Jay Tavare
| Jay Tavare | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 23, 1966 [citation needed] Navajo Reservation, Arizona, U.S.A. |
| Occupation | Film actor |
| Website | |
| http://www.jaytavare.com | |
Jay Tavare (pron.: /ˈtævɑːˈreɪ/) is an American film actor and journalist. His career spans more than 18 years. A blogger on The Huffington Post, he also serves as a spokesman of non-profit groups related to aiding Native American children and elders on several reservations.[citation needed] Of White Mountain Apache (Dzil Łigai Si'án Ndee - “People of the White Mountains”) and Navajo ancestry,[citation needed] he has used his public position to aid his peoples.
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Early life and education [edit]
Of Apache-Navajo ancestry, Tavare was born on the Navajo Nation.[citation needed] An athletic boy, he learned to ride and care for horses. As a young man he competed in dance contests, including in Europe.
Film career [edit]
His first role in film was as the narcissistic Spanish ninja Vega in the live-action adaptation of the video game series Street Fighter. As a guest star on the CSI Miami 2008 season finale, Tavare performed all his own stunts, including a 23-story free fall.[citation needed] His repertoire of physical skills includes martial arts, dancing, acrobatics, bare back riding, archery and swordsmanship.
Civic activities [edit]
He has worked to publicize non-profits for several Indian nations. He travels regularly to visit the youth at the Mescalero Apache reservation in New Mexico.[citation needed] He has reported on the issue of teenage suicide and publicized a suicide prevention program at the reservation, called Honor Your Life.[1]
Tavare is the celebrity spokesperson for Adopt-a-Native-Elder (ANE), a non-profit organization organized by two women, Linda Myers and Grace Yellowhammer, that provides support through donations and volunteers to 500 Navajo elders in Utah and Arizona who choose to live traditionally.[2]
Blogger [edit]
He writes a blog for The Huffington Post.[3] He has been an invited speaker at Brown University.[citation needed]
Filmography [edit]
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Street Fighter | Vega |
| 1996 | Executive Decision | Nabill |
| 1999 | Unbowed | Waka Mani (won "Best Actor" at the American Indian Film Festival) |
| 2000 | Escape to Grizzly Mountain | Tukayoo |
| 2002 | Adaptation | Matthew Osceola |
| 2003 | The Missing | Kayitah |
| Cold Mountain | Swimmer | |
| 2004 | El Padrino | Special Agent Sanchez |
| 2005 | Into the West | Chief Prairie Fire |
| 2006 | Pathfinder | Black Wing |
| 2008 | Turok: Son of Stone | (Voiced) Koba |
| 2008 | CSI: Miami "Going Ballistic" | Manny Ortega |
| 2011 | Vatos Locos | Jimmy Cavera |
References [edit]
- ^ Jay Tavere, "Life or Death: Teen Suicide on American Indian Reservations", Huffington Post, 12 February 2011
- ^ Jay Tavare, "Adopt a Native Elder: When the Spirit Moves You...", Huffington Post, 8 March 2011, accessed 11 May 2012
- ^ "Jay Tavare", Huffington Post blog, accessed 11 May 2012
External links [edit]
- Jay Tavare at the Internet Movie Database
- Jay Tavare Official site, USA
- "Jay Tavare", Huffington Post blog
- Adopt a Native Elder, Official Website
- Official site DE
- Vega – Jay Tavare as Vega in Street Fighter The Movie
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