Chief John Big Tree

Born: 1877-06-02 in Buffalo, New York, USA

Died: 1967-07-06

Known For: Acting

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.

Filmography

1950

Devil's Doorway as Thundercloud

1949

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon as Chief Pony That Walks

1941

Western Union as Chief Spotted Horse
Las Vegas Nights as Indian

1940

North West Mounted Police as Blue Owl (uncredited)
Brigham Young as Big Elk
Too Many Girls as Chief (uncredited)
Hudson's Bay as Chief
Maintain the Right as Chief

1939

Stagecoach as Indian Scout (uncredited)
Drums Along the Mohawk as Blue Back
Destry Rides Again as Indian in Saloon (uncredited)
Susannah of the Mounties as Chief (uncredited)
The Oregon Trail as Spotted Elk

1938

The Girl of the Golden West as Indian Chief in Prologue

1937

Lost Horizon as Porter (uncredited)
Maid of Salem as Indian Man (Uncredited)
Hills of Old Wyoming as Chief Big Tree
Prairie Thunder as Indian (uncredited)

1936

The Bold Caballero as Tavern Indian (uncredited)
Custer's Last Stand as Medicine Man
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell as Indian John

1935

The Farmer Takes a Wife as Indian
The Singing Vagabond as Chief White Eagle (uncredited)

1934

The Cat's-Paw as Chinese Guard (uncredited)
Wheels of Destiny as Chief War Eagle

1933

King of the Arena as Circus Indian
The Telegraph Trail as Indian Chief (uncredited)

1932

The Last of the Mohicans as Huron Warrior (uncredited)
The Golden West as Indian (uncredited)

1931

Red Fork Range as Chief Barking Fox

1930

The Big Trail as Indian (uncredited)

1929

Sioux Blood as Crazy Wolf
The Overland Telegraph as Medecine Man

1928

Wyoming as An Indian

1927

Winners of the Wilderness as Chief Pontiac
Spoilers of the West as Red Cloud
The Frontiersman as Grey Eagle
Painted Ponies

1926

Mantrap as Indian (uncredited)
The Desert's Toll as Red Eagle
The Frontier Trail as Chief Gray Wolf

1925

The Iron Horse as Cheyenne Chief (uncredited)
The Red Rider as Indian Chief

1923

The Huntress as Otebaya

1922

The Primitive Lover as Chief Johnny Bluebottle