Wes Studi

Native Oklahoman, Vietnam veteran, sculptor, musician, author, activist. Each of those describes the legendary actor Wes Studi. Within a few years of his arrival in Hollywood, Studi caught the attention of the public in Dances with Wolves. In 1992, his powerful performance as Magua in Last of the Mohicans established him as one of the most compelling actors in the business.

Biography

Wikipedia revision of 17 January 2024

Wesley Studi (Cherokee: ᏪᏌ ᏍᏚᏗ; born December 17, 1947) is a Native American (Cherokee Nation) actor and film producer. He has garnered critical acclaim and awards throughout his career, particularly for his portrayal of Native Americans in film.[1][2] In 2019, he received an Academy Honorary Award,[3] becoming the first Native American as well as the first Indigenous person from North America to be honored by the academy.

Studi has appeared in Academy Award-winning films, such as Dances with Wolves (1990) and The Last of the Mohicans (1992), and in the Academy Award-nominated films Geronimo: An American Legend (1993) and The New World (2005). He is also known for portraying Sagat in Street Fighter (1994). Other films he has appeared in are Hostiles, Heat, Mystery Men, Avatar, A Million Ways to Die in the West, and the television series Penny Dreadful [and Reservation Dogs].

In December 2020, The New York Times ranked him #19 in its list of the "25 Greatest Actors of the 21st Century (So Far)".[4]

Early life and education

Studi was born into a Cherokee family in Nofire Hollow, Oklahoma, a rural area in Cherokee County named after his mother's family.[5] He is the son of Maggie Studie, a housekeeper, and Andy Studie, a ranch hand. Until he attended elementary school, he spoke only Cherokee at home.[6] He attended Chilocco Indian Agricultural School for high school and graduated in 1964; his vocational major was in dry cleaning.[7] Wes appeared on the television show Finding your Roots, which was aired on January 16, 2024. During the episode it was discovered that the name Eugene Philpott which was listed on his birth certificate was not his biological father. Through DNA research they were able to determine that Wes Studi's father was either of two brothers [%E2%80%A6 ] Blair.[8] Also during that episode it was discovered his 6th great-grandmother was Nanyehi Nancy Ward, the beloved woman and political leader of the Cherokee.

At the age of 17 Studi enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard and had his basic combat training and advanced individual training at Fort Polk, Louisiana. Meeting recently returned veterans, Studi volunteered for active service and went to Vietnam with A Company of the 3rd Battalion 39th Infantry, 9th Infantry Division,[6] where he served for 18 months.

After his discharge, Studi became politically active in American Indian activism. He participated in the Wounded Knee Incident at Pine Ridge Reservation in 1973.[4] Studi stated in an interview that he first began acting while attending Tulsa Community College, after returning from his service in Vietnam. He had a role in the play "Royal Hunt of the Sun" for the American Indian Theater Company.[7]

Career

Studi appeared in his first film, The Trial of Standing Bear, in 1988.[3] He is best known for his roles as ruthless Native American warriors, such as a Pawnee in Dances with Wolves (1990), and Magua in The Last of the Mohicans (1992).[4][8]

A year later, he was cast with Eric Schweig for TNT's film The Broken Chain, about the historic Iroquois League that was based in the area of central and western present-day New York state. It was shot in Virginia. This was part of a group of productions shown over 14 months on TNT as its "Native American initiative", including three television movies and several documentaries. A six-hour history series was told from a Native American perspective.[2] In 1993 Studi had the lead in Geronimo: An American Legend.[9] He played the superhero Sphinx in the 1999 comedy film Mystery Men.

In 2002, Studi brought to life the character of Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn, for a series of PBS movies based on Tony Hillerman's novels set in the Southwest among the Navajo and Hopi. It was produced by Robert Redford.

In 2005, Studi portrayed a character based on chief Opechancanough, leader of the Powhatan Confederacy in Virginia, in the film The New World directed by Terrence Malick.

In 2009, Studi appeared as Major Ridge, a leader of the Cherokee before the Native American removal to Indian Territory, in Trail of Tears. This was the third of five episodes in the PBS series We Shall Remain, portraying critical episodes in Native American history after European encounter,[10] part of the public television's acclaimed series American Experience, where Studi spoke only in native Cherokee.

Also in 2009, Studi appeared in James Cameron's Avatar. He played Eytukan, the chieftain of a Na'vi tribe, but did not have any dialogue in English. Studi played Cheyenne chief Yellow Hawk in a starring role in the 2017 film Hostiles.[11]

At the 90th Academy Awards, Studi introduced a tribute to military movies,[12] and gave part of his speech in the Cherokee language, of which Studi is a fluent speaker.[13] Studi is the second Native American actor to present at the Academy Awards. Will Rogers hosted in 1934.[14]

In 2019, he will receive an Academy Honorary Award, becoming the first Native American actor to receive an Oscar.[15][16]

