Chief John Big Tree
Acting • Born 1877-06-02 – Died 1967-07-06
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.
Filmography
49 credits
Stagecoach
Movie • 1939
Indian Scout (uncredited)
Devil's Doorway
Movie • 1950
Thundercloud
Western Union
Movie • 1941
Chief Spotted Horse
The Girl of the Golden West
Movie • 1938
Indian Chief in Prologue
The Overland Telegraph
Movie • 1929
Medecine Man
Sioux Blood
Movie • 1929
Crazy Wolf
The Red Rider
Movie • 1925
Indian Chief
The Iron Horse
Movie • 1925
Cheyenne Chief (uncredited)
Lost Horizon
Movie • 1937
Porter (uncredited)
Hudson's Bay
Movie • 1940
Chief
The Frontier Trail
Movie • 1926
Chief Gray Wolf
Painted Ponies
Movie • 1927
Red Fork Range
Movie • 1931
Chief Barking Fox
The Huntress
Movie • 1923
Otebaya
Wheels of Destiny
Movie • 1934
Chief War Eagle
Susannah of the Mounties
Movie • 1939
Chief (uncredited)
The Last of the Mohicans
Movie • 1932
Huron Warrior (uncredited)
Custer's Last Stand
Movie • 1936
Medicine Man
The Oregon Trail
Movie • 1939
Spotted Elk
Destry Rides Again
Movie • 1939
Indian in Saloon (uncredited)
Drums Along the Mohawk
Movie • 1939
Blue Back
Winners Of The Wilderness
Movie • 1927
Chief Pontiac
Hills of Old Wyoming
Movie • 1937
Chief Big Tree
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
Movie • 1936
Indian John
The Frontiersman
Movie • 1927
Grey Eagle
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
Movie • 1949
Chief Pony That Walks
The Singing Vagabond
Movie • 1935
Chief White Eagle (uncredited)
The Bold Caballero
Movie • 1936
Tavern Indian (uncredited)
Mantrap
Movie • 1926
Indian (uncredited)
The Telegraph Trail
Movie • 1933
Indian Chief (uncredited)
Brigham Young
Movie • 1940
Big Elk
North West Mounted Police
Movie • 1940
Blue Owl (uncredited)
Prairie Thunder
Movie • 1937
Indian (uncredited)
Too Many Girls
Movie • 1940
Chief
The Primitive Lover
Movie • 1922
Chief Johnny Bluebottle
A Fight For Love
Movie • 1919
Swift Deer
King of the Arena
Movie • 1933
Circus Indian
Spoilers of the West
Movie • 1927
Red Cloud
Maid of Salem
Movie • 1937
Indian Man (Uncredited)
The Desert's Toll
Movie • 1926
Red Eagle
The Golden West
Movie • 1932
Indian (uncredited)
The Spirit of '76
Movie • 1917
Gowah
The Farmer Takes a Wife
Movie • 1935
Indian
The Big Trail
Movie • 1930
Indian (uncredited)
Las Vegas Nights
Movie • 1941
Indian
Maintain the Right
Movie • 1940
Chief
Wyoming
Movie • 1928
An Indian
The Avenging Arrow
Movie • 1921
Modoc
The Cactus Blossom
Movie • 1915
Chegup