Richard Davis Thunderbird (August 6, 1866 â€" April 6, 1946) was a
Native American actor of Cheyenne descent known as Chief Thunderbird.
He appeared in twenty films but was credited only in major films such
as Wild West Days (1937), For the Service (1936), Silly Billies
(1936), Custer's Last Stand (1936), Annie Oakley (1935), Cyclone of
the Saddle (1935), Laughing Boy (1934), and Heroes of the West
(1932).Thunderbird was born on August 6, 1866, near Tongue River,
Montana, and attended the Carlisle Indian School.Thunderbird made his
first appearance in a film in 1914. He played an Indian (an uncredited
role) in the film The Perils of Pauline. Thunderbird got his first
credited role in the movie Battling with Buffalo Bill (1931), wherein
he played Chief Thunder Bird. His next credited role (also as Chief
Thunder Bird) was in Heroes of the West (1932). The protagonists of
the film included Noah Beery Jr. as Noah Blaine, Julie Bishop as Ann
Blaine, Onslow Stevens as Tom Crosby, and William Desmond as John
Blaine. The film is a classic western film in which the hero fights
off crooks and Indians for the railroad.Thunderbird got his first big
role in his next film, Laughing Boy (1934), wherein he played Laughing
Boy's Father. The film itself was a controversial one, revolving
around Ramon Novarro's character, Laughing Boy, who falls in love with
Lupe Velez's character, Slim Girl. Laughing Boy's family, of Navajo
descent, disapprove of their son's decision to marry a white man's
mistress.
Native American actor of Cheyenne descent known as Chief Thunderbird.
He appeared in twenty films but was credited only in major films such
as Wild West Days (1937), For the Service (1936), Silly Billies
(1936), Custer's Last Stand (1936), Annie Oakley (1935), Cyclone of
the Saddle (1935), Laughing Boy (1934), and Heroes of the West
(1932).Thunderbird was born on August 6, 1866, near Tongue River,
Montana, and attended the Carlisle Indian School.Thunderbird made his
first appearance in a film in 1914. He played an Indian (an uncredited
role) in the film The Perils of Pauline. Thunderbird got his first
credited role in the movie Battling with Buffalo Bill (1931), wherein
he played Chief Thunder Bird. His next credited role (also as Chief
Thunder Bird) was in Heroes of the West (1932). The protagonists of
the film included Noah Beery Jr. as Noah Blaine, Julie Bishop as Ann
Blaine, Onslow Stevens as Tom Crosby, and William Desmond as John
Blaine. The film is a classic western film in which the hero fights
off crooks and Indians for the railroad.Thunderbird got his first big
role in his next film, Laughing Boy (1934), wherein he played Laughing
Boy's Father. The film itself was a controversial one, revolving
around Ramon Novarro's character, Laughing Boy, who falls in love with
Lupe Velez's character, Slim Girl. Laughing Boy's family, of Navajo
descent, disapprove of their son's decision to marry a white man's
mistress.
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