Gordon Tootoosis
Acting
Biography
From Wikipedia. Gordon Tootoosis, CM (October 25, 1941 – July 5, 2011) was a First Nations actor of Cree and Stoney descent. Tootoosis was a descendant of Yellow Mud Blanket, brother of the famous Cree leader Pîhtokahanapiwiyin. He was acclaimed for his commitment to preserving his culture and to telling his people's stories. He once said, "Leadership is about submission to duty, not elevation to power." He served as a founding member of the board of directors of the Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company. Tootoosis offered encouragement, support and training to aspiring Aboriginal actors. He served as a leading Cree activist both as a social worker and as a band chief. In Open Season and Boog and Elliot's Midnight Bun Run, Tootoosis was the voice of Sheriff Gordy. He was awarded membership in the Order of Canada on October 29, 2004. The investiture ceremony took place on September 9, 2005. His citation recognizes him as an inspirational role model for Aboriginal youth. It notes that as a veteran actor, he portrayed memorable characters in movie and television productions in Canada and the United States. Gordon Tootoosis first acting role was in the film Alien Thunder (1974), with Chief Dan George and Donald Sutherland. He portrayed Albert Golo in 52 episodes of North of 60 in the 1990s. He is best known to British audiences for playing the Native American Joe Saugus, who negotiates the purchase of the Middlesbrough Transporter Bridge in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet series 3 (2002). Gordon appeared in the CBC Television mini-series By Way of the Stars with Eric Schweig as Black Thunder and Tantoo Cardinal as Franoise. He appeared in the award-winning movie Legends of the Fall (1994), and starred with Russell Means in Disney's Pocahontas (1995) and Song of Hiawatha (1997). In 1999, he and Tantoo Cardinal became founding members of the board of directors of the Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company. In 2011, he appeared in Gordon Winter at the Persephone Theatre in Saskatoon and Prairie Scene in Ottawa, his first stage role in 15 years. Tootoosis won a Gemini Award for his work on the animated show Wapos Bay: The Series and was nominated twice for his work on North of 60.
Born: October 25, 1941
Place of Birth: Poundmaker Reserve, Saskatchewan, Canada
Known For
Filmography
as The Chief
as John
as Soft as Snow
as Eddie Bear
as Grandpa
as Chief Red Cloud
as Harold
as Gordy (voice)
as Gordy (voice)
as Dan John
as Nathaniel Stone
as Mr. Five Wounds
as Kills Enemy
as James Harper
as Floyd
as Standing Bear
as Ghost Fox
as Prof. Joseph Willowbrook
as Albert Golo
as Red Wolf
as Marvin
as Dog Havasu
as John Ours
as Old Governor
as Rolling Thunder
as Chief Big Bear
as Chief Ko-Je
as Iagoo
as Sakniss
as Ben
as Akicita
as Wesley Birdsong
as Mopeah
as Kekata (voice)
as Chief Powhatan
as One Stab
as Shaman
as Joe Moon
as Charlie
as Albert Golo
as Grandfather
as Hank Amaruk
as Old Aenons
as Smiling Knife
as Pete
as Poundmaker
as Chief Wild Eagle
as Spotted Owl
as Stone Fox
as Warden Bill Bragg
as Perry
as Phil Crow
as Charlie Rising Moon
as Joe Saugus
as Chief Many Horses
as Almighty Voice