Chief John Big Tree
ActingChief 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
Stagecoach
Indian Scout (uncredited)
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
Chief Pony That Walks
The Big Trail
Indian (uncredited)
Lost Horizon
Porter (uncredited)
Drums Along the Mohawk
Blue Back
North West Mounted Police
Blue Owl (uncredited)
Destry Rides Again
Indian in Saloon (uncredited)
Western Union
Chief Spotted Horse
Susannah of the Mounties
Chief (uncredited)
Devil's Doorway
Thundercloud
Filmography — Acting
Stagecoach
Indian Scout (uncredited)
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
Chief Pony That Walks
The Big Trail
Indian (uncredited)
Lost Horizon
Porter (uncredited)
Drums Along the Mohawk
Blue Back
North West Mounted Police
Blue Owl (uncredited)
Destry Rides Again
Indian in Saloon (uncredited)
Western Union
Chief Spotted Horse
Susannah of the Mounties
Chief (uncredited)
Devil's Doorway
Thundercloud
The Iron Horse
Cheyenne Chief (uncredited)
Hudson's Bay
Chief
Mantrap
Indian (uncredited)
Brigham Young
Big Elk
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
Indian John
King of the Arena
Circus Indian
Las Vegas Nights
Indian
The Bold Caballero
Tavern Indian (uncredited)
The Farmer Takes a Wife
Indian
The Oregon Trail
Spotted Elk
The Girl of the Golden West
Indian Chief in Prologue
The Telegraph Trail
Indian Chief (uncredited)
Too Many Girls
Chief
Maid of Salem
Indian Man (Uncredited)
Prairie Thunder
Indian (uncredited)
The Last of the Mohicans
Huron Warrior (uncredited)
Custer's Last Stand
Medicine Man
The Spirit of '76
Gowah
Hills of Old Wyoming
Chief Big Tree
Red Fork Range
Chief Barking Fox
Wheels of Destiny
Chief War Eagle
The Red Rider
Indian Chief
The Golden West
Indian (uncredited)
The Desert's Toll
Red Eagle
A Fight For Love
Swift Deer
The Primitive Lover
Chief Johnny Bluebottle
The Frontier Trail
Chief Gray Wolf
Winners Of The Wilderness
Chief Pontiac
The Overland Telegraph
Medecine Man
The Huntress
Otebaya
The Singing Vagabond
Chief White Eagle (uncredited)
Wyoming
An Indian
Sioux Blood
Crazy Wolf
The Cactus Blossom
Chegup
The Frontiersman
Grey Eagle
Spoilers of the West
Red Cloud
Maintain the Right
Chief
The Avenging Arrow
Modoc
