Charlie Hill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charlie Hill
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Hill on The Richard Pryor Show in 1977
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Charles Allan Hill
July 6, 1951 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
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| Died | December 30, 2013 (aged 62) Oneida, Wisconsin, U.S.
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| Education | University of Wisconsin–Madison (BA) |
| Occupation | Comedian, writer, actor |
| Years active | 1977–2010 |
Charlie Hill (born July 6, 1951, died December 30, 2013) was a famous Native American comedian and actor. He was a member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. Charlie was special because he was the very first Native American stand-up comedian to become a TV star! He also wrote for the popular TV show Roseanne.
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Early Life and Learning
Charlie Hill was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1951. When he was a child, his family moved back to their home on the Oneida reservation in 1962.
He finished high school at West De Pere High School in 1969. After that, he went to the University of Wisconsin–Madison. There, he studied speech and drama. He was also part of a theater group called Broom Street Theatre.
In the early 1970s, Charlie was a member of the Native American Theatre Ensemble, led by Hanay Geiogamah. This group performed plays like Coyote Tracks and Foghorn in New York City. They also toured Germany in 1973 and the United States in 1974.
After college, Charlie moved to Los Angeles to work as an actor and comedian.
Comedy Career Highlights
Charlie Hill first appeared on TV on The Richard Pryor Show in 1977. This was a big step for him. He also appeared on many other famous talk shows, including The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He was also a guest on Late Night with David Letterman many times.
Charlie was chosen to host the First Americans in the Arts awards show in Hollywood three times. One time, he hosted it with the Oneida singer Joanne Shenandoah. As a stand-up comedian, he performed all over the world. He was a regular performer at The Comedy Store in Hollywood, a very famous comedy club.
He was featured in a Showtime special where he hosted an evening of Native American comedians. In 1999, a PBS documentary called On and Off The Res' with Charlie Hill was made about him. It was directed by Sandra Osawa.
Charlie was also interviewed in a documentary called A Good Day to Die. This film was about the Native American activist Dennis Banks. He also starred in the 1984 film Harold of Orange.
Awards and Special Recognition
Charlie Hill received several awards for his work:
- 2009: He won the Ivy Bethune Tri-Union Diversity Award.
- 2010: "Native America on the Web" honored Charlie for his "lifetime of promoting positive images of Native Peoples and bridging cultural differences through the healing power of humor." This means he helped people understand Native American culture better through his jokes.
- 2022: On July 6, a special Google Doodle was made to celebrate Charlie Hill. This was to recognize how he challenged harmful stereotypes in entertainment. It also celebrated him being the first Native comedian on national television.
Selected TV and Film Work
Here are some of the TV shows and films Charlie Hill was part of:
- 2010: A Good Day to Die (documentary where he was interviewed)
- 2009: Reel Injun (documentary, featured his comedy)
- 2009: Goin' Native: The Indian Comedy Slam – No Reservations Needed (TV movie)
- 2009: The Longest Walk Through Hollywood (documentary)
- 2004–2006: Late Show with David Letterman (TV series)
- 2005: CBC Winnipeg Comedy Festival (TV show)
- 2004: City Confidential (TV documentary)
- 1999: On and Off the Res with Charlie Hill (documentary about him)
- 1996: White Shamans and Plastic Medicine Men (short documentary)
- 1996: Moesha (TV series)
- 1995: Roseanne (TV series, he was a writer)
- 1993: North of 60 (TV series)
- 1992: The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (TV series)
- 1986: Impure Thoughts (film)
- 1985: MacGruder and Loud (TV series)
- 1985: Spenser (TV series)
- 1985: Late Night with David Letterman (TV series)
- 1984: Earthlings (TV film)
- 1984: Harold of Orange (short film)
- 1980: The Big Show (TV series)
- 1978: The Bionic Woman (TV series)
- 1977: The Richard Pryor Show (TV series)
His Passing
Charlie Hill passed away on December 30, 2013, in Oneida, Wisconsin. He died from lymphoma, which is a type of cancer.
