Wes Studi | |
|---|---|
| ᏪᏌ ᏍᏚᏗ | |
 Studi in 2019 | |
| Born | Wesley Studie (1947-12-17)December 17, 1947 (age 77) Nofire Hollow, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Citizenship | Cherokee Nation and American |
| Education | Tulsa Community College |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1972–present |
| Spouse(s) | Rebecca Graves (m. 1974;div. 1982) Maura Dhu Studi (m. 1986) |
| Children | 3 |
| Relatives | Jack Albertson (father-in-law),Nancy Ward (sixth great-grandmother) |
| Website | wesleystudi |
Wesley Studi (Cherokee:ᏪᏌ ᏍᏚᏗ; born December 17, 1947) is aNative American (Cherokee Nation) actor and film producer. He has garnered critical acclaim and awards throughout his career, particularly for his portrayal ofNative Americans in film.[1][2] In 2019, he received anAcademy Honorary Award,[3] becoming the firstNative American as well as the first Indigenous person from North America to be honored by the academy.
Studi has appeared inAcademy Award-winning films, such asDances with Wolves (1990) andThe Last of the Mohicans (1992), and in the Academy Award-nominated filmsGeronimo: An American Legend (1993) andThe New World (2005). He is also known for portrayingSagat inStreet Fighter (1994). Other films he has appeared in areHostiles,Heat,Mystery Men,Avatar,A Million Ways to Die in the West, and the television seriesPenny Dreadful.
In December 2020,The New York Times ranked him #19 in its list of the "25 Greatest Actors of the 21st Century (So Far)".[4]
Studi was born into a Cherokee family inNofire Hollow, Oklahoma, a rural area in Cherokee County named after his mother's family.[5] He is the son of Maggie Studie, a housekeeper, and Andy Studie, a ranch hand. Until he attended elementary school, he spoke onlyCherokee at home.[6] He attendedChilocco Indian Agricultural School for high school and graduated in 1964; his vocational major was in dry cleaning.[7] In 2024, Studi appeared on the television seriesFinding Your Roots and learned that Eugene Philpott, who was listed on his birth certificate, was not his biological father. Researchers later determined that his father was one of two brothers, Jess and Bobby Blair.[8] Also during that episode, it was discovered his 6th great-grandmother wasNancy Ward, aGhigau and Cherokee leader.
At the age of 17, Studi enlisted in theOklahoma National Guard and had his basic combat training and advanced individual training atFort Polk, Louisiana (now Fort Johnson).[9] Studi volunteered for active service and went toVietnam with the 3rd Battalion39th Infantry,9th Infantry Division,[10] where he served for 12 months.[9]
After his discharge, Studi became politically involved in Native American activism. He participated in theWounded Knee Incident atPine Ridge Reservation in 1973.[6] Studi stated in an interview that he first began acting while attendingTulsa Community College, after returning from his service in Vietnam. He had a role in the playThe Royal Hunt of the Sun for the American Indian Theater Company.[11]
Studi appeared in his first film,The Trial of Standing Bear, in 1988.[5] He is known for his roles as ruthless Native American warriors, such as aPawnee inDances with Wolves (1990), and theHuronMagua inThe Last of the Mohicans (1992).[6][12]
A year later, he was cast withEric Schweig forTNT's filmThe Broken Chain, about the historicIroquois League that was based in the area of central and western present-day New York state. It was shot inVirginia. 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 a Native American perspective.[2] In 1993 Studi had the lead inGeronimo: An American Legend.[13] He played the superhero Sphinx in the 1999 comedy filmMystery Men.
In 2002, Studi brought to life the character of Police LieutenantJoe Leaphorn, for a series ofPBS movies based onTony Hillerman's novels set in the Southwest among theNavajo andHopi. It was produced byRobert Redford. Some movie titles include "Skinwalkers", "Coyote Waits", "A Thief of Time".
In 2005, Studi portrayed a character based on chiefOpechancanough, leader of thePowhatan Confederacy in Virginia, in the filmThe New World directed byTerrence Malick.
In 2009, Studi appeared asMajor Ridge, a leader of the Cherokee before theNative American removal toIndian Territory, inTrail of Tears. This was the third of five episodes in thePBS seriesWe Shall Remain, portraying critical episodes in Native American history after European encounter,[14] part of the public television's acclaimed seriesAmerican Experience, where Studi spoke only in native Cherokee.
