Iron Eyes Cody

About

Iron Eyes Cody (born Espera Oscar de Corti), was an Italian American actor. He portrayed Native Americans in Hollywood films, famously as Chief Iron Eyes in Bob Hope's The Paleface. He also played a Native American shedding a tear about litter in one of the country's most well-known television public service announcements, "Keep America Beautiful". Cody began acting in the early 1930s. He worked in film and television until his death. Cody claimed his father was Cherokee (and his mother Cree), also naming several different tribes, and frequently changing his claimed place of birth. To those unfamiliar with Indigenous American or First Nations cultures and people, he gave the appearance of living "as if" he were Native American, fulfilling the stereotypical expectations by wearing his film wardrobe as daily clothing—including braided wig, fringed leathers and beaded moccasins—at least...

Known for

BonanzaSeries • 1959The A-TeamSeries • 1983The VirginianSeries • 1962MaverickSeries • 1957NewhartSeries • 1982Dick Powell's Zane Grey TheatreSeries • 1956CheyenneSeries • 1955RawhideSeries • 1959The F.B.I.Series • 1965The Life and Legend of Wyatt EarpSeries • 1955Medical CenterSeries • 1969LawmanSeries • 1958Here's LucySeries • 1968GunsmokeSeries • 1955Mister EdSeries • 1961BrandedSeries • 1965SugarfootSeries • 1957The RebelSeries • 1959The Adventures of Wild Bill HickokSeries • 1951Westinghouse Desilu PlayhouseSeries • 1958The Cisco KidSeries • 1950The Thin ManSeries • 1957OutlawsSeries • 1960The Tall ManSeries • 1960