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Chief John Big Tree

Actor • Born 1877

Chief John Big Tree

Open Cinema

About

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

Stagecoach posterStagecoachMovie • 1939She Wore a Yellow Ribbon posterShe Wore a Yellow RibbonMovie • 1949Western Union posterWestern UnionMovie • 1941Drums Along the Mohawk posterDrums Along the MohawkMovie • 1939The Big Trail posterThe Big TrailMovie • 1930Lost Horizon posterLost HorizonMovie • 1937North West Mounted Police posterNorth West Mounted PoliceMovie • 1940Destry Rides Again posterDestry Rides AgainMovie • 1939Devil's Doorway posterDevil's DoorwayMovie • 1950The Iron Horse posterThe Iron HorseMovie • 1925The Telegraph Trail posterThe Telegraph TrailMovie • 1933The Cat's-Paw posterThe Cat's-PawMovie • 1934