Saginaw Grant obit

American Indian Actor Saginaw Grant, 85, Passes Away

 

He was not on the list.

LOS ANGELES — Legendary American Indian actor Saginaw Grant walked on to the spirit world Tuesday, July 27, 2021. Grant was a widely respected elder in Indian Country. He was the hereditary chief and a respected citizen of the Sac and Fox Nation in Oklahoma  with blood ties to the Iowa and Otoe-Missouria Nations. He was 85.

The announcement of his passing was posted on his Facebook page:

“It’s with heavy hearts we announce a warrior has been called home. Saginaw Morgan Grant, the hereditary chief and medicine man of the Sac & Fox tribe, traveled the world speaking of his traditions, his experiences, his sobriety and his faith as both a Native American and a Christian.”

Born in Pawnee, Okla. in 1936, Grant did not become an actor until later in life. However, once he took up acting, he felt enormous pride in sharing culture through films, television programs and public speaking. He admitted that he never aspired to be an actor, but when someone approached him to ask him to be a part of a Chrysler automobile commercial, he said yes and his acting career was launched. Since that day, he has starred in many films like the "Lone Ranger" with Johnny Depp, "Breaking Bad" and "The World’s Fastest Indian" with Academy Award winner Anthony Hopkins.

A recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014 at the Oceanside International Film Festival, Grant offered some advice about respect during an interview.

“Respect everyone regardless of what color, regardless of what belief. We’re all people. We all have feelings. We all know right from wrong. A lot of us take that wrong road, and it hurts us,” Grant said.

“Teach the children the traditions of our past. “Every nation, every people needs to keep their traditions. To remember who they are. Be proud. Remember, If you know who you are, you will always get somewhere on Mother Earth.” Grant continued in the interview.

A true believer in keeping Native American traditions and culture alive, Grant toured Indian Country on the powwow circuit.

“If we lose our traditions, we lose our people,” he said. Grant always made sure that people heard and understood his message of strength in spirituality and tradition. Many people describe Grant as humble, respectful, and above all, traditional.

Grant was presented the Living Legend Award by the Native American Music Awards (NAMA). In 2018, his album “Don’t Let the Drums Go Silent” received Record of the Year from NAMA.

 

Filmography

Film

War Party - Freddie Man Wolf (1988)

Small Time - The Holy Man (1996)

Grey Owl - Brother of the Pow Wow Chief (1999)

Legend of the Phantom Rider - Medicine Man (2002)

Black Cloud - Grandpa (2004)

Social Guidance - Red Hightower (2005)

The World's Fastest Indian - Jake (2005)

Beyond the Quest - Apparition (2007)

Slipstream - Eddie (2007)

Maneater - Stanley Hipp (2009)

Walking on Turtle Island - Catches the Bear (2009)

Awful Nice - Jonas (2013)

Winter in the Blood - Yellow Calf (2013)

The Lone Ranger - Chief Big Bear (2013)

Wind Walkers - Native Elder (2015)

The Ridiculous 6 - Screaming Eagle (2015)

Valley of the Gods - Tall Bitter Water (2017)

Journey to Royal (and the 4th Emergency Rescue Squadron) - Himself (2017)

Television

The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles - episode - The Mystery of the Blues - Grey Cloud (1993)

Harts of the West - 15 episodes - Auggie (1993-1994)

The Last Frontier- episode - The One with the Friends' Theme - Alaskan (1996)

Nash Bridges - Ol'Larry/1 episode (1997)

Stolen Women: Captured Heartss - Chief Luta/TV movie (1997)

Baywatch - Eyes That See At Night/1 episode (1997)

Purgatory - Ancient Gate Keeper/TV movie (1999)

Auf Wiedersehen, Pet - Medecine Man/3 episodes (2002)

Skinwalkers - Wilson Sam/TV movie (2002)

Miracles - Most Respected Elder/1 episode (2003)

DreamKeeper - Old Medecine Man/TV movie (2003)

The Fallen Ones - Joseph/TV movie (2005)

My Name is Earl - Dakota/1 episode (2005)

Saving Grace - Mudwa/1 episode (2007)

American Horror Story - Tribal Elder/1 episode (2011)

Eagleheart - Saginaw/1 episode (2012)

Family Tree - White Feather/1 episode (2013)

Breaking Bad - Native American Man - episode "Ozymandias" (2013)

Shameless - Great Grandfather/1 episode (2014)

Community - Chief Blue Sky/1 episode (2014)

The League - Sam/1 episode (2014)

Workaholics - American Indian Man/1 episode (2015)

Sin City Saints - Shaman/1 episode (2015)

Baskets - Old Man/1 episode (2016)

Veep - Marjorie's Grandpa/1 episode (2016)