Billy Merasty
Born
January 1, 1960 (65 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Brochet, Manitoba, Canada
Billy Merasty is an actor, playwright, Cree translator, and language keeper. He was born to Viola and Pierre Merasty in 1960 in Brochet, Manitoba. His grandfather was Joe Highway, a famous caribou hunter and champion dogsled racer. He moved to Toronto at age eighteen in search for his uncle René Highway, who was at the time working for the Toronto Dance Theatre. At age twenty-three Billy launched his acting career after graduating from the Native Theatre School for aspiring Indigenous artists. He then went on to work for the renowned Indigenous performing arts company Native Earth Performing Arts. Billy has worked as a film, television, and stage actor for decades and notably played the first Indigenous gay character on television on the CBC series, Liberty Street, in the role of Nathan. Billy received the Order of Manitoba (Order of the Buffalo Hunt) in recognition for his many years as an Indigenous role model in 2010.
Aberdeen
Alfred
2024
Café Daughter
Amos Horseknife
2023
Acting Good
(10 episodes)
2022
Stellar
Auntie 1
2022
The Incredible 25th Year of Mitzi Bearclaw
William Bearclaw
2019
It Chapter Two
Shokopiwah Man
2019
Diggstown
Chief Thomas · (1 episode)
2019
Cardinal
Billy Ralph Northwind · (1 episode)
2017
Heritage Minutes: Queenston Heights
John Norton
2013
Moby Dick
Tashtego · (4 episodes)
2011
Northern Lights
Jacob
2009
Elijah
Elijah Harper
2008
Mixed Blessings
Mark · (13 episodes)
2007
Moose TV
(8 episodes)
2007
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Young Man Afraid
2007
Indian Summer: The Oka Crisis
John Cree · (2 episodes)
2006
The New World
Kiskiak
2005
The Big White
Cam
2005
Battle of the Brave
Owashak
2004
Wonderfalls
Jerry · (1 episode)
2004
This Is Wonderland
Brian Perot (as William Merasty) · (1 episode)
2004
Stardom
2000
Relic Hunter
Inuit Hunter · (1 episode)
1999
Honey Moccasin
Zachary John
1998
The Confessional
Moose
1995
Pocahontas: The Legend
Kocoum
1995
Les Légendes du Grand Nord
Mawaki
1995
Liberty Street
Nathan Jones · (26 episodes)
1995
No Price Too High
(7 episodes)
1995
Exotica
Man at opera
1994
X-Rated
Nathan Jones
1994
The Broken Cord
Frank Cree
1992
The Shaman's Source
Mathew Hare
1990
Snake Treaty
1989
American Experience
Warrior · (1 episode)
1988