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Michael Spears

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Michael Spears
Spears on the set of1883in 2022
Born
Michael Spears

(1977-12-28)December 28, 1977(age 46)
Chamberlain, South Dakota,U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1990–present
FamilyEddie Spears(brother)

Michael Spears(born December 28, 1977) is an Indigenous American actor. He is a member of the Kul WičašaLakotafrom the LowerBruléSioux Tribe ofSouth Dakota.

Early life

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Michael Spears was born inChamberlain, South Dakotanear theLower Brulé Indian Reservationto Sičangu Lakota parents and lived there until he was in fifth grade.[1]After that, his family moved toPierre, South Dakota.[2]Later, his family moved toAberdeen, South Dakotawhere he graduated from AberdeenCentral High Schoolin 1995.[3]

He has six siblings. His younger brother,Eddie,is also an actor with film and television credits.[4]

Career

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Film/television

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Spears' debut role as the child character Otter, in the Academy-Award-winning 1990 filmDances with Wolves,earned him national notice at thirteen years old. By the age of seventeen, Spears had acted in both TV and film with other prominent actors such asKevin Costner,Jimmy SmitsandKim Delaney.

Spears' film credits include a major role as the character Dog Star in the 2005Steven Spielberg-producedmini-series,Into the West,which aired onTNT.

In 2014, for his role as Tenkill inAngels in Stardust,Spears received critical acclaim inThe New York Times.[5]

His recent roles include a cameo in Taylor Sheridan's Western series1883,a supporting role[6]in season 2 ofReservation Dogson Hulu, and a supporting role in the series1923on Paramount.[7]

Other work

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In 2005, Michael and Eddie Spears modeled forCochiti Pueblofashion designerVirgil Ortizfor his "Indigene" clothing line and were featured on the cover of the August 2005 issue ofNew Mexico Magazine.[8]

In 2013, he hosted the 38th AnnualAmerican Indian Film InstituteAwards.[9]

In 2014 and 2015, Spears played a recurrent role asSavanukah,a member of the 1777 Cherokee Delegation, inColonial Williamsburg's open-air stage production ofThe Beloved Women of Chota: War Women of the Cherokee.[10]He has also served as a musical contributor to other stage productions and media festivals such as the Bozeman Ice Festival and theBillings Symphony Orchestra.In 2021, Spears performed alongside other acclaimed Indigenous performers in the Billings Symphony Orchestra's symphonic production "Buffalo Crossing,"[11]which integrated the traditional music and dance of Plains tribes with orchestral music.

Personal life

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Spears is an accomplishedhand drumplayer and singer, often performing at powwows and other venues. He was the opening act forRita Coolidgeat her 2005 concert inGreat Falls, Montana.Spears often travels to deliver speeches on inspirational and educational topics, includingsustainable energyand mental health, and mentors Indigenous youth in Montana and South Dakota.

He worked with his late father, Patrick Spears, and his brother Eddie on ICOUP's (Intertribal Council on Utility Policy) Native Energy andNative Wind[12]whose goal was to encourage creation of sustainable energy sources. Formed in 1994, ICOUP provided a forum for utility issues discussion from regulatory and economic perspectives.[13]

Spears can speak some Lakota, which he first learned from his father and grandfather, and is continuing to learn. On the set ofDances with Wolves,Spears received Lakota language instruction from renowned Lakota language instructors Doris and Frank Leader Charge.[14]During the filming ofInto the West,he and the other actors had lessons from linguist Charlie White Buffalo.[15]

