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Chaske Spencer

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Chaske Spencer
Spencer in 2011
Born
Oklahoma, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active2002–present

Chaske Spencer is an American actor. He gained prominence through his role as Sam Uley in the Twilight films (2009–2012). For his performance in the BBC and Amazon Prime series The English (2022), he was nominated for a British Academy Television Award.

Spencer's films include Shouting Secrets (2011), Winter in the Blood (2013), Desert Cathedral (2014), Woman Walks Ahead (2017), and Wild Indian (2021). He had recurring roles in the Cinemax series Banshee (2014–2016), the Amazon Prime series Sneaky Pete (2017–2018), and the NBC crime drama Blindspot (2019–2020).

Early life and education

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Spencer was born in Oklahoma and grew up in Montana, as well as Kooskia, Lapwai, and Lewiston, Idaho. He has two younger sisters. His heritage includes Lakota, Nez Perce, Cherokee, Muscogee, French, and Dutch.[1][2] He is Lakota Sioux, enrolled with the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of Montana through his mother.[3][4]

Spencer graduated from Clearwater Valley High School in 1994, where he went by the name James Spencer.[5][better source needed] As a young teen, he started acting in productions at the Lewiston Civic Theater. Spencer attended college at Lewis–Clark State College for a year, and considered a career in photography.[6] He eventually dropped out of Lewis–Clark State College to pursue his acting career.

Career

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Spencer did odd jobs while taking acting lessons from coaches David Gideon and Ed Kovens.[7][8] In 2002, he made his feature film debut as a young version of Eric Schweig's lead character in Skins. This was followed by further film roles in Dreamkeeper and Into the West.

In 2009, Spencer played werewolf Sam Uley in the Twilight sequel New Moon, based on Stephenie Meyer's novel of the same name. He reprised his role in Eclipse, Breaking Dawn – Part 1, and Breaking Dawn – Part 2.[9] Spencer won two Best Actor accolades at the American Indian Film Festival for his performances in the 2011 film Shouting Secrets and the 2013 film Winter in the Blood. He also had a role in the 2014 film Desert Cathedral.

After playing Deputy Billy Raven in the 2014 spinoff web series Banshees Origins, Spencer reprised his role in the third season of the main Cinemax series Banshee the following year.[10] In 2017, Spencer starred in the film Woman Walks Ahead, appeared in the film Walking Out, and had a recurring role as Chayton Dockery in the Amazon Prime series Sneaky Pete. He went on to have another recurring role as Dominic Masters in the fourth and fifth seasons of the NBC crime drama Blindspot.

Spencer starred in the 2021 thriller film Wild Indian, for which he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. The following year, he starred opposite Emily Blunt in the Western miniseries The English, produced for Amazon Prime Video and BBC One.[11] For his performance, Spencer was nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Best Actor.

Personal life

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During his teens, Spencer had struggles with substance abuse and alcoholism. He continued to drink heavily during his college years.[12] He later developed an addiction to cocaine and heroin, and checked into rehab.[7][13] While in rehab, Spencer stopped taking drugs. He nearly gave up on acting before his agent called him to audition for New Moon, the sequel to Twilight.[13]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2002 Skins Teen Rudy
2003 Dreamkeeper Eagle Boy
2009 The Twilight Saga: New Moon Sam Uley
2010 The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
2011 Shouting Secrets Wesley
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 Sam Uley
2012 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2
2013 Winter in the Blood Virgil First Raise
2014 The Hero Pose Joe Short film
Desert Cathedral Duran Palouse
The Jingle Dress John Red Elk
2015 Addiction: A 60's Love Story Rick Barone
2017 Woman Walks Ahead Chaska
2021 Wild Indian Teddo
TBA Indian Summer Wez McKendrick
TBA Wind River: The Next Chapter Post-production

