Dark Cloud (actor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dark Cloud
Dark Cloud, pre-1918, wearing a costume of Plains Indian ceremonial garb.
Born	Elijah Tahamont September 20, 1855 Odanak, Quebec, Canada
Died	September 17, 1918(1918-09-17) (aged 62) Los Angeles, California
Resting place	Hollywood Forever Cemetery
Occupation	Actor, model
Years active	1910–1918
Spouse(s)	Margaret Camp (actress, Dove Eye)

Dark Cloud (born Elijah Tahamont) was a famous First Nations actor from the early days of movies, known as the silent film era. He was born on September 20, 1855, and passed away on September 17, 1918. Dark Cloud was also a chief of the Abenaki people. The Abenaki are a First Nations group from northeastern North America.

Who Was Dark Cloud?

Dark Cloud, whose real name was Elijah Tahamont, was a talented actor and model. He became known for his roles in silent films during the 1910s. He was a member of the Abenaki, an Indigenous group from what is now Canada and the northeastern United States.

Early Life and Family Background

Elijah Tahamont was born in Odanak, Quebec, Canada. His father, also named Elijah Tahamont, had a good education. He studied at Moor's Charity School and Dartmouth College. These schools received money to help educate Native American students.

Before becoming an actor, Dark Cloud was a popular speaker. He also worked as a model for the famous artist Frederic Remington. Remington was known for his art about the American West.

Dark Cloud's Acting Career

Dark Cloud started his acting journey in New York City in 1910. He worked with the American Mutoscope and Biograph Company. His first movies were often called "eastern Westerns." These films were directed by D. W. Griffith.

Early Silent Films

Unlike later Western movies, these early films often showed Native Americans with respect. They were shown calmly against wide landscapes. This was a way to reflect on their lives before treaties were broken.

Dark Cloud's first movie was The Broken Doll in 1910. He also appeared in The Song of the Wildwood Flute with famous actors like Mary Pickford.

Moving to Hollywood

In 1912, Dark Cloud moved to the West Coast with Griffith's film company. He acted in at least 34 silent movies during his short eight-year career. He was sometimes called Chief Dark Cloud or William Dark Cloud.

He even worked on a movie based on Frederic Remington's novel, John Ermine of Yellowstone. In this film, Dark Cloud played a character named Fire Bear.

Stereotypes in Hollywood

In many of his roles, Dark Cloud was dressed as Hollywood's idea of a "Plains Indian Chief." However, he was Abenaki, not from the Plains tribes. This shows how Hollywood often used stereotypes. They did not always show the many different cultures of Native American tribes.

Dark Cloud's Personal Life

Dark Cloud married Margaret Camp, who was also an actress. She was known by her stage name, Dove Eye. Margaret Camp's father was Chief Sabael, the namesake of Indian Lake, New York.

The Tahamonts had two daughters, Beulah and Bessie. They were among the first Native American children to attend a public school in New York. Beulah also appeared in early films and on stage.

Their granddaughter, Bertha Parker Pallan, became an archaeologist. She studied and wrote about the history and stories of Native Americans in California and Nevada.

His Passing

Dark Cloud passed away in Los Angeles, California, on September 17, 1918. His death was caused by bronchopneumonia. This was officially linked to the Spanish flu pandemic that happened that year. Some of his films were released even after he passed away.

Film Roles

Dark Cloud appeared in many films during his career. Here are some of them: