About

Known credits:
44
Birthday:
1877-06-02
Place of birth:
Buffalo, New York, USA
Website:
N/A

Chief John Big Tree

Overview

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

Acting
1950 Devil's Doorway Actor Thundercloud 59
Average
1949 She Wore a Yellow Ribbon Actor Chief Pony That Walks 62
Fair
1941 Western Union Actor Chief Spotted Horse 59
Average
1941 Hudson's Bay Actor Chief 59
Average
1940 North West Mounted Police Actor Blue Owl (uncredited) 59
Average
1940 Too Many Girls Actor Chief 59
Average
1940 Brigham Young Actor Big Elk 58
Average
1939 Destry Rides Again Actor Indian in Saloon (uncredited) 61
Fair
1939 Drums Along the Mohawk Actor Blue Back 59
Average
1939 The Oregon Trail Actor Spotted Elk 59
Average
1939 Susannah of the Mounties Actor Chief (uncredited) 59
Average
1939 Stagecoach Actor Indian Scout (uncredited) 70
Good
1938 The Girl of the Golden West Actor Indian Chief in Prologue 58
Average
1937 Prairie Thunder Actor Indian (uncredited) 58
Average
1937 Hills of Old Wyoming Actor Chief Big Tree N/A
N/A
1937 Lost Horizon Actor Porter (uncredited) 62
Fair
1937 Maid of Salem Actor Indian Man (Uncredited) 59
Average
1936 The Bold Caballero Actor Tavern Indian (uncredited) 59
Average
1936 The Adventures of Frank Merriwell Actor Indian John 58
Average
1936 Custer's Last Stand Actor Medicine Man 59
Average
1935 The Singing Vagabond Actor Chief White Eagle (uncredited) 59
Average
1935 The Farmer Takes a Wife Actor Indian 58
Average
1934 Wheels of Destiny Actor Chief War Eagle 58
Average
1933 King of the Arena Actor Circus Indian N/A
N/A
1933 The Telegraph Trail Actor Indian Chief (uncredited) 58
Average
1932 The Golden West Actor Indian (uncredited) 58
Average
1932 The Last of the Mohicans Actor Huron Warrior (uncredited) 59
Average
1931 Red Fork Range Actor Chief Barking Fox N/A
N/A
1930 The Big Trail Actor Indian (uncredited) 60
Fair
1929 Sioux Blood Actor Crazy Wolf N/A
N/A
1929 The Overland Telegraph Actor Medecine Man N/A
N/A
1927 Spoilers of the West Actor Red Cloud N/A
N/A
1927 Painted Ponies Actor N/A
N/A
1927 The Frontiersman Actor Grey Eagle N/A
N/A
1927 Winners Of The Wilderness Actor Chief Pontiac 58
Average
1926 The Desert's Toll Actor Red Eagle N/A
N/A
1926 Mantrap Actor Indian (uncredited) 58
Average
1926 The Frontier Trail Actor Chief Gray Wolf N/A
N/A
1925 The Red Rider Actor Indian Chief N/A
N/A
1924 The Iron Horse Actor Cheyenne Chief 59
Average
1923 The Huntress Actor Otebaya N/A
N/A
1922 The Primitive Lover Actor Chief Johnny Bluebottle 59
Average
1919 A Fight For Love Actor Swift Deer N/A
N/A
1917 The Spirit of '76 Actor Gowah N/A
N/A