Wes Studi

Wes Studi

Wesley "Wes" Studi (born December 17, 1947) is an American Cherokee actor, who has earned notability for his portrayals of Native Americans in film. He has appeared in well-received Academy Award-winning films, such as Kevin Costner's Dances with Wolves, Michael Mann's The Last of the Mohicans, the award-winning Geronimo: An American Legend and the Academy Award-nominated film The New World (2005). He most recently portrayed General Linus Abner (an analogue to the biblical Abner) in the NBC series Kings, and Eytukan in James Cameron's box office blockbuster Avatar.

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Known For

Grey's Anatomy

Grey's Anatomy

2005 • as William Lawrence

The Mentalist

The Mentalist

2008 • as Joeseph Silverwing

American Experience

American Experience

1988 • as Major Ridge

American Experience

American Experience

1988 • as Warrior in Canoe

Highlander: The Series

Highlander: The Series

1992 • as Sheriff Benson

Hell on Wheels

Hell on Wheels

2011 • as Chief Many Horses

Filmography

2024

Movie
Terra Infirma
as Grey Owl
Movie - Released: 5/30/2024
The Midway Point
The Midway Point
as Mr. Williams
Movie - Released: 10/26/2024

2023

Mending the Line
Mending the Line
as Harrison
Movie - Released: 6/9/2023
The Roof
The Roof
as Grandpa / Nick
Movie - Released: 7/23/2023

2022

Bonnie
Bonnie
as Self
Movie - Released: 11/12/2022
Acting Like Nothing is Wrong
Acting Like Nothing is Wrong
as Self
Movie - Released: 11/4/2022
A Love Song
A Love Song
as Lito
Movie - Released: 7/29/2022

2021

Reservation Dogs
Reservation Dogs
as Bucky
TV - Released: 8/9/2021
American Veteran
American Veteran
as Self - Host
TV - Released: 10/26/2021

2020

Soul
Soul
as Counselor Jerry (voice)
Movie - Released: 12/25/2020
Woke
Woke
as Spoon (voice)
TV - Released: 9/9/2020

2019

A Dog's Way Home
A Dog's Way Home
as Captain Mica
Movie - Released: 1/10/2019
Badland
Badland
as Harlan Red
Movie - Released: 11/1/2019
Miracle Workers
Miracle Workers
as Chief Sleeping Bear
TV - Released: 2/12/2019

2017

Hostiles
Hostiles
as Chief Yellow Hawk
Movie - Released: 12/22/2017

2015

Ronnie BoDean
Ronnie BoDean
as Ronnie BoDean
Movie - Released: 6/1/2015
The Condemned 2
The Condemned 2
as Cyrus
Movie - Released: 11/6/2015

2014

A Million Ways to Die in the West
A Million Ways to Die in the West
as Cochise
Movie - Released: 5/22/2014
Planes: Fire & Rescue
Planes: Fire & Rescue
as Windlifter
Movie - Released: 7/17/2014
Movie
Pie Lady of Pie Town
as Narrator (voice)
Movie - Released: 6/3/2014
Road to Paloma
Road to Paloma
as Numay
Movie - Released: 4/12/2014
Penny Dreadful
Penny Dreadful
as Kaetenay
TV - Released: 5/11/2014

2013

Battledogs
Battledogs
as Captain Falcos
Movie - Released: 4/5/2013
Sugar
Sugar
as Bishop
Movie - Released: 4/6/2013
Destination: Planet Negro!
Destination: Planet Negro!
as Chief Bobby
Movie - Released: 2/16/2013

2012

Being Flynn
Being Flynn
as Captain
Movie - Released: 3/2/2012
Finding Your Roots
Finding Your Roots
TV - Released: 3/24/2012

2011

The Dome of Heaven
The Dome of Heaven
as DeWayne Moses
Movie - Released: 7/4/2011
Hell on Wheels
Hell on Wheels
as Chief Many Horses
TV - Released: 11/6/2011

2010

Making The Last of the Mohicans
Making The Last of the Mohicans
as Self
Movie - Released: 10/3/2010
Reel Injun
Reel Injun
as Self
Movie - Released: 2/19/2010
A Good Day to Die
A Good Day to Die
as Himself - Actor; Cherokee
Movie - Released: 11/12/2010

2009

Avatar
Avatar
as Eytukan
Movie - Released: 12/15/2009
Call of the Wild
Call of the Wild
as Hatcher
Movie - Released: 6/12/2009
The Only Good Indian
The Only Good Indian
as Sam
Movie - Released: 12/1/2009
Movie
The Undying
as Lt. Frank Wascoe
Movie - Released: 1/1/2009
Kings
Kings
as General Linus Abner
TV - Released: 3/15/2009

2008

Three Priests
Three Priests
as Ben
Movie - Released: 1/1/2008
Older Than America
Older Than America
as Richard Two Rivers
Movie - Released: 3/8/2008
El Camino
El Camino
as Dave
Movie - Released: 2/29/2008
Comanche Moon
Comanche Moon
as Buffalo Hump
TV - Released: 1/13/2008
The Mentalist
The Mentalist
as Joeseph Silverwing
TV - Released: 9/23/2008

