Marvin (Ted) Thin Elk, Sr. (August 14, 1919 â€" January 27, 1997) was
a Sicangu Lakota Sioux actor who spent most of his life on the Rosebud
Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Ted became very involved in the
Sicangu Lakota community through his participation in the Lakota
Treaty Council and membership in the Grey Eagle Society. Because of
his involvement in the community, Ted Thin Elk was awarded the title
of chief. At the age of 72 Ted was cast in his first role as Grandpa
Sam Reaches in the film Thunderheart. For his work in the film, Ted
Thin Elk was accorded a First Americans in the Arts Award in 1992, the
first year the honor was awarded. Ted continued his acting career by
participating in two more films, The Broken Chain and Walking Thunder,
and a television mini-series, Heaven and Hell: North and South, Book
III, before passing away in 1997.In Ted Thin Elk's 77 years of life he
had three different spouses. His first marriage was to a woman named
Arvella Pawnee in 1946. These two were married for 21 years until
Arvella died in 1967, during this time they had 9 children together.
After the passing of his first wife, he was remarried to a woman named
Mary Sitting Hawk in 1969. Again, these two were married for 16 years
until Mary died in 1985. Ted's final marriage was to Anna V. Carroll
in 1993. This marriage only lasted a year before it was annulled in
1994. In his early 20s, Ted Thin Elk served in the United States
military during World War II. He was a private in the United States
Army stationed in Africa and a part of the Northern African Campaign.
During his service in Africa, Ted sustained a minor injury and was
relieved of service returning to the United States.
a Sicangu Lakota Sioux actor who spent most of his life on the Rosebud
Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Ted became very involved in the
Sicangu Lakota community through his participation in the Lakota
Treaty Council and membership in the Grey Eagle Society. Because of
his involvement in the community, Ted Thin Elk was awarded the title
of chief. At the age of 72 Ted was cast in his first role as Grandpa
Sam Reaches in the film Thunderheart. For his work in the film, Ted
Thin Elk was accorded a First Americans in the Arts Award in 1992, the
first year the honor was awarded. Ted continued his acting career by
participating in two more films, The Broken Chain and Walking Thunder,
and a television mini-series, Heaven and Hell: North and South, Book
III, before passing away in 1997.In Ted Thin Elk's 77 years of life he
had three different spouses. His first marriage was to a woman named
Arvella Pawnee in 1946. These two were married for 21 years until
Arvella died in 1967, during this time they had 9 children together.
After the passing of his first wife, he was remarried to a woman named
Mary Sitting Hawk in 1969. Again, these two were married for 16 years
until Mary died in 1985. Ted's final marriage was to Anna V. Carroll
in 1993. This marriage only lasted a year before it was annulled in
1994. In his early 20s, Ted Thin Elk served in the United States
military during World War II. He was a private in the United States
Army stationed in Africa and a part of the Northern African Campaign.
During his service in Africa, Ted sustained a minor injury and was
relieved of service returning to the United States.
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