
Michael Horse
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1951-12-21 (73 years old)
Place of Birth
Los Angeles, California, USA
Michael Horse
Biography
Michael Horse (born Michael James Heinrich; December 21, 1949) is an American actor known for his portrayals of Native American characters in film and television.
Horse was born Michael James Heinrich in Los Angeles, California, on December 21, 1949. His mother, Nancie Belle Posten, was Swedish. Horse's adoptive father, George Heinrich, was born in Florida to parents from Austria. Nancie died in California in 2004.
Horse's film debut came in the role of Tonto in the 1981 film The Legend of the Lone Ranger, which was a commercial failure. Before taking the role, Horse had been concerned that the character might be perceived as a stereotype.
After appearing in David Lynch's short film The Cowboy and the Frenchman (1988), Horse portrayed Deputy Hawk, a Native American policeman, in Lynch's TV series Twin Peaks (1990–91). He also acted in Passenger 57 (1992), House of Cards (1993), the 1990s version of the television series The Untouchables (1993), and North of 60 (1995–97). He also appeared in the Thanks episode "Thanksgiving" in 1999, portraying Squanto. He appeared as Deputy Owen Blackwood in four episodes of the first season of Roswell (1999). Horse also appeared as Sheriff Tskany in The X-Files episode "Shapes" in 1994. In 1999, Horse guest starred on Walker, Texas Ranger in the episode "Team Cherokee" as John Red Cloud, the owner of a Native American NASCAR racing team and a friend of the titular character, Texas Ranger Cordell Walker (Chuck Norris).
Horse portrayed American Indian Movement (AIM) activist Dennis Banks in the 1994 film Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee. Eight years later, he lent his voice to Little Creek's friend in Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. He portrayed Mike Proudfoot on Sons of Tucson. In 1995 he portrayed Dirty Bob in the Western film Riders in the Storm. He played the character Jindoga in Hawkeye. In 2017, Horse reprised his role as Deputy Hawk in the third season of TV series Twin Peaks. He also portrayed Twamie Ullulaq in the seventh season of The Blacklist in 2020.
Known For
Acting
I Filmed Your Death
as Andy Bones
(2025)
(2023)
Gift of Fear
as Chance Riddle
(2021)
(2020)
The Call of the Wild
as Edenshaw
(2018)
Lights Camera Bullshit
as Narrator
(2017)
Dead Ant
as Bigfoot
(2017)
(2017)
Bad Binoculars
as Self
(2017)
(2014)
Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces
as Deputy Tommy 'Hawk' Hill
(2012)
Skinny Jo
as Tombi
(2008)
Bone Eater
as Storm Cloud
(2007)
(2002)
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron
as Little Creek's Friend (voice)
(2002)
The Short Films of David Lynch
as Broken Feather
(2002)
Birdseye
as Pete Longshadow
(2001)
(2001)
Postcards From The Cast
as Self
(1999)
In the Blue Ground: A North of 60 Mystery
as Andrew One Sky
(1998)
Shattered Illusions
as Eddie
(1998)
Star of Jaipur
as Colonel Ironwood
(1996)
American Strays
as Lead Cop
(1996)
Navajo Blues
as Begay
(1995)
Riders in the Storm
as Dirty Bob
(1994)
Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee
as Dennis Banks
(1993)
House of Cards
as Stoker
(1992)
Passenger 57
as Forget
(1989)
Twin Peaks
as Deputy Tommy 'Hawk' Hill
(1989)
Deadly Weapon
as Indian Joe
(1989)
Border Shootout
as Dandy Jim
(1988)
Longarm
as Vasquez
(1988)
The Cowboy and the Frenchman
as Broken Feather
(1988)
The French as Seen by…
as (Segment "The Cowboy and the Frenchman")
(1988)
Buckeye and Blue
as Cherokee Bill
(1987)
Rented Lips
as Bobby Leaping Mouse
(1986)
The Check is in the Mail...
as Pool Attendant
(1982)
I Love Liberty
as Self
(1982)
The Avenging
as Josuah
(1981)
The Legend of the Lone Ranger
as Tonto
Crew
(1996)
American Strays
Stunt Coordinator