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2005 Into the West Voices That Carry Episodes: "Ghost Dance"
Miniseries
2012 The Frontier Eli Television film
2014 Banshee Origins Deputy Billy Raven Web miniseries
2015–2016 Banshee Recurring (season 3), guest (season 4)
2017 Longmire Mr. Dawson Episode: “No Greater Character Endorsement”
2017–2018 Sneaky Pete Chayton Dockery 8 episodes
2019–2020 Blindspot Dominic Masters 9 episodes
2019 The Society Mr. Pfeiffer Episode: "What Happened"
Jessica Jones Jace Montero 2 episodes
2022 The English Sgt. Eli Whipp/Wounded Wolf 6 episodes
2024 Echo Henry "Black Crow" Lopez 5 episodes
Teacup Ruben Shanley [14][15]

Video games

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Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2011 American Indian Film Festival Best Actor Shouting Secrets Won
2013 Winter in the Blood Won
2014 SOFIE Awards Best Actor in a Short Film Hero Pose Won
2015 New York VisionFest Desert Cathedral Breakthrough Performance Award Won
2022 Independent Spirit Awards Best Supporting Male Wild Indian Nominated [16]
2023 Royal Television Society Programme Awards Actor – Male The English Nominated
British Academy Television Awards Best Actor Nominated

References

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  1. ^ Interview with a New Moon Werewolf | BettyConfidential.com Archived July 7, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Sweet, Brandi (June 1, 2011). ""Twilight: New Moon" and "Twilight: Eclipse" Actor Chaske Spencer Speaks Out on Getting Healthy in Indian Country". Let's Move! Bureau of Indian Education, Department of the Interior. Archived from the original on December 16, 2011. Retrieved April 29, 2012.
  3. ^ "First Look: Chaske Spencer and Emily Blunt in The English". Cowboys & Indians. August 20, 2022. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  4. ^ "Janet Youngman Spencer". The Lewiston Tribune. April 4, 2015. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  5. ^ "Alumni". Archived from the original on December 4, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
  6. ^ "Chaske Spencer". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  7. ^ a b Berry, Carol (March 19, 2013). "Chaske Spencer: A Native Actor Who Left Addiction Behind". Indian Country Today Media Network. Archived from the original on October 5, 2016. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  8. ^ "Chaske Spencer Biography". Buddy TV. Archived from the original on September 22, 2016. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
  9. ^ Sciretta, Peter (March 23, 2009). "Summit Casts New Moon's Wolf Pack". /Film. Archived from the original on September 16, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  10. ^ Schilling, Vincent (January 9, 2015). "Chaske Spencer Joins Cast of 'Banshee' as Officer Billy Raven". Indian Country Today Media Network. Archived from the original on October 6, 2016. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
  11. ^ Kanter, Jake (May 11, 2021). "'The English': Chaske Spencer, Rafe Spall Among Cast Joining Emily Blunt In BBC/Amazon Western Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  12. ^ "Twilight actor Chaske Spencer has battled addiction; speaks to 900 at Plachta Auditorium | Central Michigan Life". November 6, 2010. Archived from the original on November 6, 2010. Retrieved July 26, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  13. ^ a b "Twilight star shares his story of struggle with substance abuse". The Daily Illini. November 5, 2010. Archived from the original on July 26, 2021. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
  14. ^ Squires, John (September 22, 2024). "'Teacup' Trailer – Puzzle Box Horror Series from Producer James Wan Haunts Peacock This October". Bloody Disgusting. Archived from the original on September 27, 2024. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  15. ^ Manfredi, Lucas (August 14, 2024). "Yvonne Strahovski, Scott Speedman and Chaske Spencer are Not in Control in New 'Teacup' Teaser Video". TheWrap. Archived from the original on September 27, 2024. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
  16. ^ Long, Brent; Tangcay, Jazz (December 14, 2021). "Indie Spirit Awards 2022: Full List of Nominations". Variety. Archived from the original on December 14, 2021. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
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