August Schellenberg
Encyclopedia
August Schellenberg is a Canadian
actor. His ethnicity is Mohawk and Swiss-German. He was trained at the National Theatre School of Canada
.
His first film was Rip-Off
in 1971. In 1981, he did voices for the animated film Heavy Metal
. During the late 90's he had major roles in Black Robe
(as Chomina), Free Willy
and its sequels (as Randolph Johnson), Iron Will
(Ned Dodd), and TV film Crazy Horse
(Sitting Bull
). He went on to star as Chief Powhatan
in Terrence Malick
's 2005 film The New World, alongside Colin Farrell
, Q'orianka Kilcher
, and Christian Bale
. He also had roles in Disney's Eight Below
and the doco within a film The Green Chain (2007). In 2011, he appeared in two episodes of the television series Stargate Univere as Yaozu.
He has been quoted as saying that his favorite role was that of Sitting Bull
in the film Crazy Horse, a character he reprised in the film version of the Dee Brown
bestseller Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
, for which he received an Emmy nomination.
Schellenberg has been nominated for three Genie Awards and has won one (for Black Robe). Also nominated for two Gemini Awards, August Schellenberg won one (for the television
movie The Prodigal).
with his wife, actress Joan Karasevich. He is father of three daughters with Karasevich.
In the past, Schellenberg taught acting seminars at Toronto's Centre for Indigenous Theatre
and York University
. He conducts motivational workshops in schools and for cultural and community organizations across North America.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
actor. His ethnicity is Mohawk and Swiss-German. He was trained at the National Theatre School of Canada
National Theatre School of Canada
The National Theatre School of Canada is a private college located in Montreal, Quebec.Established in Montreal in 1960, the National Theatre School of Canada offers professional training in English and French in a setting that unites all the theatre arts: acting, playwriting, directing, set and...
.
His first film was Rip-Off
Rip-Off
Rip-Off is a top-down vector shoot 'em up arcade game released by Cinematronics in 1980. It is the first shoot 'em up arcade game to feature cooperative gameplay and to exhibit flocking behavior.-Gameplay:...
in 1971. In 1981, he did voices for the animated film Heavy Metal
Heavy Metal (film)
Heavy Metal is a 1981 Canadian fantasy-animated film directed by Gerald Potterton and produced by Ivan Reitman and Leonard Mogel, who also was the publisher of Heavy Metal magazine....
. During the late 90's he had major roles in Black Robe
Black Robe (film)
Black Robe is a 1991 film directed by Bruce Beresford. The screenplay was written by Northern Irish-Canadian author Brian Moore, who adapted it from his novel of the same name....
(as Chomina), Free Willy
Free Willy
Free Willy is a 1993 family film directed by Simon Wincer, and released by Warner Bros. under its Family Entertainment label. The film stars Jason James Richter as a young boy who befriends an orca whale, named "Willy."...
and its sequels (as Randolph Johnson), Iron Will
Iron Will
Iron Will is a 1994 family adventure film directed by Charles Haid. The film stars Mackenzie Astin, Kevin Spacey, David Ogden Stiers, George Gerdes, Brian Cox, Penelope Windust, and August Schellenberg.-Plot:...
(Ned Dodd), and TV film Crazy Horse
Crazy Horse (film)
Crazy Horse is a 1996 film based on the true story of Crazy Horse directed by John Irvin. It stars Michael Greyeyes as the titular role, Ned Beatty as Dr...
(Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull Sitting Bull Sitting Bull (Lakota: Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake (in Standard Lakota Orthography), also nicknamed Slon-he or "Slow"; (c. 1831 – December 15, 1890) was a Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux holy man who led his people as a tribal chief during years of resistance to United States government policies...
). He went on to star as Chief Powhatan
Chief Powhatan
Chief Powhatan , whose proper name was Wahunsenacawh , was the paramount chief of Tsenacommacah, an alliance of Algonquian-speaking Virginia Indians in the Tidewater region of Virginia at the time English settlers landed at Jamestown in 1607...
in Terrence Malick
Terrence Malick
Terrence Frederick Malick is a U.S. film director, screenwriter, and producer. In a career spanning almost four decades, Malick has directed five feature films....
's 2005 film The New World, alongside Colin Farrell
Colin Farrell
Colin James Farrell is an Irish actor, who has appeared in such film as Tigerland, Miami Vice, Minority Report, Phone Booth, The Recruit, Alexander and S.W.A.T....
, Q'orianka Kilcher
Q'Orianka Kilcher
Q'orianka Waira Qoiana Kilcher is a U.S. actress, singer and activist. She is best known for her role as Pocahontas in the 2005 film The New World, directed by Terrence Malick. Her second memorable film role is Princess Kaiulani in Princess Kaiulani.-Early life:Kilcher was born in Schweigmatt,...
, and Christian Bale
Christian Bale
Christian Charles Philip Bale is an English actor. Best known for his roles in American films, Bale has starred in both big budget Hollywood films and the smaller projects from independent producers and art houses....
. He also had roles in Disney's Eight Below
Eight Below
Eight Below is a 2006 American adventure film directed by Frank Marshall and written by David DiGilio. It stars Paul Walker, Jason Biggs, Bruce Greenwood and Moon Bloodgood...
and the doco within a film The Green Chain (2007). In 2011, he appeared in two episodes of the television series Stargate Univere as Yaozu.
He has been quoted as saying that his favorite role was that of Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull
Sitting Bull Sitting Bull Sitting Bull (Lakota: Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake (in Standard Lakota Orthography), also nicknamed Slon-he or "Slow"; (c. 1831 – December 15, 1890) was a Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux holy man who led his people as a tribal chief during years of resistance to United States government policies...
in the film Crazy Horse, a character he reprised in the film version of the Dee Brown
Dee Brown (novelist)
Dorris Alexander "Dee" Brown was an American novelist and historian.His most famous work, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee details some of the violence and oppression suffered by Native Americans at the hands of American expansionism.-Life:Born in Alberta, Louisiana, a sawmill town, Brown grew up in...
bestseller Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (film)
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee is a 2007 television film adapted from the book of the same name by Dee Brown. The film was written by Daniel Giat, directed by Yves Simoneau and produced by HBO Films. The book on which the movie is based is a history of Native Americans in the American West in the...
, for which he received an Emmy nomination.
Schellenberg has been nominated for three Genie Awards and has won one (for Black Robe). Also nominated for two Gemini Awards, August Schellenberg won one (for the television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
movie The Prodigal).
Personal life
According to his official website, Schellenberg was born and lived in Montreal, Quebec until moving to Toronto, Ontario in 1967. He established himself in Toronto until 1995. He now lives in Dallas, TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
with his wife, actress Joan Karasevich. He is father of three daughters with Karasevich.
In the past, Schellenberg taught acting seminars at Toronto's Centre for Indigenous Theatre
Centre for Indigenous Theatre
Founded in 1974 by the late James H. Buller, the Native Theatre School was started with the vision that Aboriginal people could create change in Canada through theatre. Buller was a noted opera and musical comedy singer....
and York University
York University
York University is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, Ontario's second-largest graduate school, and Canada's leading interdisciplinary university....
. He conducts motivational workshops in schools and for cultural and community organizations across North America.