003) and They Call Me Sirr (2001).
Metis Nation
43. Marisa Quintanilla
Actress | The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2
A dedicated performer, visual artist, & creative producer, Marisa is best known for her role as "Huilen" - a pivotal character in the Box Office hit Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 2.
She is a graduate of the esteemed Brown University, and as part of her Ivy League undergraduate experience she had...
44. Chief John Big Tree
Actor | She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
Chief John Big Tree was born on June 2, 1877 in Buffalo, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), The Avenging Arrow (1921) and Ranson's Folly (1926). He died on July 6, 1967 in Onondaga Indian Reservation, New York, USA.
45. Iron Eyes Cody
Actor | Sitting Bull
Iron Eyes Cody was born Espera or "Oscar" DeCorti, the son of two first-generation immigrants from Italy. In 1924 he moved to California, changed his name from "DeCorti" to "Corti" to Cody, and started working as an actor, presenting himself as a Native American. In 1936, he married Bertha Parker, ...
46. Cree Summer
Actress | Atlantis: The Lost Empire
Cree Summer Francks is a Canadian-American voice actress and singer from Los Angeles, California. She is the daughter of Canadian actor and singer Don Francks. She is most well-known for voicing Kida from Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Tiff Crust and Queen Vexus (when Eartha Kitt is unavailable) from ...
47. Charles Stevens
Actor | The Three Musketeers
Charles Stevens was born on May 26, 1893 in Solomonsville, Arizona, USA. He was an actor and assistant director, known for The Three Musketeers (1921), The Americano (1916) and Ebb Tide (1937). He was married to Lila Ethel Berry. He died on August 22, 1964 in Hollywood, California, USA.
(Apache) Grandson of Geronimo. Sadly buried in an unmarked grave in Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park in North Hollywood
48. Chief Yowlachie
Actor | Red River
Chief Yowlachie was born in Kitsap County, Washington, and later lived with his family on the Yakima Indian Reservation. Although he was not enrolled in the Yakima Nation, his parents John W. Simmons and Lucy Riddle both had Puyallup heritage and owned allotted land on the Yakima reservation. ...
49. Chief Thundercloud
Actor | The Prairie
Victor Daniels was given the title of "Chief" in an honorary capacity and identified himself as Cherokee although his background is vague. His application for a social security number lists his birth date as April 12, 1899, and his birth-place as Arizona. Thundercloud was the eldest of nine ...
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