
Gordon Tootoosis
Personal Info
Known for
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
1941-10-25
Day of Death
2011-07-05 (69 years old)
Place of Birth
Poundmaker Reserve, Saskatchewan, Canada
Gordon Tootoosis
Biography
From Wikipedia. Gordon Tootoosis, CM (October 25, 1941 – July 5, 2011) was a First Nations actor of Cree and Stoney descent. Tootoosis was a descendant of Yellow Mud Blanket, brother of the famous Cree leader Pîhtokahanapiwiyin. He was acclaimed for his commitment to preserving his culture and to telling his people's stories. He once said, "Leadership is about submission to duty, not elevation to power." He served as a founding member of the board of directors of the Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company. Tootoosis offered encouragement, support and training to aspiring Aboriginal actors. He served as a leading Cree activist both as a social worker and as a band chief. In Open Season and Boog and Elliot's Midnight Bun Run, Tootoosis was the voice of Sheriff Gordy.
He was awarded membership in the Order of Canada on October 29, 2004. The investiture ceremony took place on September 9, 2005. His citation recognizes him as an inspirational role model for Aboriginal youth. It notes that as a veteran actor, he portrayed memorable characters in movie and television productions in Canada and the United States. Gordon Tootoosis first acting role was in the film Alien Thunder (1974), with Chief Dan George and Donald Sutherland. He portrayed Albert Golo in 52 episodes of North of 60 in the 1990s. He is best known to British audiences for playing the Native American Joe Saugus, who negotiates the purchase of the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet series 3 (2002). Gordon appeared in the CBC Television mini-series By Way of the Stars with Eric Schweig as Black Thunder and Tantoo Cardinal as Franoise. He appeared in the award-winning movie Legends of the Fall (1994), and starred with Russell Means in Disney's Pocahontas (1995) and Song of Hiawatha (1997). In 1999, he and Tantoo Cardinal became founding members of the board of directors of the Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company. In 2011, he appeared in Gordon Winter at the Persephone Theatre in Saskatoon and Prairie Scene in Ottawa, his first stage role in 15 years.
Tootoosis won a Gemini Award for his work on the animated show Wapos Bay: The Series and was nominated twice for his work on North of 60.
Acting
(2012)
Guns, Girls and Gambling
as The Chief
(2011)
Doomsday Prophecy
as John
(2008)
Out In the Cold
as Soft as Snow
(2007)
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
as Chief Red Cloud
(2007)
Hybrid
as Grandpa
(2007)
That Beautiful Somewhere
as Harold
(2006)
Open Season
as Gordy (voice)
(2006)
Boog and Elliot's Midnight Bun Run
as Gordy (voice)
(2006)
(2005)
Fugitives Run
as Dan John
(2005)
Hank Williams First Nation
as Adelard Fox
(2004)
7 Times Lucky
as Mr. Five Wounds
(2003)
Dreamkeeper
as Kills Enemy
(2003)
Cowboys & Indians
as James Harper
(2003)
On the Corner
as Floyd
(2002)
Now & Forever
as Ghost Fox
(2002)
Black Point
as Standing Bear
(2002)
Christmas at Wapos Bay
as Mushom
(2001)
Nobody's Baby
as Dog Havasu
(2001)
The Doe Boy
as Marvin
(2001)
Dream Storm: A North of 60 Mystery
as Albert Golo
(2000)
Reindeer Games
as Old Governor
(2000)
Bear with Me
as John Ours
(1999)
Lakota Moon
as Rolling Thunder
(1998)
Big Bear
as Chief Big Bear
(1997)
Song of Hiawatha
as Iagoo
(1997)
Keeping the Promise
as Sakniss
(1997)
Forgotten Warriors
as Narrator (voice)
(1996)
Alaska
as Ben
(1996)
Lone Star
as Wesley Birdsong
(1996)
Crazy Horse
as Akicita
(1996)
Coyote Summer
as Mopeah
(1995)
Pocahontas
as Kekata (voice)
(1995)
Pocahontas: The Legend
as Chief Powhatan
(1994)
Legends of the Fall
as One Stab
(1993)
Call Of The Wild
as Charlie
(1993)
Spirit Rider
as Joe Moon
(1992)
Leaving Normal
as Hank Amaruk
(1992)
(1992)
Heritage Minutes: Peacemaker
as Grandfather
(1991)
Black Robe
as Old Aenons
(1991)
Blood River
as Smiling Knife
(1989)
Last Train Home
as Poundmaker
(1987)
Stone Fox
as Stone Fox
(1978)
Marie Ann
as Chief Many Horses
(1977)
(1974)
Alien Thunder
as Almighty Voice