Nick Ramus
Born
Nickolas George Ramus

(1929-09-09)September 9, 1929
Seattle, Washington, US
DiedMay 30, 2007(2007-05-30) (aged 77)
Benson, Arizona, US
OccupationActor

Nickolas George Ramus, also known and credited as Nick Ramus, (September 9, 1929 – May 30, 2007)[1] was a Blackfoot[2] Native American actor, best known for his appearances on television.

Early life

Ramus was born in Seattle, Washington, and grew up in Spokane,[1] but as a boy, his family moved to the Blackfeet Reservation in Browning, Montana.

He eventually moved back to Washington, obtaining a bachelor's degree in chemistry, while minoring in zoology. After dropping out of his first year in medical school, he migrated south, competing in boxing and motorcycle races.

In San Francisco, Ramus received coaching in drama and voice, eventually leading to work in commercials. Several years later, he moved to Los Angeles and picked roles in films and television.[3]

Career

Being of both Blackfoot and Greek[3] ancestry, Ramus portrayed American Indian and Hispanic characters during his 30-year career.

Ramus' television debut was a role in the ABC series, The Wide World of Mystery (1973).[1]

In television movies and miniseries, he appeared as Grey Cloud in Born to the Wind[4] (1981), as Arapaho Chief Lost Eagle in Centennial[5] (1978-1979), as Tehohane in The Chisholms[3] (1980), and as Red Cloud in Son of the Morning Star (1991).[6] Ramus also appeared as Mangus Colorado in the TNT film Geronimo (1993).[7]

In television series, Ramus had a recurring role in the soap opera Falcon Crest[4]: 323  as Gus Nunouz, and as Chief Black Kettle in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.[8] Guest appearances also included Gunsmoke, Harry and the Hendersons, Little House on the Prairie,[5] MacGyver, Northern Exposure, Stingray, and Walker, Texas Ranger, among others.[1]

On the big screen, Ramus' film debut was a role in Black Eye (1974).[9] He would go on to star in the first Native American language film, Windwalker (1980).[10] Other film roles include The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again[11] (1979) as Indian Chief, Invasion U.S.A. (1985), Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home[12] (1986) as Saratoga Helmsman, Love at Stake[13] (1987) as Chief Wannatoka, Journey to Spirit Island (1992), and 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up (1995), among others.[1]

In 2006, Ramus took the role as Local Guy in the independent short film, Alma (2007) featuring Carmen Corral (as Alma) who portrays a Mexican-immigrant teenager, unaware that she is undocumented. The film's executive producer was Victoria Westover, a program director for the Hanson Film Institute at the University of Arizona.[3]

Ramus also wrote, An Evening with Sitting Bull in the 1990s, from which he performed a one-man show.[14]

Personal life

Ramus married Harriet Mary Howard and had three children.[1] He was remarried to Kaysie McCallister in 1995, and moved to the San Pedro River valley area, near Benson, Arizona in 2002. By that time he had retired, except for occasional appearances.[3]

Death

Ramus developed pneumonia in January of 2007, and doctors found a neoplasm in his lungs. He opted out of surgery that could have potentially been debilitating.[3] On May 30, 2007, Ramus died in Benson, Arizona at age 77.[15]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1974 Black Eye[9]
1979 The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again[11] Indian Chief
1980 Windwalker Smiling Wolf / Crow Brother / Narrator
1985 Invasion U.S.A. Clark Little Hawk
1986 Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home Saratoga Helmsman
1987 Love at Stake Chief Wannatoka
1988 Journey to Spirit Island[16] Tom
1989 Caddie Woodlawn[17] Chief Tukenbheska
1995 3 Ninjas Knuckle Up Chief Roundcreek
2006 The Treasure of Painted Forest[1] Mr. Godfrey
2007 Alma[3] Local Guy Independent Short Film
2007 Rapturious Voice Final film role

