Gil Birmingham
Gil Birmingham | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 13, 1953 San Antonio,Texas,U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Website | gilbirmingham |
Gil Birmingham(born July 13, 1953)[citation needed]is an American actor known for his role as Tribal Chairman Thomas Rainwater in theParamount Network's television seriesYellowstone.He is also known for his portrayal of Billy Black inThe Twilight Sagafilm series and recurring television roles as George Hunter inBansheeand Virgil White inUnbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
Early life
[edit]Gilbert Birmingham was born inSan Antonio, Texas.He identifies his father as being ofComanchedescent.[1]His family moved frequently during his childhood due to his father's career in the military. Birmingham learned to play the guitar at an early age and considers music to be his "first love."[2]After obtaining aBachelor of Sciencefrom theUSC Price School of Public Policy,[3]he worked as apetrochemicalengineer, but later decided to become an actor.[4][5]
Career
[edit]Music videos
[edit]In the early 1980s, a talent scout spotted Birmingham at a local gym, where he had beenbodybuildingand entering bodybuilding contests, and recruited him for his first acting experience, amusic videoforDiana Ross's 1982 hit song "Muscles".[6]
Theme parks
[edit]After that music video, Birmingham began to pursue acting as his primary career, studying withLarry MossandCharles Conrad.He portrayed the character ofConan the BarbarianinUniversal Studios Hollywood's theme park attractionThe Adventures of Conan: A Sword and Sorcery Spectacular.[4]
Television
[edit]Birmingham made his television debut on an episode of the seriesRiptide.By 2002, he had a recurring role as the character Oz in the medical dramaBody & Soul,starringPeter Strauss.In 2005, he was cast as the older Dogstar in the Steven Spielberg six-part miniseriesInto the West.In 2018, he began portraying Chief Thomas Rainwater of the fictional Broken Rock Indian Reservation in Paramount Network'sYellowstone.
He has appeared in a number of other television series, includingAnimal Kingdom,Buffy the Vampire Slayer,Veronica Mars,10 Items or Less,Nip/Tuck,Castle,The Mentalist,House of Cards,Unbreakable Kimmy SchmidtandSiren.He has also had roles in several television films, such asGentle Ben(withDean Cain) andGentle Ben 2,[7]Dreamkeeper,The Lone Ranger,andLove's Long Journey(withErin CottrellandIrene Bedard).
In 2022, Birmingham was cast as Detective Bill Taba, aPaiuteman and non-Latter-day Saint, in the mini-seriesUnder the Banner of Heaven.
Films
[edit]In 2001, Birmingham appeared in his first feature film,The Doe Boy,in which he portrayed Manny Deadmarsh.
In 2008, he was cast as the character Billy Black inThe Twilight Sagafilm series.He performed in all five of the films.[8][9]
TheTwilightseries led to other major film roles, including that of Sheriff Johnny Cortez inLove Ranch(withJoe PesciandHelen Mirren), and Cal Bishnik inShouting Secrets(withThe Twilight Saga: New MooncastmateChaske Spencer). In September 2011, Birmingham appeared in the filmCrooked Arrows,cast in the role of Ben Logan.[10]
Birmingham voiced Wounded Bird in the animated filmRangoand has provided voice work for the television seriesThe Wild Thornberrys(in which he voiced anInuitelder) and the filmNight at the Museum.[citation needed]
He played the partneringTexas RangertoJeff Bridges' character in the 2016 bank robbery filmHell or High Water.
In theChickasaw Nationproduction ofTe Ata,Birmingham plays Thomas Benjamin 'T.B.' Thompson, Mary Frances 'Te Ata' (Thompson) Fisher's father.[11][12]Birmingham attended the film's premiere in Moore, Oklahoma, on September 13, 2016.[13]
He was featured inThe Space Between Usas Shaman Neka, which was released on February 3, 2017. He was featured as the father of a girl who dies on an Arapaho reservation in the 2017 filmWind River.
