Personal Info
Known For:
Acting
Birthday:
June 2, 1877
Place of Birth:
Buffalo, New York, USA
Social Media
Chief John Big Tree
Biography
Chief 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
Filmography
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | Devil's Doorway | Thundercloud |
| 1949 | She Wore a Yellow Ribbon | Chief Pony That Walks |
| 1941 | Western Union | Chief Spotted Horse |
| 1941 | Hudson's Bay | Chief |
| 1941 | Las Vegas Nights | Indian |
| 1940 | Brigham Young | Big Elk |
| 1940 | North West Mounted Police | Blue Owl (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Too Many Girls | Chief |
| 1940 | Maintain the Right | Chief |
| 1939 | Stagecoach | Indian Scout (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Susannah of the Mounties | Chief (uncredited) |
| 1939 | The Oregon Trail | Spotted Elk |
| 1939 | Destry Rides Again | Indian in Saloon (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Drums Along the Mohawk | Blue Back |
| 1938 | The Girl of the Golden West | Indian Chief in Prologue |
| 1937 | Lost Horizon | Porter (uncredited) |
| 1937 | Hills of Old Wyoming | Chief Big Tree |
| 1937 | Prairie Thunder | Indian (uncredited) |
| 1937 | Maid of Salem | Indian Man (Uncredited) |
| 1936 | Custer's Last Stand | Medicine Man |
| 1936 | The Adventures of Frank Merriwell | Indian John |
| 1936 | The Bold Caballero | Tavern Indian (uncredited) |
| 1935 | The Singing Vagabond | Chief White Eagle (uncredited) |
| 1935 | The Farmer Takes a Wife | Indian |
| 1934 | Wheels of Destiny | Chief War Eagle |
| 1933 | The Telegraph Trail | Indian Chief (uncredited) |
| 1933 | King of the Arena | Circus Indian |
| 1932 | The Last of the Mohicans | Huron Warrior (uncredited) |
| 1932 | The Golden West | Indian (uncredited) |
| 1931 | Red Fork Range | Chief Barking Fox |
| 1930 | The Big Trail | Indian (uncredited) |
| 1929 | The Overland Telegraph | Medecine Man |
| 1929 | Sioux Blood | Crazy Wolf |
| 1927 | Painted Ponies | |
| 1927 | Winners Of The Wilderness | Chief Pontiac |
| 1927 | The Frontiersman | Grey Eagle |
| 1927 | Spoilers of the West | Red Cloud |
| 1926 | The Frontier Trail | Chief Gray Wolf |
| 1926 | Mantrap | Indian (uncredited) |
| 1926 | The Desert's Toll | Red Eagle |
| 1925 | The Red Rider | Indian Chief |
| 1925 | The Iron Horse | Cheyenne Chief (uncredited) |
| 1923 | The Huntress | Otebaya |
| 1922 | The Primitive Lover | Chief Johnny Bluebottle |
| 1919 | A Fight For Love | Swift Deer |
| 1917 | The Spirit of '76 | Gowah |
| Year | TV Show | Role |
|---|