D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai facts for kids

Quick facts for kids D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai
ᒥᐢᑳᐧᑌᐢ ᒪᐦᑳᔾ
D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai posing before a Warfare interview.
Born	D'Pharaoh Miskwaatez McKay Woon-A-Tai (2001-09-19) September 19, 2001 (age 23) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Other names	D'Pharaoh McKay
Occupation	actor supermodel
Relatives	Dr. Alex McKay (fraternal grandfather) Frank Woon-A-Tai (maternal grandfather)

D'Pharaoh Miskwaatez McKay Woon-A-Tai (born September 19, 2001) is a Canadian actor. He is from the Oji-Cree people.

He is famous for playing Bear Smallhill. This character is an Indigenous teenager in the TV show Reservation Dogs. The show was on FX on Hulu from 2021 to 2023. For his role, D'Pharaoh received many awards. He was even nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series.

About D'Pharaoh's Early Life

D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai was born in Toronto, Canada. He has a twin brother named Mi'De McKay. His full name, D'Pharaoh Miskwaatez McKay Woon-A-Tai, shows his family's background. He has Oji-Cree and Guyanese heritage.

D'Pharaoh is very good at Shotokan karate. He has a first-degree black belt. His mother's father, Frank Woon-A-Tai, is a well-known Shotokan instructor. His father's father was Dr. Alex McKay. He was a professor of the Ojibwe language at the University of Toronto. D'Pharaoh and his family often visited their relatives in the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation.

D'Pharaoh's Acting Career

D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai started acting in 2018. He played Chase Whaley in the first season of the TV show Holly Hobbie. In 2019, he appeared in two episodes of Murdoch Mysteries. He played a character named Tom Longboat. He also had guest roles in shows like Creeped Out and Tribal.

First Movie Roles

D'Pharaoh's first movie was Beans. He played a character named Hank. Tracey Deer directed this film. Beans was shown at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2020. It also won the award for Best Motion Picture at the Canadian Screen Awards.

Starring in Reservation Dogs

In December 2020, it was announced that D'Pharaoh would star in Reservation Dogs. This show is a comedy-drama from Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi. It started in 2021 on FX on Hulu.

Reservation Dogs is about growing up. It follows a group of rebellious teenagers. They live on tribal land in rural Oklahoma. The show's writers, main actors, and crew are mostly Indigenous people. The Denver Gazette newspaper called D'Pharaoh the show's "breakout star."

The second season of Reservation Dogs came out on August 3, 2022. The third and final season premiered on August 2, 2023. D'Pharaoh's acting in the final season was amazing. He became the first Indigenous actor to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series.

At the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards, D'Pharaoh wore a red handprint. This was a symbol of support for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. He explained that it represents a serious problem in the United States and Canada. Many Indigenous women and two-spirit people are disappearing. He said the red handprint means to stop silencing these voices.

Recent Film Projects

In 2022, D'Pharaoh joined the cast of Hell of a Summer. This movie was directed by Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk. It was released in 2023. D'Pharaoh also played Adam in the 2023 film Fitting In. He also starred in an indie thriller called Only the Good Survive.

In March 2024, it was announced that D'Pharaoh would play Ray Mendoza in the upcoming film Warfare. He acts alongside stars like Noah Centineo and Will Poulter. The film is directed by Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland. In April 2024, the cast started military-style training in London. D'Pharaoh said this movie is for veterans.

In September 2024, it was announced that D'Pharaoh would join Caught Stealing. This film is directed by Darren Aronofsky. He will act with Bad Bunny and Austin Butler.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations