Nick Ramus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nick Ramus
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|---|---|
| Born |
Nickolas George Ramus
September 9, 1929 |
| Died | May 30, 2007 (aged 77) |
| Occupation | Actor |
Nickolas George Ramus, also known as Nick Ramus, was a Blackfoot Native American actor. He was born on September 9, 1929, and passed away on May 30, 2007. He was best known for his many roles on television.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Nick Ramus was born in Seattle, Washington. He grew up in Spokane, but when he was a boy, his family moved to the Blackfeet Reservation in Browning, Montana.
Later, he moved back to Washington. He went to college and earned a degree in chemistry, also studying zoology. After a short time in medical school, he moved south. He even competed in boxing and motorcycle races!
In San Francisco, Nick learned about acting and voice work. This helped him get jobs in commercials. A few years later, he moved to Los Angeles, where he started getting roles in movies and TV shows.
Acting Career
Nick Ramus had both Blackfoot and Greek family backgrounds. Because of this, he often played Native American and Hispanic characters during his 30-year acting career.
Television Roles
Nick's first TV appearance was in the ABC series The Wide World of Mystery in 1973.
He appeared in several TV movies and miniseries. He played Grey Cloud in Born to the Wind (1981) and Arapaho Chief Lost Eagle in Centennial (1978-1979). He was also Tehohane in The Chisholms (1980) and Red Cloud in Son of the Morning Star (1991). He also played Mangus Colorado in the TNT movie Geronimo (1993).
In TV series, Nick had important recurring roles. He played Gus Nunouz in the soap opera Falcon Crest. He was also Chief Black Kettle in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. He made guest appearances on many other popular shows. These included Gunsmoke, Harry and the Hendersons, Little House on the Prairie, MacGyver, Northern Exposure, Stingray, and Walker, Texas Ranger.
Film Roles
Nick Ramus's first movie role was in Black Eye (1974). He later starred in Windwalker (1980), which was the first movie made in a Native American language.
Other movies he appeared in include The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again (1979), where he played an Indian Chief. He was also in Invasion U.S.A. (1985) and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) as the Saratoga Helmsman. He played Chief Wannatoka in Love at Stake (1987), and also appeared in Journey to Spirit Island (1992) and 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up (1995).
In 2006, Nick took on a role in the short film Alma (2007). He also wrote a one-man show called An Evening with Sitting Bull in the 1990s, which he performed himself.
Personal Life
Nick Ramus married Harriet Mary Howard and they had three children. He later married Kaysie McCallister in 1995. In 2002, they moved to the San Pedro River valley area, near Benson, Arizona. By this time, he had mostly retired from acting, only taking on a few roles now and then.
Later Years and Death
In January 2007, Nick Ramus became ill with pneumonia. Doctors found a growth in his lungs. He decided not to have surgery that might have made him very weak. Nick Ramus passed away on May 30, 2007, in Benson, Arizona, at the age of 77.