Personal life

After his studies, Studi taught the Cherokee language and syllabary and helped establish a Cherokee-language newspaper. He went into ranching. After his first marriage ended in divorce, Studi left ranching and started to study acting; a friend had recommended it as a place to meet women.[2] Studi married Maura Dhu, and they moved their family to a farm near Santa Fe, New Mexico, in the early 1990s.[2] Maura is the only child of Emmy- and Oscar-winning actor Jack Albertson. Wes and Maura Dhu Studi have a son, Kholan. Studi has a daughter, Leah, and a son, Daniel, from his first marriage.[17] Studi and his wife perform in the band, Firecat of Discord. Studi serves as honorary chair of the national endowment campaign of the Indigenous Language Institute in Santa Fe.[3]

Studi endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders for President in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.[18]

Honors

• 1994: Won a Western Heritage Award (shared with cast and crew) for Geronimo: An American Legend (1993).[13]
• 1998: The Dreamspeakers Film and Festival honored Studi with its Career Achievement Award.[5]
• 2000: Motion Picture and Television Fund's Golden Boot Award.[5]
• 2000: Artist of the Decade at the First Americans in the Arts Awards.[5]
• 2013: Inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers - Western Heritage Award, Oklahoma City, OK
• 2019: Academy Honorary Award.[3]
• 2019: National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum.[23]

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Filmography

See < Wikipedia >

Family

• Parents: Cherokee Nation citizens Maggie Nofire (d. 2021) and one of two brothers surnamed Blair. Eugene Philpott was listed on his birth certificate. His stepfather was Andy Studie and he took that surname.
• Wife: Maura Dhu Studi, the daughter of actor and entertainer Jack Albertson.
• Children: three, including one with Maura.

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Ethnicity

The DNA test taken by Finding Your Roots, with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2024) showed Wes’s genetic ancestry to consist of:

• 55% Indigenous Americas – North
• 16% England & Northwestern Europe
• 13% Scotland
• 7% Sweden & Denmark
• 3% Germanic Europe
• 3% Ireland
• 2% Norway
• 1% Indigeous Americas – Bolivia & Peru

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References

• Galbraith, Jane (1993-12-14). "Q&a with Wes Studi: 'I Came Into the Business at the Right Time'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-11-30.
• Kevin Carter (22 December 1993). "Actor Champions Indian Heritage". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
• "Wes Studi", Native Networks, Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian
• Lewis Beale (1993-12-16). "Wes (‘Geronimo’) Studi Wary Of Political Correctness". New York Daily News. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
• The Chilocco Annual, 1964, National Archives and Records Administration
• Currey, R. (March 14, 2015). "Wes Studi: at the edge of courage". VVA Veteran. Vietnam Veterans of America. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
• Eaton, Kristin and Anna Holton Dean. "The Road to Fame:Wes Studi." Tulsa People. Accessed March 22, 2019.
• Kevin L. Carter (1993-12-19). "Yelling Geronimo! Wes Studi's film and TV roles allow him to ealk in his ancestors' shoes". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2010-12-12.
• National Cowboy Museum official site, retrieved February 7, 2008.
• We Shall Remain, 5-part series, American Experience, PBS.
• Schilling, Vincent (January 18, 2018). "Native Actor Wes Studi Talks About His Role as Chief Yellowhawk in 'Hostiles': Wes Studi stars along with such actors as Christian Bale and Adam Beach in 'Hostiles' directed by Scott Cooper. The film premieres in select theaters Jan 19 and nationwide Jan 26". Retrieved February 3, 2018.
• "Oscars recognize military movies in Wes Studi-led tribute". EW.com. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
• Hilleary, Cecily. "Native Americans Delight as Veteran Actor Speaks Cherokee at Oscars". VOA. Retrieved 2018-03-05.
• Associated Press (28 Feb 2017). "Native American actor Wes Studi relishes rare Oscar invite". Page Six. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
• Saunders, Emma (4 June 2019). "Oscar first for Native American actor" – via www.bbc.co.uk.
• Hammond, Pete; Hammond, Pete (3 June 2019). "Oscars: Governors Awards To Geena Davis, David Lynch, Wes Studi, Lina Wertmuller".
• "Wes Studi". imdb Image Gallery
• NY Labor 4 Bernie [@NYLabor4Bernie] (5 November 2016). "Yuge crowd of NYers ready to march for #NoDAPL" (Tweet). Retweeted by Wes Studi [WesleyStudi] – via Twitter.
• https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/60359545/family/pedigree
• https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.aaanativearts.com/wes-studi-cherok...
• https://wesleystudi.com/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wes_Studi
• 8. Streeter, S. (2024, January 16). Fathers and Sons. Finding your Roots. episode, PBS
• https://www.pbs.org/weta/finding-your-roots/watch/tv-schedule
• Notes from the PBS television show, “Finding Your Roots”, hosted by Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. on 16 January 2024: Wes Studi was not the son of Eugene Philpott. His mother was Maggie Nofire and his stepfather was Andy Studie. On his father’s side, Jesse Thomas Blair and Katie Mayree Blair were identified as his grandparents. There is not a way to identify which of their sons was his father. 3rd great grandfather, Col. James Hayes Blair, Sr., a white settler partnered with Cherokee woman. His sixth great grandmother was Nayehi, ‘Beloved Woman of the Cherokees’: relationship path. Wes descended on his mother’s side from Nancy Catcher, born in the Cherokee Nation East (Georgia), and mentioned on the 1851 Drennan Role.
• https://ethnicelebs.com/wes-studi
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Studi-1