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The ‘redface’ era returns

Non-Natives make the best Natives, says Hollywood

By Rob Schmidt, Today correspondent

Story Published: Feb 18, 2009

Story Updated: Feb 18, 2009

LOS ANGELES – The great era of the Western movie – the middle of the 20th century – was also the era of “redface.” Non-Native actors played Indians in dark makeup, horsehair wigs and “leathers and feathers” costumes. The long list of such actors includes Anthony Quinn, Rock Hudson, Charles Bronson, Burt Lancaster, Yul Brynner, Ricardo Montalbán and Audrey Hepburn.

Around 1970, things began to change. Native actors such as Chief Dan George, Will Sampson and Ned Romero began playing authentic Indians. After “Dances with Wolves,” the principle that Natives knew Natives best seemed firmly entrenched. Actors such as Wes Studi, Graham Greene, Tantoo Cardinal and Floyd Westerman got steady work playing notable Indian characters.
  “Natives need to be cast for Native parts. It’s that simple.”

Shonie De La Rosa, Navajo, director and owner of Sheephead Films

But in the last year or so, redface has made a comeback. Native actors have been shut out of almost every major role calling for an Indian.

“Hollywood is simply returning to a very old trend of casting non-Indians as Indians,” said Debra Utacia Krol, Salinan, journalist and owner of Jolon Indian Publishing. “Anybody remember Katharine Ross as Willie Boy’s Paiute princess bride; or Chuck Connors as Cochise, blue eyes and all?”

Once Adam Beach left the NBC series “Law and Order: SVU,” the bubble seems to have burst. It’s as if Hollywood told itself, “We gave an Indian a chance and it didn’t work out. Now we’re going to cast whoever we want.”


Recent casting choices suggesting redface has returned:

The Disney studio and producer Jerry Bruckheimer have cast Johnny Depp as Tonto, the Lone Ranger’s “faithful Indian companion,” in an upcoming movie. Depp’s great-grandmother was reportedly a full Eastern Cherokee, which would make Depp one-eighth Indian by “blood.” But, a Kentucky Caucasian who’s a bit Cherokee is a far cry from an unalloyed Texas Apache like Tonto. If Depp’s version of an Indian is as caricatured as his version of a pirate, fans may cringe at the results.

In the movie version of Stephanie Meyer’s popular “Twilight” books, Taylor Lautner (“The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl 3-D”) plays Jacob Black, a Quileute Indian werewolf. Except for his tan skin, he looks like a typical teen heartthrob. After being cast, Lautner conveniently discovered he has a smidgen of Potawatomi and Ottawa ancestry. That doesn’t change the fact that the producers thought he was non-Native and hired him on that basis.
Analysis of the trend
What’s behind these anti-Indian casting decisions? “If I’m a producer trying to get a studio or an investor to put up a substantial amount of money for a film, I know I’ll have a better chance of securing funding if I cast a big name like Johnny Depp,” said filmmaker/playwright James Lujan, Taos Pueblo, stating a common belief. “Studios and investors are obviously more interested in turning a profit than cultural sensitivity.”

But is this really valid? The most successful movie franchises – “Star Wars,” “Spider-Man,” “Harry Potter,” “Batman” – have succeeded without big-name stars. When unknowns like Taylor Lautner, Lynn Collins and Jackson Rathbone are picked over equally unknown Natives, popularity isn’t the issue.

Nor is the issue a lack of Native talent. Thousands of Indians have starred on the stage and screen, amassed years of experience and won acting awards. Tara J. Ryan, president and owner of Tijer Lily Co., a Native entertainment promotion and management service, once wrote about a casting director who couldn’t “find” any Indians. “I sent her so many qualified candidates I lost count, literally.”

No, the explanation seems to be a variation of “see no evil” – namely, “see no Indians.” Like the rest of America, Hollywood believes Indians have vanished into the mists, an impression reinforced by countless textbooks, monuments and sports mascots. The “few” remaining ones are huddled on a remote reservation somewhere, producers think, so why bother trying to contact them?

