Jessica Crabtree

August 15, 1926: Native American acting pioneer Eddie Little Sky is born

Eddie Little Sky was born Edsel Wallace Little on the Pine Ridge Reservation (Oglala) in South Dakota. After serving in the Navy in the Pacific theater of World War II, he returned to civilian life as a rodeo and stunt rider, hoping a performance career would make him a living off the rez. When the impressed Audie Murphy watched one of his shows, he encouraged Little to audition for the screen.

Little Sky (as he later adopted for his screen name) became one of the first Indian actors to play Native roles on tv. Up until then Indians – even in leading roles – were played almost exclusively by white actors and very few Indians ever appeared on screen. His prolific filmography eventually included dozens of movies and almost every popular western series of the 50′s and 60′s – making him, if not a household name, at least a familiar face in homes across the country.

Today he is best remembered for his role as a Sioux chief in the major 1970 film “A Man Called Horse.”

His career was a significant milestone in the public portrayal of Native Americans. The presence of an Indian actor representing Indians on screen gave some authenticity to their overwhelmingly stereotyped persona. Along with other pioneers in the field, such as Jay Silverheels, he helped opened the door for other aspiring Native actors and actresses.

His wife Dawn, also Lakota, was an actress who occasionally appeared alongside him in films.

Eddie retired in the 1970′s and worked as a tribal parks & recreation administrator back at his home in South Dakota. He died in 1997.

Wikipedia: Eddie Little Sky