This is a list of Native American actors in the United States, including Alaskan Natives.
While Native American identity can be complex, it is rooted in political sovereignty that predates the creation of colonial nation states like the United States, Canada, and Mexico and persists into the 21st century recognized under international law by treaty. The Bureau of Indian Affairs defines Native American as having American Indian or Alaska Native ancestry. Legally, being Native American is defined as being enrolled in a federally recognized tribe, including Alaskan villages. Ethnologically, factors such as culture, history, language, religion, and familial kinships can influence Native American identity."IV. Our Nation’s American Indian and Alaska Native Citizens." US Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs. Retrieved 8 July 2012. All individuals on this list should have confirmed Native American ancestry. Historical figures might predate tribal enrollment practices and would be included based on ethnological tribal membership, while any contemporary individuals should either be enrolled members of federally recognized tribes or have cited Native American ancestry and be recognized as being Native American by their respective tribes(s). Contemporary unenrolled individuals should only be listed as being of descent from a tribe if they have confirmed heritage.
A Victor Aaron (1956–1996), Yaqui descent Apesanahkwat, Menominee Nation Nathan Apodaca (Northern Arapaho/Mexican-American), actor, TikTok star
B Bob Barker, Sicangu Lakota Dewey Beard a.k.a. Iron Hail, Lakota, Miniconjou Irene Bedard, Inupiaq Chief John Big Tree, Seneca Moses Brings Plenty, Oglala Lakota "Moses Brings Plenty is a Lakota born at Pine Ridge reservation. Young spiritual leader, he carries within him the voices of his ancestors and particularly Crazy Horse." Cole Brings Plenty, nephew of Moses
C Tonantzin Carmelo, Tongva/Kumeyaay descent Casey Camp-Horinek (Ponca Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma), activist, speaker, actor Alaqua Cox, Menominee/Mohican
D Cody Deal (born 1986), Osage NationPolacca, Benny. "Osage actor stars in cable TV movie this year." Osage News. 7 March 2011. Retrieved 30 June 2013.
E Chris Eyre, Southern Cheyenne director and producer
F Lane Factor (Caddo/Seminole/Muscogee), television actor Sydney Freeland (Diné), director, filmmaker, producer, writer
G Lily Gladstone, Blackfeet/Nez Perce descent actress Dallas Goldtooth (Mdewakanton Dakota/Diné)) Forrest Goodluck, Navajo Kiowa Gordon (Hualapai) Rodney A. Grant, Omaha "Rodney A. Grant is a well-known celebrity in the Native Community. A Native American actor who is in support of Native American issues and is always willing to speak for the Native American people." Saginaw Grant, Sac and Fox NationBreslauer, Jan (February 20, 1996). "The Spirit Moves Him in New and Traditional Ways". Los Angeles Times. Elva Guerra (Ponca/Mexican-American), actor Kimberly Norris Guerrero, Colville (enrolled), Salish-Kootenai descent
H Sterlin Harjo (Seminole/Muscogee) actor, comedian, director, writer Charlie Hill, Oneida Nation, Mohawk, Cree Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse, Rosebud Lakota Jack Hoxie, Nez Perce "in an interview with LeRoy Sebastian in 1963, he said "Pastor, I am an Indian, and therefore I have lived these many years believing in the Red Man's God..." Miko Hughes, Chickasaw Blu Hunt - American actress, Oglala Lakota
I Iron Hail, a.k.a. Dewey Beard, Lakota, Miniconjou
J Devery Jacobs (Kahnawà:ke Mohawk) Ben Johnson,Thurman, Tom. - Ben Johnson: Third Cowboy on the Right.Erickson, Hal. "Ben Johnson". Allmovie. Cherokee, grew up on an Osage reservation
K Oscar Kawagley, Yup'ik Geraldine Keams (Diné), actor Stepfanie Kramer, Eastern Band Cherokee "Stephanie Kramer also intends to resume her music career, preparing a new album. Meanwhile, she devotes herself to Indian children. "I'm half Cherokee. I'd like so much for these children, who are a bit mine, to continue their studies. Life is hard In their land ravaged by extreme poverty. Thanks to an official organization, we can help them." The good-hearted actress has even taken a little girl from the Hopi tribe under her wing and she contributes a lot of money."
