Chief John Big Tree
Known For
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
Jun 2, 1877 (149 years old)
Place of Birth
Buffalo, New York, USA
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
| 1950 | Devil's DoorwayThundercloud | |
| 1949 | She Wore a Yellow RibbonChief Pony That Walks | |
| 1941 | Western UnionChief Spotted Horse | |
| 1941 | Las Vegas NightsIndian | |
| 1940 | Hudson's BayChief | |
| 1940 | Brigham YoungBig Elk | |
| 1940 | North West Mounted PoliceBlue Owl (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | Too Many GirlsChief | |
| 1940 | Maintain the RightChief | |
| 1939 | StagecoachIndian Scout (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | Susannah of the MountiesChief (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | The Oregon TrailSpotted Elk | |
| 1939 | Destry Rides AgainIndian in Saloon (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | Drums Along the MohawkBlue Back | |
| 1938 | The Girl of the Golden WestIndian Chief in Prologue | |
| 1937 | Lost HorizonPorter (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | Hills of Old WyomingChief Big Tree | |
| 1937 | Prairie ThunderIndian (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | Maid of SalemIndian Man (Uncredited) | |
| 1936 | Custer's Last StandMedicine Man | |
| 1936 | The Adventures of Frank MerriwellIndian John | |
| 1936 | The Bold CaballeroTavern Indian (uncredited) | |
| 1935 | The Singing VagabondChief White Eagle (uncredited) | |
| 1935 | The Farmer Takes a WifeIndian | |
| 1934 | Wheels of DestinyChief War Eagle | |
| 1933 | The Telegraph TrailIndian Chief (uncredited) | |
| 1933 | King of the ArenaCircus Indian | |
| 1932 | The Last of the MohicansHuron Warrior (uncredited) | |
| 1932 | The Golden WestIndian (uncredited) | |
| 1931 | Red Fork RangeChief Barking Fox | |
| 1930 | The Big TrailIndian (uncredited) | |
| 1929 | The Overland TelegraphMedecine Man | |
| 1929 | Sioux BloodCrazy Wolf | |
| 1928 | WyomingAn Indian | |
| 1927 | Painted Ponies | |
| 1927 | Winners Of The WildernessChief Pontiac | |
| 1927 | The FrontiersmanGrey Eagle | |
| 1927 | Spoilers of the WestRed Cloud | |
| 1926 | The Frontier TrailChief Gray Wolf | |
| 1926 | MantrapIndian (uncredited) | |
| 1926 | The Desert's TollRed Eagle | |
| 1925 | The Red RiderIndian Chief | |
| 1925 | The Iron HorseCheyenne Chief (uncredited) | |
| 1923 | The HuntressOtebaya | |
| 1922 | The Primitive LoverChief Johnny Bluebottle | |
| 1921 | The Avenging ArrowModoc | |
| 1919 | A Fight For LoveSwift Deer | |
| 1917 | The Spirit of '76Gowah | |
| 1915 | The Cactus BlossomChegup |