Wes Studi

Photo of Wes Studi

Biography

This often intimidating but charismatic and ruggedly handsome actor of full-blooded Cherokee heritage enhanced several thoughtful Hollywood Westerns of the 1990s by thoroughly embodying roles that would have once been mere stereotypes and imbuing them with depth and dignity. The intense and muscular Studi first gained attention playing the "toughest" of the Pawnees in Kevin Costner's ambitious and well-meaning revisionist work "Dances With …
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Job Title

Actor, Music

Born

December 17, 1947

Career Milestones

Joining the cast of "Comanche Moon," Larry McMurtry's prequel to his western saga "Lonesome Dove"

2005

Cast in the Terrence Malick-scripted drama "The New World," about explorer John Smith and the clash between Native Americans and English settlers

2005

Co-starred in the Steven Spielberg produced "Into the West" (TNT)

2002

Starred alongside Adam Beach in the PBS "Mystery!" production "Skinwalkers", directed by Chris Eyre

1998

Appeared in "Deep Rising"

1995

TV miniseries debut, "Larry McMurtry's 'Streets of Laredo'", a sequel to "Lonesome Dove"

1993

Starred as the title character in the biopic "Geronimo: An American Legend"

1993

Provided the voice of Crazy Horse for the syndicated Western documentary series, "The Wild West"

1993

Appeared on HBO in "American Reunion: The People's Inaugural Celebration", reciting "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" in English and Cherokee

1993

Cast as One Horse, a regular on the short-lived CBS Western "Ned Blessing: The Story of My Life and Times"

1992

First TV credit for voice work, provided a voice for "In the White Man's Image", a presentation of the PBS documentary series "The American Experience"

1992

First film in a major role, "The Last of the Mohicans"

1990

Did a guest shot on the superhero series "The Flash"

1988

Made TV debut in a small role of the ABC TV-movie, "Longarm"

1988

Feature acting debut, "Powwow Highway"

Began periodically performing his own one-man show, "Coyote Chews His Own Tail", which debuted at the West Coast Ensemble Theater in Hollywood

1986

Moved to Los Angeles

Worked in educational TV in Nebraska

1984

Professional stage debut in "Black Elk Speaks"

1983

Joined the American Indian Theater Company in Tulsa

Taught the Cherokee language in college

Helped start a Cherokee newspaper while attending college

Worked as a reporter for the Tulsa "Indian News"

1973

Joined the American Indian Movement in the occupation of Wounded Knee, SD

1972

Joined the Trail of Broken Treaties protest march

1967

Served a tour of duty in Vietnam after high school

1964

Graduated high school

1947

Spoke native Cherokee until entering school at age five

Raised in northeastern Oklahoma