Person Details

Birthday:

Aliases: Chief Big Tree

Gender: Male

Place of birth: Buffalo, New York, USA

Homepage:

Movie Involvements: 36

TV Involvements: 0


Most Famous Work

Biography

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.

Most Famous Work

Stagecoach
Average
8

Stagecoach

(1939) Indian Scout (uncredited)
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
Average
7

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon

(1949) Chief Pony That Walks
Drums Along the Mohawk
Average
6

Drums Along the Mohawk

(1939) Blue Back
Lost Horizon
Average
7

Lost Horizon

(1937) Porter (uncredited)
Western Union
Average
6

Western Union

(1941) Chief Spotted Horse
The Iron Horse
Average
7

The Iron Horse

(1924) Cheyenne Chief
North West Mounted Police
Average
6

North West Mounted Police

(1940) Blue Owl (uncredited)
Devil's Doorway
Average
7

Devil's Doorway

(1950) Thundercloud

Acting

Year Character Movie/Tv
1950 Thundercloud
1949 Chief Pony That Walks
1941 Chief Spotted Horse
Chief
1940 Blue Owl (uncredited)
Chief
Big Elk
1939 Indian in Saloon (uncredited)
Blue Back
Spotted Elk
Chief (uncredited)
Indian Scout (uncredited)
1938 Indian Chief in Prologue
1937 Indian (uncredited)
Chief Big Tree
Porter (uncredited)
Indian Man (Uncredited)
1936 Tavern Indian (uncredited)
Indian John
Medicine Man
1935 Chief White Eagle (uncredited)
1934 Chief War Eagle
1933 Circus Indian
Indian Chief (uncredited)
1932 Indian (uncredited)
Huron Warrior (uncredited)
1931 Chief Barking Fox
1929 Crazy Wolf
Medecine Man
1927 Red Cloud
N/A
Grey Eagle
Chief Pontiac
1926 Red Eagle
Indian (uncredited)
Chief Gray Wolf
1925 Indian Chief
1924 Cheyenne Chief
1923 Otebaya
1922 Chief Johnny Bluebottle
1919 Swift Deer
1917 Gowah
Year Character Movie/Tv

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