Entertainment
196 voters

The Best Native American Characters In Movies & TV

Updated April 4, 2019 2.0k votes 196 voters 3.8k views34 items

Looking for the best Native American characters in film and TV history? When it comes to fair representation in pop culture, Native Americans are pretty scarce. However, of the small percentage of these characters in entertainment, most are known for leaving a lasting impression.

Not simply limited to historic roles in films like Dances With Wolves, this list features superheroes, detectives, crime fighters, and more. In fact, most of these characters feature leading roles - which is a far cry from the olden days where most Native American actors were only reserved for Westerns. Every character on this list brings something special to the table, whether they’re in animated form, historical garb, or superhero attire. Do you have a favorite character?

Vote up the best Native American characters on this list or add your own favorites who aren't listed but deserve to be acknowledged.

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  • Kicking Bird1
    100
    13

    Kicking Bird

    Dances with Wolves

    Played By: Graham Greene

  • Chief Bromden2
    95
    18

    Chief Bromden

    One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

    Played By: Will Sampson

  • Chingachgook3
    74
    6

    Chingachgook

    The Last of the Mohicans

    Played By: Russell Means

  • Wind In His Hair4
    80
    12

    Wind In His Hair

    Dances with Wolves

    Played By: Rodney A. Grant

  • Little Bear 5
    65
    14

    Little Bear

    The Indian in the Cupboard

    Played By: Litefoot

  • Walter Crow Horse6
    56
    8

    Walter Crow Horse

    Thunderheart

    Played By: Graham Greene

  • Victor Joseph7
    59
    12

    Victor Joseph

    Smoke Signals

    Played By: Adam Beach

  • Chester Lake8
    63
    16

    Chester Lake

    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

    Played By: Adam Beach

  • Suzy Song9
    50
    9

    Suzy Song

    Smoke Signals

    Played By: Irene Bedard

  • Maggie Eagle Bear10
    54
    16

    Maggie Eagle Bear

    Thunderheart

    Played By: Sheila Tousey

  • Thomas Builds-the-Fire11
    49
    12

    Thomas Builds-the-Fire

    Smoke Signals

    Played By: Evan Adams

  • 'Jose' Chavez y Chavez12
    52
    16

    'Jose' Chavez y Chavez

    Young Guns, Young Guns II

    Played By: Lou Diamond Phillips

  • Billy Sole13
    51
    17

    Billy Sole

    Predator

    Played By: Sonny Landham

  • Tonto14
    46
    14

    Tonto

    Inspector Gadget, The Lone Ranger
  • Virgil White15
    43
    14

    Virgil White

    Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

    Played By: Gil Birmingham

  • Hanzee Dent16
    43
    16

    Hanzee Dent

    Fargo

    Played By: Zhan McClarnon

  • Chakotay17
    45
    19

    Chakotay

    Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek

    Played By: Robert Beltran

  • Stands With a Fist18
    39
    16

    Stands With a Fist

    Dances with Wolves
  • Warpath19
    33
    11

    Warpath

    X-Men: Days of Future Past, Marvel Universe

    Powers & Abilities: Flight, Superhuman speed

    Played By: Booboo Stewart

  • John Redcorn20
    37
    21

    John Redcorn

    King of the Hill

    Voiced By: Victor Aaron (Season 1), Jonathan Joss (Season 2–13)

  • Elisa Maza21
    28
    19

    Elisa Maza

    Gargoyles, Gargoyles the Movie: The Heroes Awaken

    Voiced By: Salli Richardson

  • Apache Chief22
    27
    17

    Apache Chief

    DC Universe

    Voiced By: Regis Cordic (The All-New Super Friends Hour, Episode 1 ), Michael Rye (remaining episodes), Maurice LaMarche (Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law)

  • Pocahontas23
    33
    25

    Pocahontas

    Pocahontas, Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World

    Voiced By: Irene Bedard

  • Nightwolf24
    21
    11

    Nightwolf

    Mortal Kombat 2: Annihilation

    Powers & Abilities: Shapeshifting

    Played By: Litefoot

  • Fern White25
    20
    15

    Fern White

    Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt

    Played By: Sheri Foster

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