Wes Studi
Biography
Wesley "Wes" Studi (born December 17, 1947) is an American Cherokee actor, who has earned notability for his portrayals of Native Americans in film. He has appeared in well-received Academy Award-winning films, such as Kevin Costner's Dances with Wolves, Michael Mann's The Last of the Mohicans, the award-winning Geronimo: An American Legend and the Academy Award-nominated film The New World (2005). He most recently portrayed General Linus Abner (an analogue to the biblical Abner) in the NBC series Kings, and Eytukan in James Cameron's box office blockbuster Avatar.
Gallery
Known For
Acting History
2025
Avatar: Fire and Ash as Eytukan
2025The Great Cherokee Grandmother
2024The Midway Point as Mr. Williams
2023The Roof as Grandpa / Nick
2023Mending the Line as Harrison
2022Bonnie as Self
2022Acting Like Nothing is Wrong as Self
2022A Love Song as Lito
2022The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder as Quanah (voice)
2021American Veteran as Self - Host
2021Reservation Dogs as Bucky
2020Soul as Counselor Jerry (voice)
2020Woke as Spoon (voice)
2019Badland as Harlan Red
2019Miracle Workers as Chief Sleeping Bear
2019A Dog's Way Home as Captain Mica
2017Hostiles as Chief Yellow Hawk
2015The Condemned 2 as Cyrus
2015Ronnie BoDean as Ronnie BoDean
2014Planes: Fire & Rescue as Windlifter
2014Pie Lady of Pie Town as Narrator (voice)
2014A Million Ways to Die in the West as Cochise
2014Penny Dreadful as Kaetenay
2014Road to Paloma as Numay
2013Sugar as Bishop
2013Battledogs as Captain Falcos
2013Destination: Planet Negro! as Chief Bobby
2012Finding Your Roots
2012Being Flynn as Captain
2011Hell on Wheels as Chief Many Horses
2011The Dome of Heaven as DeWayne Moses
2010A Good Day to Die as Self - Actor; Cherokee
2010Making The Last of the Mohicans as Self
2010Reel Injun as Self
2009Avatar as Eytukan
2009The Only Good Indian as Sam
200921 and a Wake-Up
2009Call of the Wild as Hatcher
2009Kings as General Linus Abner
2009The Undying as Lt. Frank Wascoe
2008The Mentalist as Joeseph Silverwing
2008In Plain Sight as Chief Pierce
2008Older Than America as Richard Two Rivers
2008El Camino as Dave
2008Comanche Moon as Buffalo Hump
2008Three Priests as Ben
2007Cosmic Radio as Sherriff Mike Nighthorse
2007Wolf Ridge
2007Saving Grace as Bobby's Dad
2007Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee as Jack Wilson
2007Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee as Wovoka
2007Seraphim Falls as Charon
2006The Trail Of Tears: Cherokee Legacy as Himself
2005The New World as Opechancanough
2005Miracle at Sage Creek as Chief Thomas
2005Into the West as Black Kettle
2005Animal as Creeper
2005Grey's Anatomy as William Lawrence
2004A Thief Of Time as Joe Leaphorn
2003Edge of America as Cuch
2003Coyote Waits as Joe Leaphorn
2003The Lone Ranger as Kulakinah
2002Skinwalkers as Lt. Joe Leaphorn
2002Undisputed as Mingo Pace
2002Superfire as Joe Nighttrail
2001UC: Undercover
2001Road to Redemption as Frank Lightfoot
2001Christmas in the Clouds as Bingo Caller
2001Ice Planet as Commander Jonah Trager
2000Wind River as Pocatello
1999Mystery Men as Sphinx
1999Soundman as Terry Leonard
1999The Directors as Self
1998Deep Rising as Hanover
1997Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western as Self
1997The Killing Jar as Cameron
1996Promised Land
1996Crazy Horse as Red Cloud
1996Lone Justice: Showdown at Plum Creek
1995Heat as Casals
1995Streets of Laredo as Famous Shoes
1995Lone Justice 2 as One Horse
1994Street Fighter as Sagat
1994Indian America: A Gift from the Past as Self - Narrator (voice)
1993Geronimo: An American Legend as Geronimo
1993The Broken Chain as Seth / Chief / Speaker for the Tribes
1993Ned Blessing
1992Highlander: The Series as Sheriff Benson
1992The Last of the Mohicans as Magua
1991The Doors as Indian in Desert
1990The Flash as Roller
1990Dances with Wolves as Toughest Pawnee
1989Powwow Highway as Buff
1988American Experience as Major Ridge
1988American Experience as Warrior in Canoe
1988Longarm as The Ute
—Behind the Lines as Self
—Canyon of the Dead as Tsali
—Candles
—Terra Infirma as Grey Owl
—The Pipeline as Samuel Horse
—Exhale as George
—Timber Lands as Russ
—Brave as Ernie