Wes Studi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wes Studi
ᏪᏌ ᏍᏚᏗ
Studi in 2019
Born	Wesley Studie (1947-12-17) December 17, 1947 (age 77) Nofire Hollow, Oklahoma, U.S.
Nationality	American Cherokee Nation
Education	Tulsa Community College
Occupation	Actor producer
Years active	1972–present
Spouse(s)	Rebecca Graves (m. 1974; div. 1982) Maura Dhu Studi (m. 1986)
Children	3
Relatives	Jack Albertson (father-in-law)

Wesley Studi (Cherokee: ᏪᏌ ᏍᏚᏗ; born December 17, 1947) is a famous Native American actor and film producer. He is a member of the Cherokee Nation. Wes Studi is well-known for playing Native American characters in movies.

In 2019, he received a special Academy Honorary Award. This made him the first Native American and the first Indigenous person from North America to get such an honor from the Academy.

Studi has acted in many popular movies. These include Dances with Wolves (1990) and The Last of the Mohicans (1992). He also appeared in Geronimo: An American Legend (1993) and The New World (2005). You might also know him as Sagat in the movie Street Fighter (1994).

Other films he has been in are Hostiles, Heat, Mystery Men, and Avatar. He also appeared in the TV show Penny Dreadful. In December 2020, The New York Times listed him as one of the "25 Greatest Actors of the 21st Century (So Far)."

Early Life and Education

Wes Studi was born on December 17, 1947. His birthplace was Nofire Hollow, Oklahoma. This is a rural area in Cherokee County, Oklahoma. His family was Cherokee. His mother, Maggie Studie, was a housekeeper. His father, Andy Studie, worked on a ranch.

Studi spoke only the Cherokee language at home. He learned English when he started elementary school. He went to Chilocco Indian Agricultural School for high school. He graduated in 1964.

In 2024, Studi appeared on the TV show Finding Your Roots. He learned more about his family history. He found out that his 6th great-grandmother was Nancy Ward. She was a very important Cherokee leader.

Military Service and Activism

At age 17, Studi joined the Oklahoma National Guard. He trained at Fort Polk, Louisiana. He then volunteered for active service. He served 12 months in Vietnam.

After his military service, Studi became involved in Native American activism. He took part in the Wounded Knee Incident in 1973. This event happened at the Pine Ridge Reservation. Studi later started acting while attending Tulsa Community College. His first role was in a play called The Royal Hunt of the Sun.

Acting Career Highlights

Studi's first film was The Trial of Standing Bear in 1988. He became known for playing strong Native American warriors. He played a Pawnee warrior in Dances with Wolves (1990). He also played the Huron character Magua in The Last of the Mohicans (1992).

In 1993, Studi starred in Geronimo: An American Legend. He played the real-life Apache leader, Geronimo. He also played the superhero Sphinx in the 1999 comedy film Mystery Men.

Television Roles

In 2002, Studi played Police Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn. This character was in a series of PBS movies. These movies were based on Tony Hillerman's novels. The stories were set among the Navajo and Hopi in the Southwest.

In 2009, Studi appeared in the PBS series We Shall Remain. He played Major Ridge, a Cherokee leader. In this series, Studi spoke only in his native Cherokee language.

Major Film Appearances

In 2005, Studi played a character based on Chief Opechancanough. This chief led the Powhatan Confederacy in Virginia. This role was in the film The New World.

In 2009, Studi was in James Cameron's huge movie Avatar. He played the Na'vi chief Eytukan. Later, in 2017, Studi played Cheyenne chief Yellow Hawk in the film Hostiles.

Academy Award Recognition

At the 90th Academy Awards, Wes Studi introduced a tribute to military movies. He gave part of his speech in the Cherokee language. He is very fluent in Cherokee. Studi is the second Native American actor to present at the Academy Awards. Will Rogers was the first in 1934.

In 2019, Studi received an Academy Honorary Award. This was a special Oscar for his acting career. He was the first Native American actor to receive an Oscar specifically for acting. In his speech, Studi said, "It’s about time. It’s been a wild and wonderful ride, and I’m really proud to be here tonight as the first Indigenous Native American to receive an Academy Award."

Personal Life

After his studies, Wes Studi taught the Cherokee language and its writing system, called syllabary. He also helped start a Cherokee-language newspaper. He then worked in ranching.

Studi has a daughter, Leah, and a son, Daniel, from his first marriage. After that marriage ended, he stopped ranching and began studying acting. He married Maura Dhu, and they moved to a farm in New Mexico. Maura Dhu is the daughter of actor Jack Albertson. Wes and Maura Dhu Studi have a son named Kholan. Studi and his wife are also in a band called Firecat of Discord.

Honors and Awards

• 1994: Won a Western Heritage Award for Geronimo: An American Legend.
• 1998: Received the Career Achievement Award from the Dreamspeakers Film and Festival.
• 2000: Awarded the Golden Boot Award by the Motion Picture and Television Fund.
• 2000: Named Artist of the Decade at the First Americans in the Arts Awards.
• 2013: Joined the Hall of Great Western Performers – Western Heritage Award in Oklahoma City.
• 2019: Received an Academy Honorary Award.
• 2019: Honored by the National Multicultural Western Heritage Museum.

Filmography

Film

Television

See also

In Spanish: Wes Studi para niños