Jimmy Herman (October 25, 1940 - September 13, 2013) was an Indigenous Canadian actor who appeared in several films, including Dances with Wolves.[1][2]

Jimmy Herman
Born(1940-10-25)October 25, 1940
DiedSeptember 13, 2013(2013-09-13) (aged 72)
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Resting placeCold Lake First Nations Reserve, Alberta, Canada
OccupationActor
Years active1984–2007

Biography

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He was born on the Cold Lake Reserve in Alberta, Canada. His ancestors were Chipewyan and Dene. Herman moved to Edmonton in 1980 to study at Grant MacEwan College's Native Communications Program. There, he received the Malcolm Calliou Award for his ambition to succeed, and to inspire other Aboriginal people to do the same. After his graduation from Grant MacEwan, he accepted employment with Native Counseling Services of Alberta as a media assistant in the media department. During this time, he did some narration work for Native Counseling Services, ACCESS radio, and the National Film Board.

A small part in a CBC Television pilot program called John Cat, based on a W. P. Kinsella book, sparked Herman's interest in acting, and he decided to leave his position at Native Counseling Services to pursue a career in the performing arts. In April 1989, a Los Angeles casting agent chose him for a part in Dances With Wolves. His role in the film was a Sioux warrior named Stone Calf.

He went on to perform numerous roles in feature films and television series in Canada and the United States, including an extra in the Academy Award-winning Western, Unforgiven, the television film Crazy Horse[3] The X-Files and a six-year stint on CBC's North of 60, portraying fur trapper Joe Gomba. In 2005, the Dreamspeakers Film Festival Society in Edmonton honoured him with a place on the Aboriginal Walk of Fame.

Herman spoke to Aboriginal youth in schools and at special events. He also turned towards political activism, seeking diplomatic solutions and bringing his voice to the debate surrounding Aboriginal treaty rights. Herman worked to better Treaty 6 communities.[citation needed]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1990 Dances with Wolves Stone Calf
1992 Unforgiven Train Person #2 Uncredited
1993 Geronimo Old Geronimo TV movie
Medicine River Lionel James TV movie
1994 Blind Justice Shaman TV movie
Road to Saddle River
Warrior Spirit Mukoki TV movie
The X-Files Ish Episode: "Shapes"
1995 Tecumseh: The Last Warrior Cornstalk TV movie
1996 Crazy Horse Conquering Bear TV movie
1996 Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years Little Wolf Episode: Medicine
1998 Gunslinger's Revenge Indian Grandfather
1999 Phantom Town Attendant
In the Blue Ground Joe Gomba
Grey Owl Chief Pete Misebi
2000 Reindeer Games The Bartender
The Claim Third Miner
2001 Death Train to the Pacific [de] TV movie
2003 Boys on the Run Walter Running Deer
Dreamkeeper Multnomah Elder TV movie
Coyote Waits Ashie Pinto
Michel Vaillant The Indian chief
2005 Hank Williams First Nation Uncle Martin
Little House on the Prairie Osage TV mini-series
Santa's Slay Vinny
Supernatural Joe Whitetree Episode: "Bugs"
2007 Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee Yellow Bird TV movie, (final film role)

References

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  1. ^ Jimmy Herman Biography at Filmreference.com.
  2. ^ Klinkenberg, Marty (2013-09-10). "Dances With Wolves actor Jimmy Herman dies in Edmonton". Edmontonjournal.com. Archived from the original on 2013-09-18. Retrieved 2013-09-17.
  3. ^ Scott, Tony (July 5, 1996). "Review: 'Crazy Horse'". Variety.
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