Also in 2009, Studi appeared inJames Cameron'sAvatar asNa'vi chief Eytukan. Studi playedCheyenne chief Yellow Hawk in a starring role in the 2017 filmHostiles.[15]
At the90th Academy Awards, Studi introduced a tribute to military movies,[16] and gave part of his speech in theCherokee language, of which he is a fluent speaker.[17] Studi is the second Native American actor to present at the Academy Awards.Will Rogers hosted in 1934.[18]
In 2019, he received anAcademy Honorary Award, becoming the first Native American actor to receive an Oscar specifically for acting.[3][19] In his acceptance speech, Studi said: "I’d simply like to say, it’s about time. It’s been a wild and wonderful ride, and I’m really proud to be here tonight as the first Indigenous Native American to receive an Academy Award. It’s a humbling honour to receive an award for something I love to do."[20]
In December 2020,The New York Times ranked him #19 in its list of the "25 Greatest Actors of the 21st Century (So Far)," noting "Wes Studi has one of the screen’s most arresting faces — jutting and creased and anchored with the kind of penetrating eyes that insist you match their gaze. Lesser directors like to use his face as a blunt symbol of the Native American experience, as a mask of nobility, of suffering, of pain that’s unknowable only because no one has asked the man wearing it. In the right movie, though, Studi doesn’t just play with a character’s facade; he peels its layers. A master of expressive opacity, he shows you the mask and what lies beneath, both the thinking and the feeling."[4]
After his studies, Studi taught theCherokee language andsyllabary and helped establish a Cherokee-language newspaper. He went into ranching. From his first marriage, Studi has a daughter, Leah, and a son, Daniel.[21] After this marriage ended in divorce, Studi left ranching and started to study acting; a friend had recommended it as a place to meet women.[2] Studi married Maura Dhu, and they moved their family to a farm nearSanta Fe, New Mexico, in the early 1990s.[2] Dhu is the only child of actorJack Albertson. Wes and Maura Dhu Studi have a son, Kholan. Studi and his wife perform in the band Firecat of Discord. Studi serves as honorary chair of the national endowment campaign of the Indigenous Language Institute in Santa Fe.[5]
Studi endorsed SenatorBernie Sanders forPresident in the2016 U.S. presidential election.[22]
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| Badge | Combat Infantryman Badge | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st row | Good Conduct Medal (United States) with two bronze loops | |||||
| 2nd row | National Defense Service Medal | Vietnam Service Medal with three bronze service stars | Vietnam Campaign Medal | |||
| Badge | Gallantry Cross Unit Citation | |||||
| Badge | 9th Infantry DivisionShoulder sleeve insignia | |||||
| Badge | 39th Infantry RegimentDistinctive unit insignia[24] | |||||
| Year | Title | 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 | |
| 1994 | Street Fighter | Viktor "Iron Fist" Sagat | |
| 1995 | Lone Justice 2 | One Horse | |
| Heat | Detective Sammy Casals | ||
| 1996 | The Killing Jar | Cameron | |
| 1998 | Deep Rising | Hanover | |
| The Horse Whisperer | Parks Guard | ||
| Soundman | Terry Leonard | ||
| 1999 | Mystery Men | The Sphinx | |
| 2000 | Wind River | Pocatello | |
| 2001 | Ice Planet | Commander Trager | |
| Christmas in the Clouds | Bingo Caller | ||
| Road to Redemption | Frank Lightfoot | ||
| 2002 | Undisputed | Mingo Pace | |
| 2003 | The Ugly One | Father Mike | |
| 2004 | Echoes from Juniper Canyon | Grandpa | Voice |
| 2005 | Animal | Creeper | |
| Miracle at Sage Creek | Chief Thomas | ||
| The Making of 'Miracle at Sage Creek' | Himself / Chief Thomas | ||
| The New World | Opechancanough | ||
| 2006 | Three Priests | Ben | |
| Making 'The New World' | Himself / Opechancanough | Video documentary | |
| The Trail of Tears: Cherokee Legacy | Himself / Presenter | ||
