Nickolas George Ramus, also known and credited as Nick Ramus, (September 9, 1929 – May 30, 2007) was a Blackfoot Native American actor, best known for his appearances on television.
Early life Ramus was born in Seattle, Washington, and grew up in Spokane, but as a boy, his family moved to the Blackfeet Reservation in Browning, Montana.
He eventually moved back to Washington, obtaining a bachelor's degree in chemistry, while minoring in zoology. After dropping out of his first year in medical school, he migrated south, competing in boxing and motorcycle races.
In San Francisco, Ramus received coaching in drama and voice, eventually leading to work in commercials. Several years later, he moved to Los Angeles and picked roles in films and television.
Career Being of both Blackfoot and Greek ancestry, Ramus portrayed American Indian and Hispanic characters during his 30-year career.
Ramus' television debut was a role in the ABC series, The Wide World of Mystery (1973).
In television movies and miniseries, he appeared as Grey Cloud in Born to the Wind (1981), as Arapaho Chief Lost Eagle in Centennial (1978-1979), as Tehohane in The Chisholms (1980), and as Red Cloud in Son of the Morning Star (1991). Ramus also appeared as Mangus Colorado in the TNT film Geronimo (1993).
In television series, Ramus had a recurring role in the soap opera Falcon Crest as Gus Nunouz, and as Chief Black Kettle in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. Guest appearances also included Gunsmoke, Harry and the Hendersons, Little House on the Prairie, MacGyver, Northern Exposure, Stingray, and Walker, Texas Ranger, among others.
On the big screen, Ramus' film debut was a role in Black Eye (1974). He would go on to star in the first Native American language film, Windwalker (1980). Other film roles include The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (1979) as Indian Chief, Invasion U.S.A. (1985), Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) as Saratoga Helmsman, Love at Stake (1987) as Chief Wannatoka, Journey to Spirit Island (1992), and 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up (1995), among others.
In 2006, Ramus took the role as Local Guy in the independent short film, Alma (2007) featuring Carmen Corral (as Alma) who portrays a Mexican-immigrant teenager, unaware that she is undocumented. The film's executive producer was Victoria Westover, a program director for the Hanson Film Institute at the University of Arizona.
Ramus also wrote An Evening with Sitting Bull in the 1990s, from which he performed a one-man show.
Personal life and death Ramus married Harriet Mary Howard and had three children. He was remarried to Kaysie McCallister in 1995, and moved to the San Pedro River valley area, near Benson, Arizona in 2002. By that time he had retired, except for occasional appearances.
Ramus developed pneumonia in January 2007, and doctors found a neoplasm in his lungs. He opted out of surgery that could have potentially been debilitating. On May 30, 2007, Ramus died in Benson, Arizona at age 77.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1974Black Eye1979The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides AgainIndian Chief1980WindwalkerSmiling Wolf / Crow Brother / Narrator1985Invasion U.S.A.Clark Little Hawk1986Star Trek IV: The Voyage HomeSaratoga Helmsman1987Love at StakeChief Wannatoka1988Journey to Spirit IslandTom1989Caddie WoodlawnChief Tukenbheska19953 Ninjas Knuckle UpChief Roundcreek2006The Treasure of Painted ForestMr. Godfrey2007AlmaLocal GuyIndependent Short Film2007RapturiousVoiceFinal film role
Television Year Title Role Notes1973The Wide World of Mystery 1974GunsmokeLynitEpisode: "The Iron Blood of Courage"1975I Will Fight No More ForeverRainbowTV movie1976The Quest Iron HawkTV movie1977Little House on the PrairieLittle CrowEpisode: "Freedom Flight"1977Walt Disney's Wonderful World of ColorTiogaEpisode: "Kit Carson and the Mountain Men: Parts 1 & 2"1978–1979CentennialLost Eagle4 episodes1979The ChisholmsTehohaneTV miniseries1981–1982Falcon CrestGus Nunouz13 episodes1982The Legend of Walks Far WomanLeft Hand BullTV movie1982Born to the WindGrey CloudTV series1982The Mystic WarriorChief OlepiTV movie1985Tall Tales & LegendsSitting BullEpisode: "Annie Oakley"1987CapitolGeneral AbdullahEpisode #1.12701987StingrayAlexander BondyEpisode: "The Neniwa"1989ParadiseChief Black CloudEpisode: "The Burial Ground"1989MonstersTemple GuideEpisode: "Half as Old as Time"1990Northern ExposureChiefEpisode: "Soapy Sanderson"1991Harry and the HendersonsMedicine ManEpisode: "Roots, The Herb"1991MacGyverStanding WolfEpisode: "Trail of Tears"1993GeronimoMangus ColoradoTV movie1993–1995Dr. Quinn, Medicine WomanChief Black Kettle10 episodes1995Walker, Texas RangerBright WaterEpisode: "On Sacred Ground"
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