In February 2021, Birmingham was cast as Charlie Bass in theNetflixthriller seriesPieces of Her,adapted from theKarin Slaughternovel of the same name.[14]
In 2022, Birmingham co-starred as Utah police detective Bill Taba in the miniseriesUnder the Banner of Heaven.In 2024, he voiced theMarvel ComicssuperheroForgein the animated seriesX-Men '97.
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | House II: The Second Story | Featured Warrior | |
| 1996 | Le Jaguar | Bodyguard of Kumare | |
| 2001 | The Doe Boy | Manny Deadmarsh | |
| 2002 | Skins | Sonny Yellow Lodge | |
| 2005 | End of the Spear | Moipa | Uncredited |
| 2007 | Cosmic Radio | Tribal Council Leader | |
| 2008 | Turok: Son of Stone | Nashoba (voice) | |
| No Man's Land: The Rise of Reeker | Eaglesmith | ||
| Twilight | Billy Black | ||
| 2009 | The Twilight Saga: New Moon | ||
| 2010 | The Twilight Saga: Eclipse | ||
| Love Ranch | Sheriff Johnny Cortez | ||
| 2011 | Rango | Wounded Bird (voice) | |
| Shouting Secrets | Cal Bishnik | ||
| The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 | Billy Black | ||
| California Indian | Charles "Chi" Thomas | ||
| 2012 | Crooked Arrows | Ben Logan | |
| The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 | Billy Black | Credited only | |
| 2013 | The Lone Ranger | Red Knee | |
| 2014 | The Boxcar Children | Lonan Browning | Voice role |
| 2016 | Hell or High Water | Alberto Parker | |
| 2017 | Wind River | Martin Hanson | |
| The Space Between Us | Shaman Neka | ||
| Transformers: The Last Knight | Chief Sherman | ||
| 2018 | The Boxcar Children: Surprise Island | Lonan Browning | Voice role |
| Saint Judy | Michael Bowman | ||
| 2023 | The Marsh King's Daughter | Clark | |
| TBA | Wind River: The Next Chapter | Martin Hanson | Post-production |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Riptide | Cop | Episode: "Chapel of Glass" |
| 1987 | Falcon Crest | Deputy | Episode: "Desperation" |
| 1997 | The Legend of Calamity Jane | Additional voices | 13 episodes |
| Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Peru Man | Episode: "Inca Mummy Girl" | |
| Night Man | Vargas | Episode: "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" | |
| Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman | Brave #1 | Episode: "Safe Passage" | |
| 1999 | The Wild Thornberrys | Jim's Dad (voice) | Episode: "Tamper Proof Seal" |
| 2001 | Family Law | Bernard | Episode: "Americans" |
| V.I.P. | Roland | Episode: "Uncle from V.A.L." | |
| 2002 | Gentle Ben | Pete | Television film |
| Body & Soul | Oz | 8 episodes | |
| 2003 | Gentle Ben 2 | Pete | Television film |
| The Lone Ranger | One Horn | Unsold television film | |
| Dreamkeeper | Sam | Television film | |
| 2005 | Medical Investigation | Walter Shephard | Episode: "Tribe" |
| Into the West | Older Dogstar | Television miniseries, 4 episodes | |
| Love's Long Journey | Sharp Claw | Television film | |
| 2006 | Charmed | Indian Chief | Episode: "Payback's a Witch" |
| Veronica Mars | Leonard Lobo | 2 episodes | |
| 2009 | Nip/Tuck | Shaman | Episode: "Budi Sabri" |
| 10 Items or Less | John Greene | Episode: "Dances with Groceries" | |
| 2010 | Castle | Cacaw Te | Episode: "Wrapped Up in Death" |
| The Mentalist | Markham Willis | Episode: "Aingavite Baa" | |
| 2012 | The Lying Game | Ben Whitehorse | 3 episodes |
| Wilfred | Red Wolf | Episode: "Questions" | |
| Vegas | Don Simmons | 2 episodes | |
| 2014 | Banshee | George Hunter | 5 episodes |
| House of Cards | Daniel Lanagin | 4 episodes | |
| 2015–2017 | Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt | Virgil | 7 episodes |
