Chief Dan George

Novelist

Birthday July 24, 1899

Birth Sign Leo

Birthplace Vancouver, Canada

DEATH DATE Sep 23, 1981 (82)

#84182 Most Popular

About

Academy Award-nominated Native American actor and author of My Heart Soars. The Canada Post issued a postage stamp in his honor.

Before Fame

He held a number of odd jobs, including longshoreman, construction worker, and school bus driver. Before beginning his television acting career, he was also the Band Chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation.

Trivia

He received his first acting gig, in the CBC series, Cariboo Country, when he was sixty years old.

Family Life

He was born Geswanouth Slahoot in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Several of his grandchildren and great grandchildren, including Charlene Aleck and Lee Maracle, became actors and/or writers.

Associated With

He co-starred with Dustin Hoffman in the 1970 film, Little Big Man, for which he became an Academy Award nominee in the category of Best Supporting Actor.