Michael Spears
Encyclopedia
Michael Spears is an American actor.
Spears was born in Lower Brulé
Tribe, South Dakota to Native American parents. He is a member of the Sicangu Lakota (often called "Sioux") Lower Brule Tribe of South Dakota
. He grew up on the Lower Brule Sioux Reservation
until he was in fifth grade.
Spears's film credits include a major role as the character Dog Star in the 2005 Steven Spielberg
-produced cable mini-series
, Into the West
, which aired on TNT
.
His debut role as the child character Otter, in the Academy-Award-winning 1990 film Dances with Wolves
, also earned him national notice at thirteen years old.
By the age of 17, Spears had acted in both TV and film with some gifted performers, including Kevin Costner
, Jimmy Smits
and Kim Delaney
. His younger brother Eddie Spears
is also an actor, with both movie and TV credits.
Spears is an accomplished hand drum
player and singer, often performing at native American "pow-wow" gatherings and in non-tribal venues (he was the opening act for Rita Coolidge
and Friends at her 2005 concert in Great Falls, Montana
). Michael often travels as a celebrity speaker concentrating on inspirational and educational topics including sustainable energy
, and mentors youth in South Dakota. He works with his father and brother as part of the Inter-Tribal Group, whose goal is to encourage creation of "natural" sustainable energy sources.
He can speak Lakota but is not fluent. At first Michael learnt it from his father and grandfather but he is still learning. During the filming of Into the West
he (and the other actors) had lessons from a linguist.
In 2007 he was preparing for the release of the movie, Imprint
, in which he portrays Tom Grey Horse, a tribal police officer. Also in 2007 he filmed a new movie Shadowheart
, which also has William Sadler
, Christian Fortune
, and Devin Brochu, with Angus MacFadyen
, which is slated for release on August 4, 2009.
As per an article in Distinctly Montana, dated Fall 2006, Michael’s “love in his life is an Italian-American beauty with just a hint of Dine Cherokee” – they are not married but together and have 2 sons together.
He has 2 other children- Jasmin and Noah from previous relationships,but their mother’s identity is not given.
Spears was born in Lower Brulé
Brulé
The Brulé are one of the seven branches or bands of the Teton Lakota Sioux American Indian nation. They are known as Sičháŋǧu Oyáte , or "Burnt Thighs Nation," and so, were called Brulé by the French...
Tribe, South Dakota to Native American parents. He is a member of the Sicangu Lakota (often called "Sioux") Lower Brule Tribe of South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
. He grew up on the Lower Brule Sioux Reservation
Lower Brule Indian Reservation
The Lower Brulé Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation that belongs to the Lower Brulé Lakota Tribe. It is located on the west bank of the Missouri River in central South Dakota in the United States. It is adjacent to the Crow Creek Indian Reservation...
until he was in fifth grade.
Spears's film credits include a major role as the character Dog Star in the 2005 Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
-produced cable mini-series
Miniseries
A miniseries , in a serial storytelling medium, is a television show production which tells a story in a limited number of episodes. The exact number is open to interpretation; however, they are usually limited to fewer than a whole season. The term "miniseries" is generally a North American term...
, Into the West
Into the West (TV miniseries)
Into the West is a 2005 miniseries produced by Steven Spielberg and Dreamworks, with six two-hour episodes . The series was first broadcast in the U.S. on Turner Network Television on six Fridays starting on June 10, 2005...
, which aired on TNT
Turner Network Television
Turner Network Television is an American cable television channel created by media mogul Ted Turner and currently owned by the Turner Broadcasting System division of Time Warner...
.
His debut role as the child character Otter, in the Academy-Award-winning 1990 film Dances with Wolves
Dances with Wolves
Dances with Wolves is a 1990 epic western film directed by and starring Kevin Costner. It is a film adaptation of the 1988 book of the same name by Michael Blake and tells the story of a Union Army Lieutenant who travels to the American frontier to find a military post, and his dealings with a...
, also earned him national notice at thirteen years old.
By the age of 17, Spears had acted in both TV and film with some gifted performers, including Kevin Costner
Kevin Costner
Kevin Michael Costner is an American actor, singer, musician, producer, director, and businessman. He has been nominated for three BAFTA Awards, won two Academy Awards, and two Golden Globe Awards. Costner's roles include Lt. John J...
