Summary
Michael Horse (born Michael James Heinrich; December 21, 1949) is an American actor known for his portrayals of Native American characters in film and television.
Michael Horse | |
|---|---|
 Horse in 2006 | |
| Born | Michael James Heinrich December 21, 1949 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Spouse(s) | Sandra Dee Dombrowski[1] Pennie Opal Plant[2] |
Early life edit
Horse was born Michael James Heinrich in Los Angeles, California, on December 21, 1949.[3] His mother, Nancie Belle Posten, was Swedish.[4][5] Horse's adoptive father, George Heinrich, was born in Florida to parents from Austria.[6] Nancie died in California in 2004.[7]
Career edit
Horse's film debut came in the role of Tonto in the 1981 film The Legend of the Lone Ranger, which was a commercial failure. Before taking the role, Horse had been concerned that the character might be perceived as a stereotype.[8]
After appearing in David Lynch's short film The Cowboy and the Frenchman (1988), Horse portrayed Deputy Hawk, a Native American policeman, in Lynch's TV series Twin Peaks (1990–91).[9] He also acted in Passenger 57 (1992),[10] House of Cards (1993), the 1990s version of the television series The Untouchables (1993),[11] and North of 60 (1995–97). He also appeared in the Thanks episode "Thanksgiving" in 1999, portraying Squanto. He appeared as Deputy Owen Blackwood in four episodes of the first season of Roswell (1999). Horse also appeared as Sheriff Tskany in The X-Files episode "Shapes" in 1994. In 1999, Horse guest starred on Walker, Texas Ranger in the episode "Team Cherokee" as John Red Cloud, the owner of a Native American NASCAR racing team and a friend of the titular character, Texas Ranger Cordell Walker (Chuck Norris).
Horse portrayed American Indian Movement (AIM) activist Dennis Banks in the 1994 film Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee. Eight years later, he lent his voice to Little Creek's friend in Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. He portrayed Mike Proudfoot on Sons of Tucson. In 1995 he portrayed Dirty Bob in the Western film Riders in the Storm.[citation needed] He played the character Jindoga in Hawkeye. In 2017, Horse reprised his role as Deputy Hawk in the third season of TV series Twin Peaks.
He also portrayed Twamie Ullulaq in the seventh season of The Blacklist in 2020.
Personal life edit
Horse has at times described himself as Yaqui,[12] and at other times as "of Yaqui descent",[13] or "of Yaqui, Mescalero Apache, Zuni Pueblo and Hispanic descent",[14] but is not enrolled or recognized by any tribe. On November 23, 1993, Horse married actress Sandra Dee Dombrowski in Nevada.[1] As of 2019, on his personal website, Pennie Opal Plant listed herself as his partner.[2]
Filmography edit
Film edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | The Legend of the Lone Ranger | Tonto | |
| 1982 | The Avenging | Josuah | |
| 1986 | The Check Is in the Mail... | Pool attendant | |
| 1987 | Buckeye and Blue | Cherokee Bill | |
| 1987 | Love at Stake | Medicine Man | |
| 1988 | Rented Lips | Bobby Leaping Mouse | |
| 1989 | Deadly Weapon | Indian Joe | |
| 1992 | Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me | Deputy Hawk | Scenes deleted |
| 1992 | Passenger 57 | Forget | |
| 1993 | House of Cards | Stoker | |
| 1995 | Riders in the Storm | Dirty Bob | |
| 1996 | American Strays | Lead Cop | |
| 1996 | Navajo Blues | Begay | |
| 1998 | Shattered Illusions | Eddie | |
| 1998 | Star of Jaipur | Colonel Ironwood | |
| 1999 | In the Blue Ground | Andrew One Sky | |
| 2001 | Dirt | Native American Convict | |
| 2002 | Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron | Little Creek's Friend | Voice[15] |
| 2002 | Birdseye | Pete Longshadow | |
| 2002 | The Short Films of David Lynch | Broken Feather | Documentary |
| 2008 | Turok: Son of Stone | Lead Raider / Chief | direct-to-video[15] |
| 2013 | Skinwalker Ranch | Ahote | |
| 2014 | Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces | Deputy Tommy 'Hawk' Hill | |
| 2014 | Behind the Door of a Secret Girl | Mr. Thomson | |
| 2014 | Lights Camera Bullshit | The Narrator | |
| 2017 | Dead Ant | Bigfoot | |
| 2020 | The Call of the Wild | Edenshaw |
Television edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | It Takes Two | Frank White | Episode: "Mother and Child Reunion" |
| 1985 | Knight Rider | Jonathan Eagle | Episode: "Burial Ground" |
| 1986 | Amazing Stories | Male Friend / Indian | 2 episodes |
| 1988 | Longarm | Vasquez | Television film |
| 1988 | The French as Seen by... | Broken Feather | 2 episodes |
| 1989 | Paradise | Walking Water | Episode: "Burial Ground" |
| 1989–1991 | Twin Peaks | Deputy Tommy 'Hawk' Hill | 28 episodes |
| 1990 | New Kids on the Block | Various | 14 episodes |
| 1991 | P.S. I Luv U | Russell Grayfox | Episodes: "Unmarried... with Children" |
| 1991 | The Torkelsons | David Blackwing | Episode: "Thanksgivingsomething" |
