John Henry St Pierre, a.k.a. John War Eagle (8 June 1901 – 7 February 1991) was a Yankton Sioux film and television actor. He was born September 24, 1901, in Wagner, Charles Mix, South Dakota.[2] He was of the Sioux people, and was raised on the Yankton Indian Reservation in South Dakota.[3][4][5]

John War Eagle aka John Henry St. Pierre
Born(1901-09-24)September 24, 1901
Yankton Indian Reservation, South Dakota, United States
DiedFebruary 7, 1991(1991-02-07) (aged 88–89)
California, United States
Other names
  • Chief John War Eagle[1]
  • Chief John Eagle[1]
  • John Wareagle[1]
OccupationActor
Years active1932–1977[1]

Career

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Between 1932 and 1977 — sometimes credited as Chief John War Eagle, Chief John Eagle or John Wareagle — he appeared in twenty-eight films, mostly in uncredited roles, and twenty-six television productions.[1]

His roles include appearing as Red Cloud in the historical western-drama film Tomahawk (1951) starring Van Heflin, a role he reprised in 1953 in historical western-drama film The Great Sioux Uprising starring Jeff Chandler. He also played Chief Sitting Bull in the Disney family adventure western-drama film Tonka (1958), the story of a young Sioux boy, played by Sal Mineo on the brink of adulthood who tries to tame a wild stallion to prove his courage and strength.

War Eagle also appeared as Wolf's Brother in the Disney western-drama film Westward Ho, the Wagons! (1956) and in “The Jeremy Dow Story” (S4E14) as revengeful “Chief Iron Hand” in the TV Western Wagon Train (1960).

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Database (undated). "Filmography by Type for John War Eagle". The Internet Movie Database. Accessed September 8, 2010.
  2. ^ Registration Card, World War II, John Henry St. Pierre, Serial No. 702, Ancestry.com and Rapid City Daily Journal [SD], 28 May 1950, p. 20
  3. ^ News Report, collected issues 66-97, p. 6, University of South Dakota Institute of Indian Studies, 1976, p. 6
  4. ^ The Indian Historian, collected volumes 11-13, American Indian Historical Society, 1978, p. 53
  5. ^ San Pierre, John H., U.S. Indian Census Rolls, 1885-1940, Yankton Sioux Agency, South Dakota, 30 June 1913
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