Chief John Big Tree

Born

June 2, 1877

Died

Jul 6, 1967

From

Buffalo, New York, USA·Onondaga Reservation

Credits on file

Decades active

In short · Acted for three decades — 18 credits.

Remembered for

Ranked by community engagement + sustained interest across this person's credits in our database.

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Biography

Chief John Big Tree, born Isaac Johnny John on June 2, 1877, in Buffalo, New York, was an actor known for his roles in *She Wore a Yellow Ribbon* (1949), *Drums Along the Mohawk* (1939), and *Devil's Doorway* (1950). He was a member of the Seneca Nation and one of three men who posed for artist James Fraser for the profile used on the "Indian head nickel" or "buffalo nickel," which was minted from 1913 to 1938. The other two men were Chief Two Moons (Cheyenne) and Chief Iron Tail (Lakota Sioux). The design was later reused for a special commemorative $50 gold piece in 2006—the first 24k (pure gold) coin issued by the United States. Chief John Big Tree died on July 6, 1967, at the Onondaga Indian Reservation in New York.