CINEFILER

Gordon Tootoosis

Born
October 25, 1941
Died
July 5, 2011
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.
Known For
Pocahontas
(1995)
Kekata (voice)
Legends of the Fall
(1994)
One Stab
Open Season
(2006)
Gordy (voice)
Reindeer Games
(2000)
Old Governor
Lone Star
(1996)
Wesley Birdsong
Black Robe
(1991)
Old Aenons
Guns, Girls and Gambling
(2012)
The Chief
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
(2007)
Chief Red Cloud
Alaska
(1996)
Ben
Doomsday Prophecy
(2011)
John
Leaving Normal
(1992)
Hank Amaruk
Full Filmography
Acting
Alien Thunder
(1974)
Almighty Voice
Amisk
(1977)
Marie Ann
(1978)
Chief Many Horses
Stone Fox
(1987)
Stone Fox
Last Train Home
(1989)
Poundmaker
Black Robe
(1991)
Old Aenons
Blood River
(1991)
Smiling Knife
Heritage Minutes: Peacemaker
(1992)
Grandfather
Lost in the Barrens II: The Curse of the Viking Grave
(1992)
Mewasin
Leaving Normal
(1992)
Hank Amaruk
Spirit Rider
(1993)
Joe Moon
Call Of The Wild
(1993)
Charlie
Legends of the Fall
(1994)
One Stab
Pocahontas: The Legend
(1995)
Chief Powhatan
Pocahontas
(1995)
Kekata (voice)
Lone Star
(1996)
Wesley Birdsong
Coyote Summer
(1996)
Mopeah
Alaska
(1996)
Ben
Crazy Horse
(1996)
Akicita
Song of Hiawatha
(1997)
Iagoo
Keeping the Promise
(1997)
Sakniss
Forgotten Warriors
(1997)
Narrator (voice)
Big Bear
(1998)
Chief Big Bear
Lakota Moon
(1999)
Rolling Thunder
Bear with Me
(2000)
John Ours
Reindeer Games
(2000)
Old Governor
Dream Storm: A North of 60 Mystery
(2001)
Albert Golo
The Doe Boy
(2001)
Marvin
Nobody's Baby
(2001)
Dog Havasu
Now & Forever
(2002)
Ghost Fox
Christmas at Wapos Bay
(2002)
Mushom
Black Point
(2002)
Standing Bear
On the Corner
(2003)
Floyd
Cowboys & Indians
(2003)
James Harper
Dreamkeeper
(2003)
Kills Enemy
Seven Times Lucky
(2004)
Mr. Five Wounds
Fugitives Run
(2005)
Dan John
Hank Williams First Nation
(2005)
Adelard Fox
Open Season
(2006)
Gordy (voice)
Mr. Soul
(2006)
Boog and Elliot's Midnight Bun Run
(2006)
Gordy (voice)
Hybrid
(2007)
Grandpa
That Beautiful Somewhere
(2007)
Harold
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
(2007)
Chief Red Cloud
Out In the Cold
(2008)
Soft as Snow
Doomsday Prophecy
(2011)
John
Guns, Girls and Gambling
(2012)
The Chief
Data provided by TMDB