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D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai

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D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai
ᒥᐢᑳᐧᑌᐢ ᒪᐦᑳᔾ
Born (2001-09-19) September 19, 2001 (age 24)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Other namesD'Pharaoh McKay
Occupations
  • Actor
  • model
Years active2018–present
Height1.8 m (5 ft 11 in)

D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (born September 19, 2001) is a Canadian actor of Oji-Cree descent. He is best known for his role as Indigenous teenager Bear Smallhill in the FX on Hulu comedy-drama series Reservation Dogs (2021–2023),[1][2] for which he received several accolades, including a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.[3][4]

Early life

Woon-A-Tai and his fraternal twin Mi'De Xxavier were born in Toronto. His name reflects his Oji-Cree and Chinese-Guyanese heritage.[5] His paternal grandfather was Alex McKay, an Anishinaabemowin language professor at the University of Toronto's Indigenous Studies department.[6] Woon-A-Tai and his family visited their paternal family in the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation.[7]

Career

Film and television

Woon-A-Tai began his career with a recurring role as Chase Whaley in season 1 of the 2018 Family Channel series Holly Hobbie. In 2019, Woon-A-Tai played Tom Longboat in a two-episode arc of Murdoch Mysteries season 12. He made guest appearances as Lucky in Creeped Out and Mikey in Tribal.

Woon-A-Tai made his feature film debut as Hank in the film Beans directed by Tracey Deer, which was a 2020 Toronto International Film Festival selection and won Best Motion Picture at the Canadian Screen Awards.[8]

In December 2020, it was announced Woon-A-Tai would star as Bear Smallhill in the 2021 FX on Hulu comedy-drama Reservation Dogs, "a slice-of-life triumph" from Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi.[2] The Denver Gazette described Bear as "played spectacularly by D'Pharaoh, this series' breakout star."[9] Reservation Dogs' second season premiered on August 3, 2022,[10] and the third and final season premiered on August 2, 2023.[11] His performance in the final season made him the first Indigenous actor to receive a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.[12][13] He wore a red handprint at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards as a symbol of solidarity with Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.[14][15][16]

In 2022, it was announced that Woon-A-Tai would be joining Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk in the duo's directorial debut Hell of a Summer, which was released in 2023.[17] Woon-A-Tai plays Adam in the 2023 film Fitting In.[18] He also stars in the indie thriller film Only the Good Survive, alongside Sidney Flanigan, Frederick Weller, and Will Ropp. The film was also released in 2023.[19]

In March 2024, it was announced that Woon-A-Tai would be playing Ray Mendoza in Mendoza's upcoming film Warfare, alongside Noah Centineo, Charles Melton, Will Poulter, Joseph Quinn, and Kit Connor. The film is directed by both Mendoza and Alex Garland, who has directed notable films such as Civil War and Ex Machina.[20]

In September 2024, it was announced that Woon-A-Tai would be joining Darren Aronofsky's Caught Stealing alongside Bad Bunny, Zoe Kravitz, Austin Butler, Regina King, and Matt Smith.[21]

Filmography

Film

Filmography: Film
Year Title Role Director(s) Ref.
2020 Beans Hank Tracey Deer [22]
2023 Fitting In Adam Molly McGlynn
Only the Good Survive Ry Coolidge Dutch Southern
Hell of a Summer Mike Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk [23]
2025 Warfare Ray Mendoza Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland [24][25]
Caught Stealing Dale Darren Aronofsky [26]
TBA A Long Winter TBA Andrew Haigh

Television

Filmography: Television
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2018 Holly Hobbie Chase Whaley 3 episodes
2019 Murdoch Mysteries Tom Longboat 2 episodes
Creeped Out Lucky Episode: "The Takedown"
2020 Tribal Mikey Episode: "Runs with a Gun"
2022 TallBoyz Himself Episode: "Papa You Are My Dad"
2021–2023 Reservation Dogs Bear Smallhill Main role [27]

Music videos

Year Artist Song Album Ref.
2022 Rob, Jack Lahana Haute saison (feat. Gordon Tracks & Giogio Poi) Haute saison (Single) [28]

Web series

Filmography: Web series
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2022 Normal Ain't Normal Wes BuzzFeed web series
Episode: "Unlord the Land" 		[29]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2022 37th Independent Spirit Awards Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series (Shared with the cast) Reservation Dogs Won
Pena de Prata Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series (Shared with the cast) Won
2023 28th Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
2024 29th Critics' Choice Television Awards Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
Rising Stars Toronto Life Rising Stars 2024 — Honored [30]
2025 Forbes Forbes 30 Under 30 — Honored

