Sheila May Tousey (born June 4, 1959) is a Native American actress.
Biography Born in Keshena, Wisconsin in 1959, Tousey is a stage and film actress of Menominee and Stockbridge-Munsee descent. She was raised on both Menominee and Stockbridge-Munsee reservations. Tousey began dancing as a small child.
She did not perform on stage until she attended Albuquerque's University of New Mexico. She initially entered the university's law program, planning to specialize in federal contracts and Native American law, but later changed her major to English. At the time, she started taking theater arts courses. After graduating, Tousey enrolled in the graduate acting program at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. She directed her first play, An Evening at the Warbonnet, at the University of New Mexico in 1994.
Tousey has become a professional dancer and actress. Her first movie role was in Thunderheart (1992), and she appeared in Medicine River that same year. Her succeeding roles have been in a variety of characters, including appearances on Law & Order. Beginning in 2002, she has appeared in four movies adapted from Tony Hillerman mystery novels, which feature Native Americans of the Southwest.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1992 Thunderheart Maggie Eagle Bear Last surviving cast1993 Medicine River Louise Heavyman Slaughter of the Innocents Agent Lemar 1994 Silent Tongue Awbonnie/Ghost 1995 Lord of Illusions Jennifer Desiderio 1996 Grand Avenue Mollie 1997 Song of Hiawatha Nokomis Sparkler Hurricane1999 Ravenous Martha Wildflowers Martha2000 Backroads Grace Nelson The Other Side Edna 2001 Two Grey Hills Nellie Begay 2002 Skinwalkers Emma Leaphorn2003 Dreamkeeper Janine Coyote Waits Emma Leaphorn 2004 A Thief of Time Emma Leaphorn2005 Johnny Tootall Agnes Into the WestOlder Thunder Heart Woman Christmas in the Clouds Mary
Awards and nominations YearAwardCategoryWorkResultRef.2000First Americans in the Arts AwardOutstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Film)Ravenous2002American Indian Film FestivalBest Supporting ActressSkinwalkers2003First Americans in the Arts AwardOutstanding Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a TV Movie/SpecialAmerican Indian Film FestivalBest ActressDreamKeeper2005Johnny Tootall2024Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Featured Performance in a PlayManahatta2025Obie AwardSpecial CitationThe 1491s
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