Chief John Big Tree
Acting
Born June 2, 1877, Buffalo, New York, USA
Chief John Big Tree was born on June 2, 1877 in Buffalo, New York, as Isaac Johnny John. He was an actor, known for She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) and Devil's Doorway (1950). He died on July 6, 1967 in Onondaga Indian Reservation, New York. One of three men who posed for artist James Fraser for the profile which became the famous "Indian head nickel" or "buffalo nickel" minted 1913-1938. The other two were Chief Two Moons (of the Cheyenne) and Chief Iron Tail (of the Lakota Sioux). The image was reused for a special commemorative $50 gold piece in 2006--the USA's first 24k (pure gold) coin. Big Tree was a member of the Seneca Nation.
Filmography
- 1950Devil's Doorway — Thundercloud
- 1949She Wore a Yellow Ribbon — Chief Pony That Walks
- 1941Las Vegas Nights — Indian
- 1941Western Union — Chief Spotted Horse
- 1940Brigham Young — Big Elk
- 1940Hudson's Bay — Chief
- 1940Maintain the Right — Chief
- 1940North West Mounted Police — Blue Owl (uncredited)
- 1940Too Many Girls — Chief (uncredited)
- 1939Destry Rides Again — Indian in Saloon (uncredited)
- 1939Drums Along the Mohawk — Blue Back
- 1939Stagecoach — Indian Scout (uncredited)
- 1939Susannah of the Mounties — Chief (uncredited)
- 1939The Oregon Trail — Spotted Elk
- 1938The Girl of the Golden West — Indian Chief in Prologue
- 1937Hills of Old Wyoming — Chief Big Tree
- 1937Lost Horizon — Porter (uncredited)
- 1937Maid of Salem — Indian Man (Uncredited)
- 1937Prairie Thunder — Indian (uncredited)
- 1936Custer's Last Stand — Medicine Man
- 1936The Adventures of Frank Merriwell — Indian John
- 1936The Bold Caballero — Tavern Indian (uncredited)
- 1935The Farmer Takes a Wife — Indian
- 1935The Singing Vagabond — Chief White Eagle (uncredited)
- 1934The Cat's-Paw — Chinese Guard (uncredited)
- 1934Wheels of Destiny — Chief War Eagle
- 1933King of the Arena — Circus Indian
- 1933The Telegraph Trail — Indian Chief (uncredited)
- 1932The Golden West — Indian (uncredited)
- 1932The Last of the Mohicans — Huron Warrior (uncredited)
- 1931Red Fork Range — Chief Barking Fox
- 1930The Big Trail — Indian (uncredited)
- 1929Sioux Blood — Crazy Wolf
- 1929The Overland Telegraph — Medecine Man
- 1928Wyoming — An Indian
- 1927Painted Ponies
- 1927Spoilers of the West — Red Cloud
- 1927The Frontiersman — Grey Eagle
- 1927Winners of the Wilderness — Chief Pontiac
- 1926Mantrap — Indian (uncredited)
- 1926The Desert's Toll — Red Eagle
- 1926The Frontier Trail — Chief Gray Wolf
- 1925The Iron Horse — Cheyenne Chief (uncredited)
- 1925The Red Rider — Indian Chief
- 1923The Huntress — Otebaya
- 1922The Primitive Lover — Chief Johnny Bluebottle
- 1921The Avenging Arrow — Modoc
- 1919A Fight For Love — Swift Deer
- 1917The Spirit of '76 — Gowah
- 1915The Cactus Blossom — Chegup