, Jimmy Smits
Jimmy Smits
Jimmy Smits is an American actor. Smits is perhaps best known for his roles as attorney Victor Sifuentes on the 1980s legal drama L.A. Law, as NYPD Detective Bobby Simone on the 1990s police drama NYPD Blue, and as Congressman Matt Santos on The West Wing...
and Kim Delaney
Kim Delaney
Kim Delaney is an American actress best known for her starring role as Detective Diane Russell on the ABC drama television series, NYPD Blue. Early in her career, she played the role of Jenny Gardner in the hugely popular ABC daytime television drama, All My Children...
. His younger brother Eddie Spears
Eddie Spears
Eddie Spears is an American actor. He is a member of the Kul Wicasa Oyate Lakota Lower Brulé Tribe of South Dakota.He has 5 brothers and 1 sister. His older brother Michael is also an actor....
is also an actor, with both movie and TV credits.
Spears is an accomplished hand drum
Hand drum
A hand drum is any type of drum that is typically played with the bare hand rather than a stick, mallet, hammer, or other type of beater. The simplest type of hand drum is the frame drum, which consists of a shallow, cylindrical shell with a drumhead attached to one of the open ends.-Types:The...
player and singer, often performing at native American "pow-wow" gatherings and in non-tribal venues (he was the opening act for Rita Coolidge
Rita Coolidge
Rita Coolidge is a multiple Grammy Award-winning American vocalist. During the 1970s and 1980s, she charted hits on Billboard's Pop, Country, Adult Contemporary and Jazz charts.-Career:...
and Friends at her 2005 concert in Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
). Michael often travels as a celebrity speaker concentrating on inspirational and educational topics including sustainable energy
Sustainable energy
Sustainable energy is the provision of energy that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Sustainable energy sources include all renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectricity, solar energy, wind energy, wave power, geothermal...
, and mentors youth in South Dakota. He works with his father and brother as part of the Inter-Tribal Group, whose goal is to encourage creation of "natural" sustainable energy sources.
He can speak Lakota but is not fluent. At first Michael learnt it from his father and grandfather but he is still learning. During the filming of Into the West
Into the West (TV miniseries)
Into the West is a 2005 miniseries produced by Steven Spielberg and Dreamworks, with six two-hour episodes . The series was first broadcast in the U.S. on Turner Network Television on six Fridays starting on June 10, 2005...
he (and the other actors) had lessons from a linguist.
In 2007 he was preparing for the release of the movie, Imprint
Imprint
In the publishing industry, an imprint can mean several different things:* As a piece of bibliographic information about a book, it refers to the name and address of the book's publisher and its date of publication as given at the foot or on the verso of its title page.* It can mean a trade name...
, in which he portrays Tom Grey Horse, a tribal police officer. Also in 2007 he filmed a new movie Shadowheart
Shadowheart
Shadowheart is the debut album by Finnish symphonic/folk metal band Kivimetsän Druidi. It was released through Century Media on October 20, 2008.-Track listing:*Tracks 1-11 Published By Magic Arts Publishing.# "Northwind - Prelude" - 1:29...
, which also has William Sadler
William Sadler (actor)
William Thomas Sadler is an American actor who works in film and television. His television and motion picture roles have included Lewis Burwell "Chesty" Puller in The Pacific, Luther Sloan in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Sheriff Jim Valenti in Roswell, convict Heywood in The Shawshank Redemption,...
, Christian Fortune
Christian Fortune
Christian Caleb Fortune is a young film star and actor who was born on July 12, 1991, in Pasadena, California in the United States.-Biography:Christian Fortune played Biloxi Pitcher in The Perfect Game....
, and Devin Brochu, with Angus MacFadyen
Angus Macfadyen
Angus Macfadyen is a Scottish actor.Angus Macfadyen was born in Glasgow and was brought up partly in Africa, France, the Philippines and Singapore. His father was a doctor in the World Health Organisation. He was once engaged to actress Catherine Zeta-Jones.Angus attended the University of...
, which is slated for release on August 4, 2009.
As per an article in Distinctly Montana, dated Fall 2006, Michael’s “love in his life is an Italian-American beauty with just a hint of Dine Cherokee” – they are not married but together and have 2 sons together.
He has 2 other children- Jasmin and Noah from previous relationships,but their mother’s identity is not given.
External links
- http://www.michaelspearsactor.com/
- http://www.michaelspears.net/