Chief John Big Tree
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1877-06-02
Day of Death
1967-07-06 (90 years old)
Place of Birth
Buffalo, New York, USA
Chief John Big Tree
Biography
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
as Thundercloud
(1949)
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
as Chief Pony That Walks
(1941)
Western Union
as Chief Spotted Horse
(1941)
Hudson's Bay
as Chief
(1941)
Las Vegas Nights
as Indian
(1940)
North West Mounted Police
as Blue Owl (uncredited)
(1940)
Brigham Young
as Big Elk
(1940)
Too Many Girls
as Chief
(1940)
Maintain the Right
as Chief
(1939)
Stagecoach
as Indian Scout (uncredited)
(1939)
Drums Along the Mohawk
as Blue Back
(1939)
Destry Rides Again
as Indian in Saloon (uncredited)
(1939)
The Oregon Trail
as Spotted Elk
(1939)
Susannah of the Mounties
as Chief (uncredited)
(1938)
The Girl of the Golden West
as Indian Chief in Prologue
(1937)
Lost Horizon
as Porter (uncredited)
(1937)
Maid of Salem
as Indian Man (Uncredited)
(1937)
Prairie Thunder
as Indian (uncredited)
(1937)
Hills of Old Wyoming
as Chief Big Tree
(1936)
The Bold Caballero
as Tavern Indian (uncredited)
(1936)
Custer's Last Stand
as Medicine Man
(1936)
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
as Indian John
(1935)
The Farmer Takes a Wife
as Indian
(1935)
The Singing Vagabond
as Chief White Eagle (uncredited)
(1934)
Wheels of Destiny
as Chief War Eagle
(1933)
The Telegraph Trail
as Indian Chief (uncredited)
(1933)
King of the Arena
as Circus Indian
(1932)
The Last of the Mohicans
as Huron Warrior (uncredited)
(1932)
The Golden West
as Indian (uncredited)
(1931)
Red Fork Range
as Chief Barking Fox
(1930)
The Big Trail
as Indian (uncredited)
(1929)
Sioux Blood
as Crazy Wolf
(1929)
The Overland Telegraph
as Medecine Man
(1927)
Winners Of The Wilderness
as Chief Pontiac
(1927)
Spoilers of the West
as Red Cloud
(1927)
The Frontiersman
as Grey Eagle
(1927)
(1926)
Mantrap
as Indian (uncredited)
(1926)
The Frontier Trail
as Chief Gray Wolf
(1926)
The Desert's Toll
as Red Eagle
(1925)
The Iron Horse
as Cheyenne Chief
(1925)
The Red Rider
as Indian Chief
(1923)
The Huntress
as Otebaya
(1922)
The Primitive Lover
as Chief Johnny Bluebottle
(1919)
A Fight For Love
as Swift Deer
(1917)
The Spirit of '76
as Gowah