| 1992–1993 | Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa | J.R. | Voice, 8 episodes |
| 1993 | Mighty Max | Yona-Ya-In | Episode: "The Maxnificent Seven" |
| 1993 | The Untouchables | Agent George Steelman | 19 episodes |
| 1994 | The X-Files | Sheriff Charles Tskany | Episode: "Shapes" |
| 1994 | Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee | Dennis Banks | Television film |
| 1994 | Problem Child | Various | 13 episodes |
| 1994–1996 | Gargoyles | Peter Maza / Carlos Maza | Voice, 4 episodes[15] |
| 1995 | Hawkeye | Jindoga | Episode: "Vengeance Is Mine" |
| 1995 | 500 Nations | Voice | 3 episodes |
| 1995 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child | Sharp Flint | Voice, episode: "Snow White" |
| 1995 | Life with Louie | Cousin Joey | Episode: "The Fourth Thursday in November" |
| 1995–1997 | North of 60 | Andrew One Sky | 19 episodes |
| 1996 | The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest | Various | 4 episodes |
| 1996 | The Incredible Hulk | Jefferson Whitedeer | Episode: "And the Wind Cries... Wendigo"[15] |
| 1996, 1997 | Adventures from the Book of Virtues | Waukewa's Father, Strong Wind | Voice, 2 episodes[15] |
| 1997 | Duckman | Big Chief Fancy Pants | Voice, episode: "Role with It" |
| 1997 | The Legend of Calamity Jane | Quanna Parker | Voice, 13 episodes[15] |
| 1997, 1999 | Superman: The Animated Series | Ubu, Sky Sentry Operator | Voice, 2 episodes[15] |
| 1999 | Walker, Texas Ranger | John Red Cloud | 2 episodes |
| 1999 | Thanks | Dissquantum / Squanto | Episode: "Thanksgiving" |
| 1999 | Roswell | Owen Blackwood | 4 episodes |
| 2000 | The Wild Thornberrys | Wildlife Ranger Sam Rainwater | Voice, episode: "Pack of Thornberrys"[15] |
| 2000 | Lost in Oz | Ponca | Television film |
| 2000, 2002 | Malcolm in the Middle | Steve / Security Guy | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | Dream Storm | Andrew One Sky | Television film |
| 2001 | Jackie Chan Adventures | Muntab Leader | Voice, episode: "Lost City of the Muntabs" |
| 2001 | Kristin | Jonathan Stillwater | Episode: "The Secret" |
| 2002 | ChalkZone | Bug O Nay Geeshig | Voice, television short |
| 2004 | What's New, Scooby-Doo? | Leon Strongfeather | Voice, episode: "New Mexico, Old Monster" |
| 2004 | All Grown Up! | Pizza Dude | Voice, episode: "Memoirs of a Finster" |
| 2004 | JAG | Wolf Tillicum | Episode: "Whole New Ball Game" |
| 2007 | Bone Eater | Storm Cloud | Television film |
| 2010 | Sons of Tucson | Mike Proudfoot | 3 episodes |
| 2012 | Young Justice | Holling Longshadow | Voice, episode: "Beneath"[15] |
| 2014 | Hell on Wheels | Native American | Episode: "Bear Man" |
| 2017 | Twin Peaks | Deputy Chief Tommy 'Hawk' Hill | 14 episodes |
| 2017 | Godless | Chief Narrienta | 2 episodes |
| 2019 | Claws | Mac Lovestone / Mac Locklear | 8 episodes |
| 2020 | The Blacklist | Twamie Ullulaq | Episode: "Twamie Ullulaq (No. 126)" |
| 2022 | Motherland: Fort Salem | The Marshal | 3 episodes |
References edit
- ^ a b "Nevada, Marriage Index, 1956–2005". FamilySearch. November 23, 1993. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
- ^ a b Pennie Opal Plant (July 21, 1997). "About". Archived from the original on August 3, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- ^ California Birth Index. "The Birth of Michael Heinrich". Retrieved November 21, 2023.
- ^ "California, County Marriages, 1850–1952". FamilySearch. July 10, 1953. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
- ^ "Los Angeles, California, United States, Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department, Sacramento". FamilySearch. November 27, 2014. Retrieved June 10, 2017.
- ^ "California, County Marriages, 1850–1952". FamilySearch. July 10, 1953. Retrieved July 1, 2017.
- ^ "Billion Graves Index". FamilySearch. 2012. Retrieved July 16, 2017.
- ^ Labrecque, Jeff (July 2, 2013). "The Lone Ranger legend of Klinton Spilsbury". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ "Art away from Hollywood is where his heart is". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 30, 2010.
- ^ Michael Horse – Actor Movie Reviews at TopTenReviews.com Archived October 1, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Untouchable Then and Now". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 25, 2010.
- ^ "About". July 21, 1997. Archived from the original on July 27, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2022.
- ^ "About Michael Horse". Gathering Tribes. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ "Native American Artist Biographies: Michael Horse". bischoffsgallery.com. Retrieved August 21, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Michael Horse (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved September 30, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
External links edit
- Michael Horse at IMDb
- 45-minute audio interview of Michael Horse Wide-ranging discussion on Pacifica Radio station KPFA's weekly program, Bay Native Circle (May 7, 2008)