Traditional Lakota ways and ceremonies are a priority for Spears, as he often takes part in spiritual and cultural events across the country. Spears has also engaged in activism for the Indigenous community, making appearances at environmental andMMIW,Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, demonstrations[16]and voicing his concerns about the misappropriation of Native culture through sports iconography.[17]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1990 Dances with Wolves Otter Film
1992 The Broken Cord Young Adam TV movie
1993 The Broken Chain Young Lohaheo TV movie
1994 Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee Stat Man TV movie
2002 Skins Teddy Yellow Lodge Film
2005 Into the West Dog Star TV mini-series
2007 Imprint Tom Greyhorse Film
2009 Shadowheart Washakie Film
2011 The Legend of Hell's Gate: An American Conspiracy Kutseena Film
2011 Yellow Rock Broken Wing Film
2012 Longmire Micah Dullknife TV series
2012 Guns, Girls, and Gambling Redfoot Film
2013 Winter in the Blood Raymond Long Knife Film
2014 Angels in Stardust Tenkill Film
2014 The Activist Bud "One Bull" Ward Film
2014-2015 The Beloved Women of Chota Savanukah Stage Production
2017 The Ballad of Lefty Brown Biscuit Film
2018 Z Nation Black Hoof TV series
2021 Chief Tendoy Chief Tendoy Short Film
2021 Intermountain Opera: The Circle of Resilience Lakota Singer PBS Special
2022 1883 Comanche Trader TV series
2022 Into the Wild Frontier Hanging Maw TV series
2022 Reservation Dogs Danny TV series
2022 Year of the Dog Fred Film
2022 Bring on the Dancing Horses Posse Member TV series
2023 1923 Runs His Horse TV series

Awards

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  • Young Artist Awards:Nominated in 1993 for Best Young Actor Under Ten in a Television Movie as Adam inThe Broken Cord[18]
  • American Indian Film Festivaland Awards: Nominated in 2011 for Best Actor as Broken Wing inYellow Rock
  • Awarded Bronze Wrangler Award at theWestern Heritage Awardsin 2012 for Lead Actor as Broken Wing inYellow Rock
  • American Indian Film Festival and Awards: Nominated in 2013 for Best Supporting Actor as Bud "One Bull" Ward inThe Activist

References

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  1. ^Interview with Michael Spears by Patricia Sheridan, Pittsburgh Post Gazette
  2. ^Morreale, Marie."DreamKeeper: Meet Eddie Spears"Archived2004-09-04 at theWayback Machine,scholastic.com, February 25, 2004.
  3. ^Aberdeen News"Aberdeen: Former resident on TV series"Archived2014-09-03 at theWayback MachineJanuary 14, 2012.
  4. ^ProfileArchived2014-04-05 at theWayback Machine,spearsbrothersfans.webs.com; retrieved March 19, 2013.
  5. ^Review,nytimes.com; accessed March 16, 2015.
  6. ^Poniewozik, James (2022-08-01)."The Remarkable 'Reservation Dogs' Runs Away Toward Home".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2022-08-17.
  7. ^1923 (TV Series 2022–2023) - IMDb,retrieved2023-03-05
  8. ^Haaland, Debra."An Eye for Fashion: Cochiti Pueblo's renowned potter Virgil Ortiz has expanded his artistic talents to the world of fashion, now rubbing elbows with famed international designer Donna Karan"Archived2007-12-19 at theWayback Machine,nmmagazine.com; accessed March 16, 2015.
  9. ^IMDb profile,IMDb; retrieved February 23, 2015.
  10. ^Bridges, Heather."Hollywood and local actors join forces through CW's American Indian Initiative".vagazette.com.Retrieved2018-02-23.
  11. ^"'Buffalo Crossing' pairs Northern Cheyenne traditional art forms with symphonic music ".Billings Gazette.Retrieved2021-11-30.
  12. ^"Home".nativeenergy.com.
  13. ^Renaud, Roseanna,"KILI celebrates 25 years and wind turbine dedication",LakotaCountryTimes.com; accessed March 16, 2015.
  14. ^"MOVIES: Kevin Costner's Dance With the Sioux: How the director and star achieved authenticity in his unusual film tribute to the Sioux, 'Dances With Wolves'".Los Angeles Times.1990-10-28.Retrieved2021-12-01.
  15. ^Interview with Michael Spears by Lynn Taylor Rick, Rapid City JournalArchived2012-07-13 at theWayback Machine
  16. ^Montana Women's March, Blackfeet Song for Healing Energy,retrieved2023-03-05
  17. ^"1923 Actor Joins Native Americans Urging Kansas City Chiefs to Change Name".2023-02-10.Retrieved2023-03-05.
  18. ^Profile,IMDb; accessed March 16, 2015.
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