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1973 The Wide World of Mystery
1974 Gunsmoke Lynit Episode: "The Iron Blood of Courage"
1975 I Will Fight No More Forever[18] Rainbow TV movie
1976 The Quest  Iron Hawk TV movie
1977 Little House on the Prairie Little Crow Episode: "Freedom Flight"
1977 Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color[1] Tioga Episode: "Kit Carson and the Mountain Men: Parts 1 & 2"
1978–1979 Centennial Lost Eagle 4 episodes
1979 The Chisholms Tehohane TV miniseries
1981–1982 Falcon Crest Gus Nunouz 13 episodes
1982 The Legend of Walks Far Woman[1] Left Hand Bull TV movie
1982 Born to the Wind Grey Cloud TV series
1982 The Mystic Warrior[19] Chief Olepi TV movie
1985 Tall Tales & Legends[20] Sitting Bull Episode: "Annie Oakley"
1987 Capitol[1] General Abdullah Episode #1.1270
1987 Stingray[1] Alexander Bondy Episode: "The Neniwa"
1989 Paradise[21] Chief Black Cloud Episode: "The Burial Ground"
1989 Monsters[22] Temple Guide Episode: "Half as Old as Time"
1990 Northern Exposure Chief Episode: "Soapy Sanderson"
1991 Harry and the Hendersons[23] Medicine Man Episode: "Roots, The Herb"
1991 MacGyver Standing Wolf Episode: "Trail of Tears"
1993 Geronimo Mangus Colorado TV movie
1993–1995 Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Chief Black Kettle 10 episodes
1995 Walker, Texas Ranger Bright Water Episode: "On Sacred Ground"

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Garcia Berumen, Frank Javier (4 December 2019). American Indian Image Makers of Hollywood. McFarland. ISBN 9781476678139. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  2. ↑ "Special depicts Indian surrender". The Tampa Times. Florida, Tampa. April 12, 1975. p. 41. Retrieved September 25, 2018 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Matas, Kimberly (15 June 2007). "Nick Ramus: Actor was 'a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind". Arizona Daily Star. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  4. 1 2 Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 125. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  5. 1 2 American Indian Review: Issues 19-29. Twin Light Trail. 1999. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  6. ↑ Leonard, John (4 February 1991). Television: Home of the Braves. New York Magazine. p. 41. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  7. ↑ Hilger, Michael (16 October 2015). Native Americans in the Movies: Portrayals from Silent Films to the Present. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. 400. ISBN 9781442240025. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  8. ↑ Brode, Douglas (2010). Shooting Stars of the Small Screen: Encyclopedia of TV Western Actors, 1946–Present. University of Texas Press. p. 293. ISBN 9780292783317. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  9. 1 2 Parish, James Robert; Hill, George A.; Hill, George H. (1989). Black Action Films: Plots, Critiques, Casts and Credits for 235 Theatrical and Made-for-television Releases. McFarland. ISBN 9780899504568. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  10. ↑ Fuller, Linda K.; Loukides, Paul (1990). Beyond the Stars: Stock characters in American popular film: Volume 1. Bowling Green University Popular Press. p. 13. ISBN 9780879724795. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  11. 1 2 Sarno, Art (1980). Academy Awards. E S E California. ISBN 9780912076379. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  12. ↑ Okuda, Michael; Okuda, Denise; Mirek, Debbie (17 May 2011). The Star Trek Encyclopedia. Pocket Books/Star Trek. ISBN 9781451646887. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  13. ↑ Willis, John A. (1989). Screen World: Volume 40. Crown Publishers. p. 120. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  14. ↑ Zalar, Paula (1999). "A Day with Nick Ramus... An Evening with Sitting Bull". American Indian Review: Issues 19-29. Twin Light Trail. pp. 4, 29, 31. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  15. ↑ Lentz, Harris M. III (2008). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2007: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture. McFarland. p. 300. ISBN 9780786434817. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  16. ↑ The Motion Picture Annual. CineBooks. 1989. p. 88. ISBN 9780933997219. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  17. ↑ Maltin, Leonard (1999). Leonard Maltin's Family Film Guide. Penguin Group. p. 91. ISBN 9780451197146. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  18. ↑ Bowker, R.R. (1992). Bowker's Complete Video Directory: Volumes 1-4. R R Bowker Publishing. p. 488. ISBN 9780835237680. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  19. ↑ Parish, James Robert; Pitts, Michael R. (1988). The Great Western Pictures II. Scarecrow Press. p. 231. ISBN 9780810821064. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  20. ↑ Marill, Alvin H. (June 2011). Six Decades of Sagebrush Sheriffs, Scalawags, and Sidewinders. Scarecrow Press. p. 94. ISBN 9780810881334. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  21. ↑ TV Guide: Volume 38, Issues 17-21. Triangle Publications. 1990. p. 78. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  22. ↑ Muir, John Kenneth (25 February 2013). Terror Television: American Series, 1970-1999. McFarland. p. 351. ISBN 9781476604169. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  23. ↑ Lentz III, Harris M. (2001). Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits: Television shows. McFarland. p. 1866. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
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