L Eddie Little Sky, Oglala Lakota Phil Lucas, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma filmmaker, actor, writer, producer, director, and editor
M Gavin MacLeod, Ojibwe descent through his father Randolph Mantooth, Seminole "...Randy, whose father is a Seminole Indian, "Got to make some comments I've been waiting all my life to say in a powerful picture." Trixie Mattel, Ojibwe descent Robin Maxkii, Stockbridge-Munsee, actress Zahn McClarnon, Hunkpapa Lakota, actor "Over the past 12 years Zahn McClarnon (Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux) has made dozens of appearances on TV, cable network movies and feature films." Russell Means, Oglala Lakota, activist, actor "The L.A. Times has described him as the most famous American Indian since Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse." Tatanka Means, Navajo, Lakota Amber Midthunder (Fort Peck Sioux) Cara Jade Myers (Wichita/Kiowa), actor
O Sierra Teller Ornelas (Diné), writer
P Migizi Pensoneau (Ponca/Ojibwe)), actor, comedian, writer Jon Proudstar (Pascua Yaqui)
Q
R Arthur Redcloud, Navajo Ryan RedCorn (Osage Nation) Red Shirt (Oglala), Lakota Red Wing, (Lillian St. Cyr), Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska Steve Reevis, Blackfeet Branscombe Richmond, Aleut "Of Aleut Indian descent, Branscombe has said, "I am a Native American first, last and always."" Will Rogers (1879–1935), Cherokee, film and vaudeville actor, movie producerCarter, Joseph H. "Father and Cherokee Tradition Molded Will Rogers." Will Rogers Memorial Museum. Retrieved 30 June 2013. Ned Romero, film and television actor, Chitimacha Lois Red Elk, enrolled member of the Ft. Peck Sioux in Montana.
S Frank Salsedo, Wappo Jana Schmieding (Cheyenne River Lakota), actor Will Sampson, Muscogee (Creek) Nation "Will was a Muscogee Creek Indian born in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, in 1934." Larry Sellers, Osage, Cherokee, Lakota "He drew on his heritage as an Osage/Cherokee/Lakota Indian to also become an educator, historian and historical consultant." Martin Sensmeier (Tlingit/Koyukon Athabascan), Jay Silverheels, Mohawk people Sitting Bull, Lakota, Hunkpapa John Sitting Bull, Lakota, Hunkpapa William Sitting Bull, Lakota, Hunkpapa Charles Soldani, Osage and Kaw actor Eddie Spears, Brulé "Best Actor Native Voice Film Festival 2005 for the lead role in Black Cloud" Michael Spears, Brulé Abigail Spencer, Cherokee Chaske Spencer, Sioux/Nez Perce/Cherokee/Muscogee descent Luther Standing Bear, Oglala Lakota author and actor Wes Studi, Cherokee Nation
T Jim Thorpe, Sac and FoxJim Thorpe Goes to Hollywood: 1931-1950, Signature, April 20, 2011 Chief Thunderbird, Cheyenne John Trudell, Santee Dakota, activist, actor Sheila Tousey, Menominee, Stockbridge-Munsee Erica Tremblay (Seneca-Cayuga), director, filmmaker Ernest David Tsosie III (Diné), actor)
U Misty Upham, Blackfeet TribeSchmidt, Rob. "Blackfeet Actress Misty Upham On Filming 'Jimmy P.' with Benicio Del Toro." Indian Country Today Media Network. 30 Sept 2013. Accessed 1 Feb 2014.
W Noah Watts, Crow/Blackfeet Floyd Red Crow Westerman, Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Richard Ray Whitman (Muscogee/Yuchi), actor, activist, artist Bobby Wilson (aka Bobby Dues) (Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota), actor, comedian, writer Mato Wayuhi, musician, actor
Y James Young Deer, Nanticoke, 1876–1946 Chief Yowlachie, Yakama
See also List of Native Americans of the United States List of Indigenous Canadian actors Indian Actors Association
Notes