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Person
Chief John Big Tree
Actor· 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.
Known For
The roles that explain the career.
Stagecoach
Indian Scout (uncredited) · 1939
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
Chief Pony That Walks · 1949
Lost Horizon
Porter (uncredited) · 1937
Destry Rides Again
Indian in Saloon (uncredited) · 1939
The Big Trail
Indian (uncredited) · 1930
Drums Along the Mohawk
Blue Back · 1939
Western Union
Chief Spotted Horse · 1941
The Iron Horse
Cheyenne Chief (uncredited) · 1925
Filmography
24 credits across 1 departments.
| Year | Title | Role | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Devil's Doorway | Thundercloud | Film |
| 1949 | She Wore a Yellow Ribbon | Chief Pony That Walks | Film |
| 1941 | Western Union | Chief Spotted Horse | Film |
| 1941 | Las Vegas Nights | Indian | Film |
| 1940 | Brigham Young | Big Elk | Film |
| 1940 | Too Many Girls | Chief (uncredited) | Film |
| 1940 | Hudson's Bay | Chief | Film |
| 1939 | The Oregon Trail | Spotted Elk | Film |
| 1939 | Drums Along the Mohawk | Blue Back | Film |
| 1939 | Destry Rides Again | Indian in Saloon (uncredited) | Film |
| 1939 | Stagecoach | Indian Scout (uncredited) | Film |
| 1939 | Susannah of the Mounties | Chief (uncredited) | Film |
| 1938 | The Girl of the Golden West | Indian Chief in Prologue | Film |
| 1937 | Maid of Salem | Indian Man (Uncredited) | Film |
| 1937 | Lost Horizon | Porter (uncredited) | Film |
| 1937 | Hills of Old Wyoming | Chief Big Tree | Film |
| 1936 | The Bold Caballero | Tavern Indian (uncredited) | Film |
| 1935 | The Farmer Takes a Wife | Indian | Film |
| 1935 | The Singing Vagabond | Chief White Eagle (uncredited) | Film |
| 1933 | The Telegraph Trail | Indian Chief (uncredited) | Film |
| 1932 | The Last of the Mohicans | Huron Warrior (uncredited) | Film |
| 1930 | The Big Trail | Indian (uncredited) | Film |
| 1926 | Mantrap | Indian (uncredited) | Film |
| 1925 | The Iron Horse | Cheyenne Chief (uncredited) | Film |
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