| 2016 | Dr. Del | Crow | Television film |
| 2017 | Animal Kingdom | Pearce | Series regular (seasons 3-4) |
| 2018–2020 | Siren | Sheriff Dale Bishop | 14 episodes |
| 2018–present | Yellowstone | Thomas Rainwater | Main role |
| 2019 | NCIS: Los Angeles | Navy Captain Steven Douglas | 3 episodes |
| 2021 | Pieces of Her | Charlie Bass | 6 episodes |
| 2022 | Under the Banner of Heaven | Bill Taba | Main role, 6 episodes (miniseries) |
| 2024 | X-Men '97 | Forge / Daniel Lone Eagle | 3 episodes[15] |
| Tracker | Gus McMillion | Episode: "Into the Wild" |
Video games
[edit]| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun | Ghostalker (voice) |
Awards
[edit]- 2001:The Doe Boy(in which Birmingham starred as Manny Deadmarsh) wins theSundance International Filmmaker's Award[citation needed]
- 2002:First Americans in the Arts(FAITA) award for an Outstanding Performance in a Recurring Role as Oz inBody & Soul[citation needed]
- 2005: American Indian LA Film and Television Award for Outstanding Supporting Role as Sam inDreamkeeper[16]
References
[edit]- ^Leydon, Joe (August 14, 2018)."Gil Birmingham".Cowboys & Indians.RetrievedDecember 10,2021.
- ^"Billy Black actor talks of role on eve of visiting LaPush".Peninsuladailynews.com. July 16, 2010. Archived fromthe originalon April 6, 2012.RetrievedSeptember 3,2011.
- ^"Gil Birmingham adds 'Hell or High Water' to long resume".fresnobee.
- ^abPond, Roscoe (April 2, 2003). "Through the Kindness of Strangers; Actor Gil Birmingham Arrives".Indian Country Today.22(42): D1.
- ^Gire, Dann (June 24, 2010)."Daily Herald | A little bit of job advice, courtesy of two 'Twilight' stars".Prev.dailyherald.com. Archived fromthe originalon April 7, 2012.RetrievedSeptember 3,2011.
- ^Kimberly Sherman (June 10, 2009)."An exclusive chat with Billy Black actor Gil Birmingham - Twilight Moonlighter".Blogs.hellomagazine.com.RetrievedSeptember 3,2011.
- ^"Gil Birmingham Biography".Filmreference.com.RetrievedSeptember 3,2011.
- ^Ditzian, Eric (July 8, 2010)."'Breaking Dawn' Part Two Release Date Not Set For Summer 2012 - MTV Movie News ".MTV. Archived fromthe originalon January 6, 2011.RetrievedSeptember 3,2011.
- ^Kilpatrick, Christine (April 1, 2011)."Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart Married in Breaking Dawn".People.com.RetrievedSeptember 3,2011.
- ^Rosenberg, Steven A. (August 11, 2011)."Local players add extra authenticity to movie about lacrosse - Boston.com".Articles.boston.com. Archived fromthe originalon September 16, 2011.RetrievedSeptember 3,2011.
- ^"Gil Birmingham".Te Ata.The Chickasaw Nation. October 9, 2016.RetrievedOctober 9,2016.
- ^"Te Ata Full Cast & Crew".IMDb.October 9, 2016.RetrievedOctober 9,2016.
- ^"Te Ata".Facebook.September 13, 2016.RetrievedOctober 9,2016.
- ^Petski, Denise (February 5, 2021)."'Pieces Of Her': Gil Birmingham, Terry O'Quinn & Calum Worthy Join Netflix Series As Recurring ".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedFebruary 9,2021.
- ^Romano, Nick (February 15, 2024)."'X-Men '97' exclusive look reveals legacy costumes, Theo James casting ".EW.com.RetrievedMarch 5,2024.
- ^"Bio".
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
- 1953 births
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- American male film actors
- American male television actors
- American male voice actors
- American people who self-identify as being of Comanche descent
- American male actors of Mexican descent
- Living people
- Male actors from San Antonio
- USC Sol Price School of Public Policy alumni