| 2007 | Seraphim Falls | Charon | |
| 2008 | Older than America | Richard Two Rivers | |
| 2009 | Avatar | Eytukan | |
| The Only Good Indian | Sam Franklin | Also executive producer | |
| 2010 | Making 'The Last of the Mohicans' | Himself | Video documentary |
| 2012 | Being Flynn | Captain | |
| Call of the Wild | Hatcher | ||
| 2013 | Sugar | Bishop | |
| Destination Planet Negro | Native American Chief | ||
| 2014 | Road to Paloma | Chief Numay Wolf | |
| A Million Ways to Die in the West | Cochise | ||
| Planes: Fire & Rescue | Windlifter | Voice[25] | |
| 2015 | The Condemned 2 | Cyrus Merrick | |
| 2017 | Hostiles | Chief Yellow Hawk | [26] |
| 2019 | Badland | Harlen Red | |
| A Dog's Way Home | Captain Mica | [27] | |
| 2020 | Soul | Counselor Jerry C. | Voice[28][25] |
| 2022 | A Love Song | Lito | [29] |
| Mending the Line | Harrison | [30] | |
| 2026 | Timber Lands[31] | Post-production | |
| Dead Letters[32] | Post-production |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Longarm | The Ute | Television film |
| The Trial of Standing Bear | Long Runner | ||
| 1990 | The Flash | Roller | Episode: "Sins of the Father" |
| 1992 | Highlander | Sheriff Benson | Episode: "Mountain Men" |
| 1993 | Ned Blessing: The Story of My Life and Times | One Horse | 4 episodes |
| The Broken Chain | Seth | Television film | |
| 1994 | The 51st Annual Golden Globe Awards | Himself / Presenter | Television special |
| 1995 | 500 Nations | (voice) | 3 episodes |
| Streets of Laredo | Famous Shoes | ||
| The Way West | Voice | Television documentary | |
| 1996 | Crazy Horse | Red Cloud | Television film |
| 1997 | Adventures from the Book of Virtues | Scarface (voice) | Episode: "Perseverance" |
| Promised Land | Jesse Rainbird | Episode: "Outrage" | |
| Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western | Himself | Television documentary | |
| 2001 | The Directors | Himself | Episode: "The Films of Michael Mann" |
| 2002 | UC: Undercover | Armando Uribe | Episode: "Hunting Armando" |
| Skinwalkers | Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn | Television film | |
| 2003 | The Lone Ranger | Kulakinah | |
| A Thief of Time | Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn | ||
| Coyote Waits | Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn | ||
| Edge of America | Cuch | ||
| 2005 | Into the West | Black Kettle | Episode: "Hell on Wheels" |
| 2007 | Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee | Wovoka | Television film |
| 2008 | Comanche Moon | Buffalo Hump | 3 episodes |
| 2009 | We Shall Remain | Major Ridge / Warrior in Canoe | 2 episodes |
| Kings | General Linus Abner | 6 episodes | |
| Saving Grace | Bobby's Dad | Episode: "That Was No First Kiss" | |
| 2010 | The Mentalist | Joseph Silverwing | Episode: "Aingavite Baa" |
| 2011 | Images of Indians: How Hollywood Stereotyped the Native American | Himself / Toughest Pawnee | Television documentary |
| 2011–2012 | Hell on Wheels | Chief Many Horses | 3 episodes |
| 2012 | In Plain Sight | Chief Pierce | Episode: "Reservations, I've Got a Few" |
| 2013 | Battledogs | Captain Falcons | Television film |
| 2014 | Killer Women | White Deer | Episode: "Demons" |
| 2015 | The Red Road | Chief Levi Gall | 5 episodes |
| SuperMansion | Hawk Feathers (voice) | Episode: "Puss in Books" | |
| 2016 | Penny Dreadful | Kaetenay | 9 episodes |
| 2020 | Woke | Spoon (voice) | Episode: "Rhymes with Broke" |
| 2021 | Grey's Anatomy | William Lawrence | Episode: "Tradition" |
| Miracle Workers | Chief Sleeping Bear | Episode: "Oregon Trail: White Savior" | |
| 2021–2023 | Reservation Dogs | Bucky | 4 episodes |
| 2022–present | Spirit Rangers | Sunny (voice) | Recurring role[25] |
| 2023 | The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder | Quannah (voice) | Episode: "Old Towne Road Part 2" |
| Launchpad | Grandpa / Nick | Episode: "The Roof" |
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