2007

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
as Jack Wilson
Movie - Released: 5/27/2007
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
as Wovoka
Movie - Released: 5/27/2007
Seraphim Falls
Seraphim Falls
as Charon
Movie - Released: 1/26/2007
Wolf Ridge
Wolf Ridge
Movie - Released: 10/12/2007
Cosmic Radio
Cosmic Radio
as Sherriff Mike Nighthorse
Movie - Released: 10/27/2007

2006

The Trail Of Tears: Cherokee Legacy
The Trail Of Tears: Cherokee Legacy
as Himself
Movie - Released: 2/1/2006

2005

The New World
The New World
as Opechancanough
Movie - Released: 12/25/2005
Miracle at Sage Creek
Miracle at Sage Creek
as Chief Thomas
Movie - Released: 11/25/2005
Animal
Animal
as Creeper
Movie - Released: 5/1/2005
Into the West
Into the West
as Black Kettle
TV - Released: 6/10/2005
Grey's Anatomy
Grey's Anatomy
as William Lawrence
TV - Released: 3/27/2005

2004

A Thief Of Time
A Thief Of Time
as Joe Leaphorn
Movie - Released: 7/11/2004

2003

The Lone Ranger
The Lone Ranger
as Kulakinah
Movie - Released: 2/26/2003
Coyote Waits
Coyote Waits
as Joe Leaphorn
Movie - Released: 11/16/2003
Edge of America
Edge of America
as Cuch
Movie - Released: 12/10/2003

2002

Undisputed
Undisputed
as Mingo Pace
Movie - Released: 7/17/2002
Skinwalkers
Skinwalkers
as Lt. Joe Leaphorn
Movie - Released: 11/2/2002
Superfire
Superfire
as Joe Nighttrail
Movie - Released: 4/20/2002

2001

Road to Redemption
Road to Redemption
as Frank Lightfoot
Movie - Released: 9/28/2001
Christmas in the Clouds
Christmas in the Clouds
as Bingo Caller
Movie - Released: 1/21/2001
Ice Planet
Ice Planet
as Commander Jonah Trager
Movie - Released: 1/1/2001
UC: Undercover
UC: Undercover
TV - Released: 9/30/2001

2000

Wind River
Wind River
as Pocatello
Movie - Released: 6/7/2000

1999

Mystery Men
Mystery Men
as Sphinx
Movie - Released: 8/6/1999
Soundman
Soundman
as Terry Leonard
Movie - Released: 1/24/1999
The Directors
The Directors
as Self
TV - Released: 1/1/1999

1998

Deep Rising
Deep Rising
as Hanover
Movie - Released: 1/30/1998

1997

Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western
Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western
as Self
Movie - Released: 7/27/1997
The Killing Jar
The Killing Jar
as Cameron
Movie - Released: 5/27/1997

1996

Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse
as Red Cloud
Movie - Released: 7/7/1996
Movie
Lone Justice: Showdown at Plum Creek
Movie - Released: 1/1/1996
Promised Land
Promised Land
TV - Released: 9/17/1996

1995

Heat
Heat
as Casals
Movie - Released: 12/15/1995
Streets of Laredo
Streets of Laredo
as Famous Shoes
TV - Released: 11/12/1995

1994

Street Fighter
Street Fighter
as Sagat
Movie - Released: 12/23/1994
Movie
Indian America: A Gift from the Past
as Self - Narrator (voice)
Movie - Released: 10/19/1994

1993

Geronimo: An American Legend
Geronimo: An American Legend
as Geronimo
Movie - Released: 12/10/1993
The Broken Chain
The Broken Chain
as Seth / Chief / Speaker for the Tribes
Movie - Released: 11/11/1993
Ned Blessing
Ned Blessing
TV - Released: 8/18/1993

1992

The Last of the Mohicans
The Last of the Mohicans
as Magua
Movie - Released: 8/26/1992
Highlander: The Series
Highlander: The Series
as Sheriff Benson
TV - Released: 10/3/1992

1991

The Doors
The Doors
as Indian in Desert
Movie - Released: 3/1/1991

1990

Dances with Wolves
Dances with Wolves
as Toughest Pawnee
Movie - Released: 3/30/1990
The Flash
The Flash
as Roller
TV - Released: 9/20/1990

1989

Powwow Highway
Powwow Highway
as Buff
Movie - Released: 2/24/1989

1988

Longarm
Longarm
as The Ute
Movie - Released: 3/6/1988
American Experience
American Experience
as Major Ridge
TV - Released: 10/4/1988
American Experience
American Experience
as Warrior in Canoe
TV - Released: 10/4/1988

Unknown

Behind the Lines
Behind the Lines
as Self
Movie
Canyon of the Dead
Canyon of the Dead
as Tsali
Movie
Candles
Candles
Movie
Movie
Brave
as Ernie
Movie
Movie
Timber Lands
as Russ
Movie
The Pipeline
The Pipeline
as Samuel Horse
Movie
Movie
Yesteryear
as George
Movie