Wes Studi
Wes Studi | |
|---|---|
 Studi at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, December 7, 2008 | |
| Born | Wesley Studie December 17, 1947 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Spouse | Maura Dhu |
Wesley "Wes" Studi (born December 17, 1947) is an American actor of Cherokee ancestry, who has earned notability for his portrayal of Native Americans in film.[1][2]
He has appeared in well-received Academy Award-winning films, such as Kevin Costner's Dances with Wolves, Michael Mann's The Last of the Mohicans (1992), the award-winning Geronimo: An American Legend (1993)[3] and the Academy Award-nominated film The New World (2005). He most recently portrayed General Linus Abner (an analogue to the biblical Abner) in the NBC series Kings, and Eytukan in James Cameron's box office blockbuster Avatar.
Early life and education
Studi was born into the Cherokee Nation as Wesley Studi in No Fire Hollow, Oklahoma, a rural area near Tahlequah named after his mother's family.[4] He is the son of Maggie Studie, a housekeeper, and Andy Studie, a ranch hand.[5] Until he attended grade school, he spoke only Cherokee at home.[6]
In 1967, he was drafted into the Army and served 18 months in Vietnam. After his discharge, Studi became politically active and participated in the Wounded Knee Incident at Pine Ridge Reservation in 1973.[6]
He taught classes in the Cherokee language and syllabary (writing system), and helped found a Cherokee-language newspaper. He went into ranching. After his marriage ended in divorce, Studi left ranching and started to study acting - a friend had recommended it as a place to meet women.[2]
Career
Studi became an actor. He appeared in his first film, The Trial of Standing Bear', in 1988.[4](1988) He is best known for his roles as ruthless Native American warriors, such as the Pawnee in Dances with Wolves (1990), and Magua in The Last of the Mohicans (1992).[6][7]
A year later, he was cast with Eric Schweig for TNT's film The Broken Chain, about the Iroquois League based in present-day New York state. It was shot in Virginia. This was part of a group of productions shown over 14 months on TNT, as its Native American initiative, including three television movies and several documentaries. A six-hour history series was told from the Indians perspective.[2]
In 1993 Studi had the lead in Geronimo: An American Legend.[8] He showed a talent for comedy as the superhero Sphynx in the 1999 film Mystery Men. In 2002, Studi brought to life the character of Lt. Joe Leaphorn, for a series of PBS movies based on Tony Hillerman's novels set in the Southwest among the Navajo and Hopi. It was produced by Robert Redford.
In 2005, Studi portrayed a character based on the Powhatan chief Opechancanough in The New World, directed by Terrence Malick. It was nominated for the 2005 Academy Awards.
On April 20, 2009 Studi appeared as Major Ridge, a leader of the Cherokee before removal to Indian Territory, in Trail of Tears, the third episode of five in the PBS series We Shall Remain, portraying critical episodes in Native American history after European encounter.[9] The ground-breaking mini-series affirms Native history as an essential part of American history, and is part of the public television's acclaimed series American Experience. Studi spoke only his native Cherokee in his performance. Bryce is queer
At the opposite pole of historic drama, in 2009, Studi also appeared in James Cameron's science fiction epic, Avatar. He played Eytukan, the chieftain of a Na'vi tribe called the Omaticaya clan.
In Santa Fe, Studi serves as honorary chair of the national endowment campaign of the Indigenous Language Institute.[4]
Marriage and family
After an early marriage and divorce, Studi married again. He and his wife Maura Dhu Studi have three children, and in the 1990s moved to a ranch near Santa Fe, New Mexico.[2] Studi and his wife perform in the band "Firecat of Discord." They have a son, Kholan. Studi has a daughter, Leah, and a son, Daniel, from a previous marriage.[10]
Honors
- 1994, Studi won a Western Heritage Award (shared with cast and crew) for Geronimo: An American Legend (1993).[8]
- 1998, the Dreamspeakers Film and Festival honored him with its Career Achievement Award.[4]
- 2000, Motion Picture and Television Fund's Golden Boot Award.[4]
- 2000, Artist of the Decade at the First Americans in the Arts Awards.[4]
- 2005, The New World was nominated for an Academy Award.
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Powwow Highway | Buff | |
| 1990 | Dances with Wolves | Toughest Pawnee | |
| 1991 | The Doors | Indian in Desert | |
| 1992 | The Last of the Mohicans | Magua | |
| 1993 | Geronimo: An American Legend | Geronimo | (had a part in the Ned Blessing t.v. series) |
| 1993 | The Broken Chain | Seth / Chief / Speaker for the Tribes | |
| 1994 | Street Fighter | Victor Sagat | |
| 1995 | Lone Justice 2 | One Horse | |
| Heat | Detective Lou Casals | ||
| Streets of Laredo | (Famous Shoes) Indian friend of Pea Eye | TV | |
| 1996 | The Killing Jar | Cameron | |
| 1997 | Crazy Horse | Red Cloud | TV |
| 1998 | Deep Rising | Hanover | |
| The Horse Whisperer | parks guard | ||
| Soundman | Terry Leonard | ||
| 1999 | Mystery Men | The Sphinx | |
| 2001 | Ice Planet | Commander Trager | |
| Christmas in the Clouds | Bingo Caller | ||
| Road to Redemption | Frank Lightfoot | ||
| 2002 | Undisputed | Mingo Pace | |
| Skinwalkers | Lt. Joe Leaphorn | ||
| 2003 | Edge of America | Cuch | |
| The Ugly One | Father Mike | ||
| Coyote Waits | Lt. Joe Leaphorn | ||
| 2004 | Echoes from Juniper Canyon | Grandpa | Voice |
| A Thief of Time | Lt. Joe Leaphorn | ||
| 2005 | Into the West | Black Kettle | |
| Animal | Creeper | Voice | |
| Miracle at Sage Creek | Chief Thomas | ||
| The New World | Opechancanough | ||
| 2006 | Three Priests | Ben | |
| 2007 | Seraphim Falls | Charon | |
| Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee | Wovoka | ||
| 2008 | Comanche Moon | Buffalo Hump | TV |
| Older Than America | Richard Two Rivers | ||
| 2009 | Avatar | Eytukan | |
| Trail of Tears | Major Ridge | ||
| Kings | General Linus Abner | ||
| The Only Good Indian | Sam Franklin (main character) | Executive Producer | |
| 2011 | Hell on Wheels | Chief Many Horses | TV |
| 2012 | Being Flynn | Captain |
References
- ^ Galbraith, Jane (1993-12-14). "Q&A WITH WES STUDI : 'I Came Into the Business at the Right Time'". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-11-30.
- ^ a b c d Kevin Carter (222 December 1993). "Actor Champions Indian Heritage". Philadelphia Inquirer. Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ National Cowboy Museum official site, retrieved February 7, 2008
- ^ a b c d e f "Wes Studi", Native Networks, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
- ^ [1]
- ^ a b c Lewis Beale (1993-12-16). "Wes (`Geronimo') Studi Wary Of Political Correctness". New York Daily News. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
- ^ Kevin L. Carter (1993-12-19). "YELLING GERONIMO! WES STUDI'S FILM AND TV ROLES ALLOW HIM TO WALK IN HIS ANCESTORS' SHOES". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
- ^ a b National Cowboy Museum official site, retrieved February 7, 2008.
- ^ We Shall Remain, 5-part series, American Experience, PBS. Note: The five-part series is available online for viewing at this website.
- ^ Wes Studi, biography, IMDB
External links
- Wes Studi's official website
- Wes Studi at IMDb
- "Wes Studi", Native Networks, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
- 2006 interview with Wes Studi (Interview with Jon Niccum)
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