Chief John Big Tree

Acting

Personal Info

gender

Male

birthday

June 2, 1877

died

July 6, 1967

place of birth

Buffalo, New York, USA

also known as

Chief Big Tree · Isaac Johnny John

total credits

46 movies

Biography

Chief John Big Tree was born on June 2, 1877 in Buffalo, New York, as Isaac Johnny John. He was an actor, known for She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), Drums Along the Mohawk (1939) and Devil's Doorway (1950). He died on July 6, 1967 in Onondaga Indian Reservation, New York.

One of three men who posed for artist James Fraser for the profile which became the famous "Indian head nickel" or "buffalo nickel" minted 1913-1938. The other two were Chief Two Moons (of the Cheyenne) and Chief Iron Tail (of the Lakota Sioux). The image was reused for a special commemorative $50 gold piece in 2006--the USA's first 24k (pure gold) coin.

Big Tree was a member of the Seneca Nation.

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Known For

Filmography

46 credits · sorted by popularity · swipe or use arrows

Stagecoach
7.6

Stagecoach

1939as Indian Scout (uncredited)
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
6.9

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon

1949as Chief Pony That Walks
Lost Horizon
7.0

Lost Horizon

1937as Porter (uncredited)
The Big Trail
6.7

The Big Trail

1930as Indian (uncredited)
North West Mounted Police
6.4

North West Mounted Police

1940as Blue Owl (uncredited)
Western Union
6.0

Western Union

1941as Chief Spotted Horse
Destry Rides Again
7.2

Destry Rides Again

1939as Indian in Saloon (uncredited)
Drums Along the Mohawk
6.5

Drums Along the Mohawk

1939as Blue Back
Devil's Doorway
6.9

Devil's Doorway

1950as Thundercloud
The Iron Horse
6.7

The Iron Horse

1925as Cheyenne Chief (uncredited)
Brigham Young
4.6

Brigham Young

1940as Big Elk
Susannah of the Mounties
6.5

Susannah of the Mounties

1939as Chief (uncredited)
The Farmer Takes a Wife
6.2

The Farmer Takes a Wife

1935as Indian
The Bold Caballero
6.0

The Bold Caballero

1936as Tavern Indian (uncredited)
Maid of Salem
6.2

Maid of Salem

1937as Indian Man (Uncredited)
Custer's Last Stand
5.3

Custer's Last Stand

1936as Medicine Man
Mantrap
6.2

Mantrap

1926as Indian (uncredited)
The Oregon Trail
7.5

The Oregon Trail

1939as Spotted Elk
Too Many Girls
5.9

Too Many Girls

1940as Chief
The Frontiersman
9.0

The Frontiersman

1927as Grey Eagle
Wheels of Destiny
5.3

Wheels of Destiny

1934as Chief War Eagle
Las Vegas Nights
6.4

Las Vegas Nights

1941as Indian
The Spirit of '76
8.0

The Spirit of '76

1917as Gowah
The Singing Vagabond
7.5

The Singing Vagabond

1935as Chief White Eagle (uncredited)
The Girl of the Golden West
5.3

The Girl of the Golden West

1938as Indian Chief in Prologue
Hudson's Bay
6.1

Hudson's Bay

1940as Chief
The Telegraph Trail
4.9

The Telegraph Trail

1933as Indian Chief (uncredited)
King of the Arena
10.0

King of the Arena

1933as Circus Indian
The Adventures of Frank Merriwell
5.7

The Adventures of Frank Merriwell

1936as Indian John
Prairie Thunder
4.3

Prairie Thunder

1937as Indian (uncredited)
Hills of Old Wyoming
5.0

Hills of Old Wyoming

1937as Chief Big Tree
The Golden West
5.5

The Golden West

1932as Indian (uncredited)
Winners Of The Wilderness
7.7

Winners Of The Wilderness

1927as Chief Pontiac
The Frontier Trail
10.0

The Frontier Trail

1926as Chief Gray Wolf
The Overland Telegraph
9.0

The Overland Telegraph

1929as Medecine Man
Sioux Blood
9.0

Sioux Blood

1929as Crazy Wolf
The Red Rider
9.0

The Red Rider

1925as Indian Chief
The Desert's Toll
7.0

The Desert's Toll

1926as Red Eagle
Red Fork Range
8.0

Red Fork Range

1931as Chief Barking Fox
The Huntress
8.0

The Huntress

1923as Otebaya
The Last of the Mohicans
6.8

The Last of the Mohicans

1932as Huron Warrior (uncredited)
A Fight For Love
6.0

A Fight For Love

1919as Swift Deer
Painted Ponies
8.0

Painted Ponies

1927
The Primitive Lover
6.7

The Primitive Lover

1922as Chief Johnny Bluebottle
The Avenging Arrow
7.0

The Avenging Arrow

1921as Modoc
Spoilers of the West
7.0

Spoilers of the West

1927as Red Cloud