References

  1. ^ Allaire, Christian (August 9, 2021). "D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai Is Hollywood's Stylish Indigenous Star to Watch". Vogue. Archived from the original on August 10, 2021. Retrieved October 16, 2021.
  2. ^ a b D'Addario, Daniel (July 29, 2021). "Reservation Dogs Is a Slice-of-Life Triumph From Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi: TV Review". Variety. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  3. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (January 15, 2023). "Critics Choice Awards: Full List of Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 16, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  4. ^ Pedersen, Erik (December 5, 2023). "The Morning Show & Succession Lead Critics Choice Awards TV Nominations". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  5. ^ Simonpillai, Radheyan (December 2, 2021). "D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai is crushing it on Reservation Dogs". Now Toronto. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  6. ^ Ahearn, Victoria. "Canadian Reservation Dogs star on increasing Indigenous representation in the U.S." Times Colonist. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  7. ^ Simonpillai, Radheyan (December 2, 2021). "D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai is crushing it on Reservation Dogs". Now Toronto. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  8. ^ "Toronto International Film Festival (2020)". IMDb. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  9. ^ Terrones, Terry (August 6, 2021). "Taika Waititi produced Indigenous comedy filled with unique humor | TV Review". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  10. ^ Pedersen, Erik (May 13, 2021). "FX Summer Premiere Dates: Reservation Dogs, What We Do in the Shadows, New Series The Old Man & The Bear, More". Deadline. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  11. ^ Rice, Lynette (May 15, 2023). "Justified: City Primeval Trailer Drops; FX Reveals Debut Dates for The Full Monty & Rez Dogs, End of Archer". Deadline. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  12. ^ Phillips, Carly Thomas, Christy Piña, Zoe G.; Thomas, Carly; Piña, Christy; Phillips, Zoe G. (July 19, 2024). "Emmy Nominations 2024: Historic, Record-Breaking and Otherwise Notable Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ Lewis, Hilary; Nordyke, Kimberly (July 17, 2024). "Emmys 2024: List of Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  14. ^ Rahimi, Rosa (September 16, 2024). "D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai's bold Emmys statement highlights missing and murdered Indigenous women". CNN. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  15. ^ Thomas, Carly (September 16, 2024). "Reservation Dogs Star D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai Brings Symbolic Message to Emmys with Red Hand Painted on Face". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  16. ^ Allaire, Christian (September 16, 2024). "The Meaning Behind D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai's Red Carpet Statement at the 2024 Emmy Awards". Vogue. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  17. ^ Grobar, Matt (July 18, 2022). "Hell of a Summer: D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Abby Quinn & Pardis Saremi Join Horror-Comedy from Directors Finn Wolfhard & Billy Bryk". Deadline. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  18. ^ Harvey, Dennis. "Bloody Hell Review: A Teen Sex Comedy Thrown a Curveball by Mother Nature", Variety, March 14, 2023
  19. ^ Grobar, Matt (August 3, 2022). "Sidney Flanigan, Frederick Weller, D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai & Will Ropp to Topline Indie Thriller Only the Good Survive". Deadline. Retrieved February 11, 2023.
  20. ^ Cordero, Rosy (March 27, 2024). "Ray Mendoza & Alex Garland's Warfare Feature Casts Reservation Dogs Star D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai". Deadline. Retrieved July 27, 2024.
  21. ^ Cordero, Rosy (September 24, 2024). "D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai Joins Austin Butler in Sony Crime Thriller Caught Stealing from Director Darren Aronofsky". Deadline. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  22. ^ Staff, Wonderland (July 6, 2024). "D'Pharoah Woon-A-Tai Features in Wonderland's Summer 24 Issue". Wonderland. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  23. ^ Rose, Hannah (April 14, 2025). "Abby Quinn, D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai and Pardis Saremi Hell of a Summer Interview". CBR. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  24. ^ Holmes, Kelly (April 12, 2025). "Native Presence on the Front Lines: D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai in New Movie Warfare". Native Max. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  25. ^ Blake, Dean (May 22, 2025). "Interview: Joseph Quinn, D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai on the Brotherhood of Warfare". Man of Many. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  26. ^ "VMEN: D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai Wants to do Everything in Between". V Magazine. September 4, 2025. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  27. ^ "Reservation Dogs Star D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai on Nepotism and Casting Indigenous Actors". Actors and Ancestors. Retrieved September 5, 2025.
  28. ^ Rob & Jack Lahana - Haute saison feat. Gordon Tracks & Giorgio Poi (Official Video), May 18, 2022, retrieved February 11, 2023
  29. ^ "Unlord the Land" | Normal Ain't Normal w/ D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai and Martin Sensmeier, October 4, 2022, retrieved February 11, 2023
  30. ^ "Toronto's 25 Rising Stars of 2024". Toronto Life. November 13, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
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