Chief Dan George, OC (July 24, 1899 – September 23, 1981) was a chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, a Coast Salish band whose Indian reserve is located on Burrard Inlet in the southeast area of the District of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He was also an author, poet, and an Academy Award-nominated actor. His best-known written work was "My Heart Soars".
Tsleil-Waututh, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Profession
Actor
Nationality
Canadian
Children
Chief Leonard George, Chief Jesse "Nighthawk" George
Awards
National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominations
Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Movies
The Outlaw Josey Wales, Little Big Man, Harry and Tonto, Alien Thunder, Americathon, Shadow of the Hawk, The Bears and I, Spirit of the Wind, Nothing Personal, Smith!, Cancel My Reservation, Cold Journey
TV Shows
Cariboo Country, Breaking Smith's quarter horse
Star Sign
Leo
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Fact
1
Chief Dan George also has an elementary public school named after him in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
2
A public middle school is named for Chief Dan George in Abbotsford, British Columbia.
3
Actor Donald Sutherland quoted from his poem "My Heart Soars" in the the opening ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010: XXI Olympic Winter Games.
4
He is commemorated on one of a set of postage stamps (issued in 2008) honoring prominent Canadians in Hollywood. The other stamps feature Marie Dressler, Norma Shearer, and Raymond Burr.
5
He was awarded the O.C. (Officer of the Order of Canada) on June 25, 1971 for his services to Canada.
6
Until 1959 (when he was 60 years old), he worked as a longshoreman, logger and itinerant musician.
7
Always insisted on playing "good" First Nation characters.
8
Was a successful poet. Wrote two books of poetry, My Heart Soars (1974) and My Spirit Soars (1982). Also recited his famous work, "Lament for Confederation," at Vancouver, British Columbia's 1967 Canadian Centennial celebrations in Empire Stadium; the speech was a stirring - and unexpected - indictment of colonialism's impact on First Nations people and helped galvanize native political activism in British Columbia, and also created support and awareness among non-natives.
9
Besides television and the movies, was also a successful Canadian stage actor and appeared in The Ectasy of Rita Joe in 1967
10
Was chief of the Burrard Band of North Vancouver, British Columbia (aka the Tsleil-Waututh First Nation today), from 1951 to 1963. Although the position is elected, not hereditary, his son is chief today.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Beachcombers
1972-1981
TV Series
Chief Moses Charlie
Nothing Personal
1980
Oscar
Matt and Jenny
1980
TV Series
Dquaga
Spirit of the Wind
1979
Moses
Americathon
1979
Sam Birdwater
The Incredible Hulk
1979
TV Series
Lone Wolf
Centennial
1978
TV Mini-Series
Old Sioux
What Really Happened to the Class of '65?
1978
TV Series
Eddie
Pump It Up
1978
Shadow of the Hawk
1976
Old Man Hawk
The Outlaw Josey Wales
1976
Lone Watie
McCloud
1975
TV Series
Chief Stillwater
Ourstory
1975
TV Series
Cononicus
Cold Journey
1975
Harry and Tonto
1974
Sam Two Feathers
The Bears and I
1974
Chief Peter A-Tas-Ka-Nay
Alien Thunder
1974
Sounding Sky
A Different Drum
1974
Short
Grandfather
Kung Fu
1973
TV Series
Ancient Warrior
À bon pied, bon oeil
1972
Marcus Welby, M.D.
1972
TV Series
Charlie
Cancel My Reservation
1972
Old Bear
The Special London Bridge Special
1972
TV Movie
The Big Chief
Cade's County
1972
TV Series
Taxkahe
Bonanza
1971
TV Series
Red Cloud
The Manipulators
1971
TV Series
Little Big Man
1970
Old Lodge Skins
The High Chaparral
1969
TV Series
Chief Morales
Smith!
1969
Ol' Antoine
Festival
1966
TV Series
Ol' Antoine
The Littlest Hobo
1964
TV Series
Eagle
Cariboo Country
1960
TV Series
Ol' Antoine
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
The New Mickey Mouse Club
1977
TV Series
Himself
Indian
1977
Documentary
Himself
Eastwood in Action
1976
Documentary short
Himself
The Merv Griffin Show
1975
TV Series
Himself
Chief Dan George Speaks
1974
Himself
Man Belongs to the Earth
1974
Documentary short
Himself
V.I.P.-Schaukel
1973
TV Series documentary
Himself
Telescope
1971
TV Series documentary
The 43rd Annual Academy Awards
1971
TV Special
Himself - Nominee: Best Actor in Supporting Role
The Virginia Graham Show
1971
TV Series
Himself
The David Frost Show
1971
TV Series
Himself
The Mike Douglas Show
1971
TV Series
Himself
The Dick Cavett Show
1970
TV Series
Himself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Inventing Grace, Touching Glory
2003
Documentary
Himself
Life and Times
1999
TV Series documentary
Himself
Hell Hath No Fury
1999
Video documentary short
Himself
Margret Dünser, auf der Suche nach den Besonderen
1981
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color
1976
TV Series
Chief Peter A-Tas-Ka-Nay
Won Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1971
Golden Laurel
Laurel Awards
Best Supporting Performance, Male
Little Big Man (1970)
1971
NSFC Award
National Society of Film Critics Awards, USA
Best Supporting Actor
Little Big Man (1970)
1970
NYFCC Award
New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Best Supporting Actor
Little Big Man (1970)
Nominated Awards
Year
Award
Ceremony
Nomination
Movie
1971
Oscar
Academy Awards, USA
Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Little Big Man (1970)
1971
Golden Globe
Golden Globes, USA
Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture
Little Big Man (1970)
Known for movies
The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) as Lone Watie
Little Big Man (1970) as Old Lodge Skins
The Bears and I (1974) as Chief Peter A-Tas-Ka-Nay
$1.6 Million
