New official site
Steve Reevis and wife Macile Reevis at
FAITA 2000
Photo: Kathy Williams
|
New official site
Steve Reevis and wife Macile Reevis at |
This is an old bio:
BROWNING, MONTANA
Steve Reevis took one look at acting and thought "Why
not?" Reevis, a Blackfeet, was hired during the late 1980s
as a stuntman for the movie War Party. It was then, serving as a
stunt double for the lead actor, he realized his acting
potential. "I wanted to try acting. I thought to myself that
I could do the work," he says, reflecting on his decision to
switch roles. "I’ve really been fortunate to be able to
get jobs, especially for not being in the business that
long," he says. "I’m really thankful that
I’ve been hired for all the work that I’ve had over the
past few years."
ABOUT LAST OF THE DOGMEN
"It’s a fictional story based on a small group of
northern Cheyenne people who were hidden in the mountains for
over 100 years...We’ve been up there for a couple of
generations with no contact with the world. It’s a whole
different twist to a story about native people. Instead of being
a period piece, the story has a modern setting with a group of
people that is still living in the last century." "He
(Yellow Wolf) knows that there are white people in the world and
that it is changing so much, but he doesn’t know how much
change has taken place...I was fascinated with the script. There
are some nice touches--like tribal members are wearing watches on
their belts and on their knives. I enjoyed this part--like all
the period pieces that I’ve done--because it allows me to be
in a time which I think was a better time period for Indian
people. It helps me to appreciate the deep commitment our people
had back then to tradition, culture and spirituality. I hope it
turns out to be a good movie--one that helps people to see us not
as savages but as happy people.»
BEING DISCOVERED
Last of the Dogmen is currently at the end of Reevis’
resume, which dates back to the mid-1980s. He accepted the
challenge to pursue work as an actor, accepting minor parts in
Twins and Unsolved Mysteries. Even though he accepted horseback
stuntwork in Dances With Wolves, his screen potential in that
blockbuster became even more promising. "This film was a
breakthrough for me. Even though I didn’t have any lines, I
had a lot of on camera time. People started recognizing
me--either through the movie or word of mouth. That’s when I
started to audition for other roles. The roles were small at
first, but they started to eventually get bigger...then came
Geronimo."
Like many, Reevis struggled
during the early times. After he decided to pursue acting, he
moved to California only to sleep in his 1971 Ford Torino. He
says he often parked outside fitness gyms so he could work out
daily and take showers. After Dances, he bought a van. The
survival test continued. The new vehicle became his living
quarters. "It was pretty hard at first but I was determined
to act. After Dances with Wolves, my commitment didn’t
change. After I started doing some commercials, I was able to get
a place to stay. Acting was a goal that I wanted to fulfill. I
knew there would be a lot of sacrifices...I look back on those
times and it helps me to appreciate what I have now." After
Last of the Dogmen, Reevis didn’t work as much as the other
alumni of the native cast of Dances With Wolves. He says he
doesn’t mind, adding that the free time off helps him
concentrate on his priorities--namely his sons, ages 11, 3 and 8
months old. He also takes advantage of the non-work breaks to go
to his home reservation in Browning, Montana. "I go home for
enlightenment. I sweat and take part in ceremonies. It really
helps me to balance my life. I can’t find that spiritual
balance in California. I know my true foundation is my own
Blackfeet people, my relatives and friends. To go home is a joy,
it takes away all the stress and anxiety. It’s a good
feeling to feel the strength in prayer. I go home to mainly to
get that balance so that when I come out, I can do native roles
really well. I always ask the Creator to be a part of me. He
knows how to work things better than I do...I never forget where
I came from."
Reevis accepts the roles that he
is cast for and says he doesn’t actively campaign for
certain parts. He cites his own insecurities, believing that he
lacks experience. "I know that I have potential and I need
to take acting classes to bring that potential out, then I think
I can start looking at roles that I would really like to
play--ones that would be a challenge to me. But at this point in
my career, I feel very inexperienced as an actor. When I play a
character, I rely heavily on my own internal instincts. I also
incorporate a lot of the teachings that I’ve been given--the
stories about the old ways. It’s these instincts and
teachings that I use as tools when I portray a character."
Reevis prefers film to television. He’s turned away
television scripts, saying that the medium doesn’t give
actors a chance to develop the character. "They don’t
really spend time to allow an actor the time to bring that
character to life. That’s why I don’t really spend a
lot of time auditioning for television. There are also those
rules that are demeaning and degrading. I don’t fault the
writers. I think it’s a lack of education. Every role that I
take, I tackle it with the best of my ability. I intend to take
roles that I think my sons and other native children would be
proud to see me in. That’s the most important thing
tome."
THE APACHE CHATO
Columbia’s Geronimo opened more doors for Reevis. Reevis has
seen and heard most of the historical slants on Chato. He ignored
them all and opted to personalize the role. "I think this
role just fit me and I would say that this was my favorite role.
For whatever reason he switched to be a calvary scout, I
don’t know why. I can only feel that he wanted to try and
bring Geronimo and his people in so that they wouldn’t be
getting killed anymore. He just didn’t want any more killing
or any more trouble. I saw Chato as a man who really cared about
his people. He didn’t want to see them die or suffer
hardship. I portrayed him from my heart--what I felt he would
have felt back in those days. It seems to have worked. I got a
lot of feedback. People were able to see the heartfelt person I
truly believe Chato was...I tried to show that through the facial
and verbal expressions. I was happy that those impressions came
across in a positive way."
THE DREAM
Reevis has the same dream of many natives who are in the
television and film industries: someday, there will be a full
scale movie written, directed, and produced and portrayed by
Indian people. He thinks it’s inevitable. He gives this
vision three to four years to become reality. "I feel that
we are pretty close. There are natives out there who are pushing
their own scripts, searching for funding in order to do those
projects. We have the intelligence--it’s just a matter of
being at the right place at the right time. I know that there are
a lot of people out there trying to make this dream come true. It
will happen."
Steve Reevis (Yellow Wolf) has
appeared in such films as Walter Hill’s
"Geronimo," "Posse" and "Dances With
Wolves." He also has been featured in two TNT productions:
"Lakota Moon" and "Miracle in the
Wilderness." Reevis began his career when he accompanied his
brother to an audition for the feature "War Party" and
ended up being selected as a stunt rider, doubling actor Billy
Wirth. The experience interested him in film-making and he began
getting small roles in films such as "Twins" and
"The Doors" as well as television commercials.
I was given this by Stephanie Ann Gritts, who publish the AHG newsletter.
Links:
Photo1, Photo2, Photo3, Photo5, Photo6, Macile's (his wife) page - photos!.
Buy them at Amazon.com:
For breaking news, subscribe to the Newsletter.
Forums | Actors/Home
Webmaster: My name is Annie. I'm not native, and therefore not an
authority on native issues. I do make mistakes, so please correct
me and help me make this a better site. NativeCelebs is about
Native American Indians in the entertainment industry.
About the site. Contact
us. Last edited 2005-07-05
© NativeCelebs 1996-2004 | Copyright notice
http://www.nativecelebs.com/ |