Chief Thunderbird facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chief Thunderbird
Chief Thunderbird in 1931 publicity still from Battling with Buffalo Bill
Born	(1866-08-06)August 6, 1866 Tongue River, Montana, U.S.
Died	April 6, 1946(1946-04-06) (aged 79) Los Angeles County, California, U.S.
Alma mater	Carlisle Indian School
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1914-1944

Richard Davis Thunderbird (born August 6, 1866 – died April 6, 1946) was a Native American actor. He was known as Chief Thunderbird. He was from the Cheyenne people.

Chief Thunderbird acted in twenty films. He was credited (meaning his name appeared in the movie's credits) in several major films. These included Wild West Days (1937), For the Service (1936), Silly Billies (1936), Custer's Last Stand (1936), Annie Oakley (1935), Cyclone of the Saddle (1935), Laughing Boy (1934), and Heroes of the West (1932).

Chief Thunderbird's Acting Career

Richard Davis Thunderbird was born on August 6, 1866. His birthplace was near the Tongue River in Montana. He later attended the Carlisle Indian School.

Early Film Roles

Thunderbird started acting in films in 1914. His first movie was The Perils of Pauline. In this film, he played an Indian character. This role was "uncredited," meaning his name was not shown in the movie's credits.

His first credited role came in 1931. He played Chief Thunder Bird in Battling with Buffalo Bill. He played Chief Thunder Bird again in Heroes of the West (1932). This film was a classic Western. It showed a hero fighting against outlaws and Native Americans for a railroad.

Bigger Roles and Portrayals

In 1934, Thunderbird had a more important role in Laughing Boy. He played Laughing Boy's Father. The story was about a Navajo character, Laughing Boy, who falls in love.

In 1935, Thunderbird was credited as Chick Davis in Cyclone of the Saddle. He played a character named High Hawk. Later that year, he appeared in his most famous film, Annie Oakley. This Western movie was set in Cincinnati. Thunderbird played the real-life Native American leader, Sitting Bull (1831–1890). Sitting Bull was a leader of the Sioux people.

Thunderbird also appeared in Custer's Last Stand (1936). He played Rain-in-Face. His role in this film was small. The movie showed Native Americans attacking white men. It was common for films at this time to show Native Americans in this way.

Later Career and Legacy

In 1936, Thunderbird played Chief Cyclone in Silly Billies. He also played Chief Big Bear in For the Service that same year. In these films, Native American characters were often shown as being against the main heroes.

Thunderbird's last credited film role was in Wild West Days (1937). He played Chief Red Hatchet. He was often cast as a character who was against the main heroes.

His final film appearance was in 1944. He played Eagle Feather in The Falcon Out West. Richard Davis Thunderbird passed away two years later. He died on April 6, 1946, in Los Angeles County, California. He was 79 years old.

Even though he acted in many films, Chief Thunderbird was never given a main or supporting role. However, other Native American actors like Chief Yowlachie, Will Rogers, and Ray Mala did play more important characters. During his time, Native Americans in movies were shown in different ways, sometimes as good characters and sometimes as characters who were against the heroes.

Filmography