Martin Sensmeier facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Martin Sensmeier
Sensmeier at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival
Born	(1985-06-27) June 27, 1985 (age 40) Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.
Nationality	Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes, American
Occupation	Actor, Model
Years active	2012–present
Partner(s)	Kahara Hodges (2016–present)
Children	2

Martin Sensmeier is an actor and model from Alaska. He was born on June 27, 1985. He is part of the Tlingit and Koyukon Athabascan Native American groups.

Martin Sensmeier is well-known for playing many different Native American characters in movies and TV shows. He was one of the main actors in the 2016 movie The Magnificent Seven. He also had a repeating role as "Wanahton" in the TV series Westworld in 2018. More recently, he played a physical therapist in the TV series Yellowstone. He also appeared as a Comanche warrior named Sam in the show 1883. Both of these shows were directed by Taylor Sheridan.

Early Life and Heritage

Martin Sensmeier was born in 1985 in Anchorage, Alaska. He grew up in a town called Yakutat. His father is Tlingit and German-American. His mother is Koyukon Athabascan from Ruby, Alaska, near the Yukon River.

Martin feels a strong connection to the cultures of his Alaska Native grandmothers. His parents made sure he learned about these traditions. He is also a citizen of the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska.

Martin Sensmeier's Acting Journey

Before becoming an actor, Martin Sensmeier worked as a welder. He also worked on an oil rig. He decided to leave that job to follow his dream of acting. He moved to Los Angeles to start his acting career.

In Los Angeles and New York, Martin first worked as a professional model. Slowly, he began to get acting jobs in Los Angeles.

First Roles and Big Breaks

His first full-length movie was a science fiction thriller called Beyond the Sky. In 2016, he got a big role in The Magnificent Seven. This movie was a new version of an older film. He played one of the "seven" main characters.

In 2017, Martin Sensmeier played the main character in a movie called The Chickasaw Rancher. He played Montford Johnson, a Chickasaw man who built a large ranching business. That same year, he also appeared as Chip Hanson in the movie Wind River. He will play this role again in the upcoming movie Wind River: The Next Chapter.

TV Series and Video Games

Martin Sensmeier joined the cast of the HBO TV series Westworld in its second season (2018). He had a repeating role as a character named Wanahton.

In 2020, he voiced the character of Chief Eddy in the video game Tell Me Why. This game is set in Alaska. Chief Eddy is a member of the Tlingit people, just like Martin Sensmeier.

More recently, he played Martin, a physical therapist, in Season 2 of Taylor Sheridan's Yellowstone. This show is about the Dutton family and their ranch. He also played Sam, a Comanche warrior, in 1883. This show is a prequel to Yellowstone. 1883 tells the story of settlers traveling west to Oregon. It stars actors like Sam Elliot, Tim McGraw, and Faith Hill.

In 2023, Martin Sensmeier starred in a western thriller movie called Cottonmouth. This movie is expected to be released in 2024.

Personal Life

Martin Sensmeier is a member of the Native Wellness Institute. This group helps young people. He is very proud of his Alaska Native background.

Martin Sensmeier and his partner, Kahara Hodges, have two children. Their children were born in 2020 and 2022.

Filmography