Chief John Big Tree
Born
June 2, 1877
Died
July 6, 1967 (90 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
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
Devil's Doorway
Thundercloud
1950
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
Chief Pony That Walks
1949
Las Vegas Nights
Indian
1941
Western Union
Chief Spotted Horse
1941
Hudson's Bay
Chief
1941
North West Mounted Police
Blue Owl (uncredited)
1940
Too Many Girls
Chief
1940
Brigham Young
Big Elk
1940
Maintain the Right
Chief
1940
Destry Rides Again
Indian in Saloon (uncredited)
1939
Drums Along the Mohawk
Blue Back
1939
The Oregon Trail
Spotted Elk
1939
Susannah of the Mounties
Chief (uncredited)
1939
Stagecoach
Indian Scout (uncredited)
1939
The Girl of the Golden West
Indian Chief in Prologue
1938
Prairie Thunder
Indian (uncredited)
1937
Hills of Old Wyoming
Chief Big Tree
1937
Lost Horizon
Porter (uncredited)
1937
Maid of Salem
Indian Man (Uncredited)
1937
The Bold Caballero
Tavern Indian (uncredited)
1936
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
Indian John
1936
Custer's Last Stand
Medicine Man
1936
The Singing Vagabond
Chief White Eagle (uncredited)
1935
The Farmer Takes a Wife
Indian
1935
Wheels of Destiny
Chief War Eagle
1934
King of the Arena
Circus Indian
1933
The Telegraph Trail
Indian Chief (uncredited)
1933
The Golden West
Indian (uncredited)
1932
The Last of the Mohicans
Huron Warrior (uncredited)
1932
Red Fork Range
Chief Barking Fox
1931
The Big Trail
Indian (uncredited)
1930
Sioux Blood
Crazy Wolf
1929
The Overland Telegraph
Medecine Man
1929
Spoilers of the West
Red Cloud
1927
Painted Ponies
1927
The Frontiersman
Grey Eagle
1927
Winners Of The Wilderness
Chief Pontiac
1927
The Desert's Toll
Red Eagle
1926
Mantrap
Indian (uncredited)
1926
The Frontier Trail
Chief Gray Wolf
1926
The Iron Horse
Cheyenne Chief (uncredited)
1925
The Red Rider
Indian Chief
1925
The Huntress
Otebaya
1923
The Primitive Lover
Chief Johnny Bluebottle
1922
A Fight For Love
Swift Deer
1919
The Spirit of '76
Gowah
1917