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Michael Horse
Actor

Michael Horse

21 Dec 1951Born
74Age
67Credits
Los Angeles, California, USABirthplace

Biography

Michael Horse (born Michael James Heinrich; December 21, 1949) is an American actor known for his portrayals of Native American characters in film and television.

Horse was born Michael James Heinrich in Los Angeles, California, on December 21, 1949. His mother, Nancie Belle Posten, was Swedish. Horse's adoptive father, George Heinrich, was born in Florida to parents from Austria. Nancie died in California in 2004.

Horse's film debut came in the role of Tonto in the 1981 film The Legend of the Lone Ranger, which was a commercial failure.

Read the full biography

Before taking the role, Horse had been concerned that the character might be perceived as a stereotype.

After appearing in David Lynch's short film The Cowboy and the Frenchman (1988), Horse portrayed Deputy Hawk, a Native American policeman, in Lynch's TV series Twin Peaks (1990–91). He also acted in Passenger 57 (1992), House of Cards (1993), the 1990s version of the television series The Untouchables (1993), and North of 60 (1995–97). He also appeared in the Thanks episode "Thanksgiving" in 1999, portraying Squanto. He appeared as Deputy Owen Blackwood in four episodes of the first season of Roswell (1999). Horse also appeared as Sheriff Tskany in The X-Files episode "Shapes" in 1994. In 1999, Horse guest starred on Walker, Texas Ranger in the episode "Team Cherokee" as John Red Cloud, the owner of a Native American NASCAR racing team and a friend of the titular character, Texas Ranger Cordell Walker (Chuck Norris).

Horse portrayed American Indian Movement (AIM) activist Dennis Banks in the 1994 film Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee. Eight years later, he lent his voice to Little Creek's friend in Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. He portrayed Mike Proudfoot on Sons of Tucson. In 1995 he portrayed Dirty Bob in the Western film Riders in the Storm. He played the character Jindoga in Hawkeye. In 2017, Horse reprised his role as Deputy Hawk in the third season of TV series Twin Peaks. He also portrayed Twamie Ullulaq in the seventh season of The Blacklist in 2020.

Known for

Filmography

  1. TBAI Filmed Your DeathFilm: Andy Bones
  2. TBAThe BenchFilm
  3. 2026We Are the River: How the Mississippi Shaped MinnesotaFilm: Narrator (voice)
  4. 2023The American BuffaloSeries: (voice) (2 episodes)
  5. 2023Gift of FearFilm: Chance Riddle
  6. 2020Motherland: Fort SalemSeries: The Marshal (10 episodes)
  7. 2020The Call of the WildFilm: Edenshaw
  8. 2018Lights Camera BullshitFilm: Narrator
  9. 2017GodlessSeries: Chief Narrienta (2 episodes)
  10. 2017Dead AntFilm: Bigfoot
  11. 2014Twin Peaks: The Missing PiecesFilm: Deputy Tommy 'Hawk' Hill
  12. 2013The BlacklistSeries: Twamie Ullulaq (1 episode)
  13. 2012Skinny JoFilm: Tombi
  14. 2011Hell on WheelsSeries: Native American (1 episode)
  15. 2010Young JusticeSeries: Holling Longshadow (voice) (1 episode)
  16. 2010Sons of TucsonSeries: Mike Proudfoot (3 episodes)
  17. 2008Bone EaterFilm: Storm Cloud
  18. 2008Turok: Son of StoneFilm: Lead Raider / Chief (voice)
  19. 2003All Grown Up!Series (1 episode)
  20. 2002What's New, Scooby-Doo?Series: Leon Strongfeather (voice) (1 episode)
  21. 2002BirdseyeFilm: Pete Longshadow
  22. 2002Spirit: Stallion of the CimarronFilm: Little Creek's Friend (voice)
  23. 2001KristinSeries: Jonathan Stillwater (1 episode)
  24. 2001DirtFilm: Native American Convict
  25. 2000Jackie Chan AdventuresSeries: Muntab Leader (voice) (1 episode)
  26. 2000Malcolm in the MiddleSeries: Security Guy, Steve (1 episode)
  27. 1999RoswellSeries: Owen Blackwood (4 episodes)
  28. 1999In the Blue Ground: A North of 60 MysteryFilm: Andrew One Sky
  29. 1998Star of JaipurFilm: Colonel Ironwood
  30. 1998The Wild ThornberrysSeries: Wildlife Ranger Sam Rainwater (voice) (1 episode)
  31. 1998Shattered IllusionsFilm: Eddie
  32. 1997The Legend of Calamity JaneSeries: Chaynah Walker (voice) (2 episodes)
  33. 1996Navajo BluesFilm: Begay
  34. 1996American StraysFilm: Lead Cop
  35. 1996Superman: The Animated SeriesSeries: Sky Sentry Operator (voice), Ubu (voice)
  36. 1996Adventures from the Book of VirtuesSeries: Strong Wind / The Chief (voice) (1 episode)
  37. 1996The Real Adventures of Jonny QuestSeries: Eskimo (voice), Ames (voice) (1 episode)
  38. 1996Arli$$Series: Charlie Silvercloud (1 episode)
  39. 1995Riders in the StormFilm: Dirty Bob
  40. 1995Life with LouieSeries (1 episode)
  41. 1994GargoylesSeries: Peter Maza/Carlos Maza (voice), Peter Maza (voice) (1 episode)
  42. 1994Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded KneeFilm: Dennis Banks
  43. 1994DuckmanSeries: Big Chief Fancy Pants (voice) (1 episode)
  44. 1993The X-FilesSeries: Sheriff Charles Tskany (1 episode)
  45. 1993House of CardsFilm: Stoker
  46. 1993Walker, Texas RangerSeries: John Red Cloud (2 episodes)
  47. 1993The UntouchablesSeries: George Steelman (42 episodes)
  48. 1992Passenger 57Film: Forget
  49. 1991The TorkelsonsSeries: David Blackwing (1 episode)
  50. 1991P.S. I Luv USeries (1 episode)
  51. 1990Bobby's WorldSeries (2 episodes)
  52. 1990Twin PeaksSeries: Tommy 'Hawk' Hill (44 episodes)
  53. 1989Border ShootoutFilm: Dandy Jim
  54. 1989Twin PeaksFilm: Deputy Tommy 'Hawk' Hill
  55. 1989Deadly WeaponFilm: Indian Joe
  56. 1988The French as Seen by…Film: (Segment "The Cowboy and the Frenchman")
  57. 1988The Cowboy and the FrenchmanFilm: Broken Feather
  58. 1988Rented LipsFilm: Bobby Leaping Mouse
  59. 1988LongarmFilm: Vasquez
  60. 1988Buckeye and BlueFilm: Cherokee Bill
  61. 1986The Check is in the Mail...Film: Pool Attendant
  62. 1985Amazing StoriesSeries: Indian, male friend (1 episode)
  63. 1985Hollywood BeatSeries: Billy Night Eyes (1 episode)
  64. 1982It Takes TwoSeries (1 episode)
  65. 1982Knight RiderSeries: Jonathan Eagle (1 episode)
  66. 1982The AvengingFilm: Josuah
  67. 1981The Legend of the Lone RangerFilm: Tonto

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.