Wes Studi

From small-town Oklahoma native to internationally acclaimed actor and musician, 'Wes Studi' (qv) credits his passion and multi-faceted background for his powerful character portrayals that forever changed a Hollywood stereotype. Within a few years of his arrival in Hollywood, Studi caught the attention of the public in _Dances with Wolves (1990)_ (qv). In 1992, his powerful performance as "Magua" in _The Last of the Mohicans (1992)_ (qv) established him as one of the most compelling actors in the business.Studi has since appeared in more than 80 film and television productions, including _Geronimo: An American Legend (1993)_ (qv), _Being Flynn (2012)_ (qv), _Avatar (2009)_ (qv), _Comanche Moon (2008)_ (qv), _Streets of Laredo (1995)_ (qv), _Mystery Men (1999)_ (qv), Kings (TV Series), _The New World (2005)_ (qv), _Hell on Wheels (2011)_ (qv), _Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (2007)_ (qv) and _Seraphim Falls (2006)_ (qv). He also brought 'Tony Hillerman' (qv)'s "Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn" to life in a series of PBS specials produced by 'Robert Redford' (qv): _Skinwalkers (2002)_ (qv), _Coyote Waits (2003)_ (qv), and _A Thief of Time (2004)_ (qv).Studi was born in Nofire Hollow, Oklahoma, the son of Maggie (Nofire), a housekeeper, and Andy Studie, a ranch hand. Studi exclusively spoke his native Cherokee language until beginning school at the age of five. A professional horse trainer, Studi began acting at The American Indian Theatre Company in Tulsa in the mid-80s.Studi and his wife, 'Maura Dhu Studi' (qv), live in Santa Fe, New Mexico. They have a son, Kholan. Studi has a daughter, Leah, and a son, Daniel, from a previous marriage.::mlc