Why is this casting trend a problem? Who cares if non-Natives play Natives in movies and TV shows? How does this hurt Indians who are struggling to survive? Isn’t this a trivial matter compared to issues such as poverty and treaty rights?

First, non-Native actors take roles that should go to Native actors. Natives will never be as popular as Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts or Will Smith if Hollywood doesn’t give them a chance. Nobody knew Denzel Washington or Jackie Chan would become major stars until they became major stars, which they did by repeated exposure to audiences.

Second, selecting tanned Caucasians to play Indians continues the marginalization of anyone who doesn’t look “right.” Indians already suffer enough health problems without the added pressure to look thin, pretty and pale-skinned. Failing to live up to the white mainstream’s standards is surely a factor in the high rates of Native depression and suicide.

Third, the casting decisions contribute to the notion that anyone can become an Indian simply by acting like one. From costumed mascots to New Age believers to children dressing up for Halloween and Thanksgiving, this belief is already widespread. Many Americans think today’s Indians are greedy wannabes who have adopted Native identities to enrich themselves from government “handouts” and casinos. Seeing Johnny Depp or Ben Kingsley play an Indian sends the message that real Indians are gone and only pretenders are left.

Fortunately, it’s possible to stymie this troubling trend. After “Twilight’s” people received widespread criticism for casting Lautner as an Indian, they almost replaced him. They received even more criticism for contemplating Vanessa Hudgens, a sexy Disney starlet, as an Indian. They finally relented and hired Rene Haynes, longtime Native casting director, to find ethnically appropriate actors.

But vigilance remains necessary to prevent more redface travesties. “I think it’s important for the Native community to take exception and speak up whenever a non-Native is cast in a Native role,” said Lujan, “particularly for a high-profile project like the ‘Twilight’ series and ‘The Lone Ranger.’”

“One thing is certain,” added Krol, “until we have Natives working as producers, writers and directors within the major studios, we’ll still have to contend with non-Indians being cast as Indians.”


To play Pearl Carter Scott in a movie about the pioneering Chickasaw aviatrix, the filmmakers cast actress Elijah DeJesus. Pearl’s mother was half Chickasaw and half Choctaw, but DeJesus is Latina.

In the new “Wolverine” movie, actress Lynn Collins plays the mutant’s first love Silver Fox. Collins claims to have “Native American roots,” but she looks Anglo and has no record of a relationship with Indians. Moreover, the producers have changed her character from a strong Blackfeet woman into some sort of whitewashed hybrid named “Kayla Silverfox.”

In the big-screen version of “The Last Airbender,” a Nickelodeon cartoon series, M. Night Shyamalan has cast Anglos as Asians and Inuit. In one interview, actor Jackson Rathbone explained how he’d play the Native character Sokka: “I think it’s one of those things where I pull my hair up, shave the sides, and I definitely need a tan,” he said.

In the NBC TV series “Crusoe,” the producers have changed Friday the Indian into a black man. The show offered no explanation for how an African tribe could be indigenous to the Caribbean. The move has eliminated the first significant Native character in English literature.

A Los Angeles-based filmmaker plans to make a movie about three Wyandot sisters who fought to protect their ancestral burial grounds from development. He wants an “all-star cast,” which presumably would exclude Native actors. Englishman Ben Kingsley has agreed to produce the movie and play Vice President Charles Curtis, who was a Kaw Indian of mixed ancestry.

In short, Hollywood is telling the world that anyone who has a slightly ethnic look is close enough to play an Indian. This is exactly the situation that existed half a century ago. Then it was Greeks, Italians and Mexicans; now it’s Filipinos, Brazilians and Chinese.

These days, a good tan is the only thing that separates Indians from other Americans. Producers would never suggest a Native to play King Arthur, Superman or JFK, but it’s okay for non-Natives to play Friday, Tonto or Charles Curtis. Message to Indians: You and your culture and heritage don’t matter.

“Natives need to be cast for Native parts,” said Shonie De La Rosa, Navajo, director and owner of Sheephead Films. “It’s that simple. With a little effort on Hollywood’s part it can be done.”

Rob Schmidt is a non-Native freelance writer based in Los Angeles.

Saturday, Jun 6 at 12:20 AM lumbarpain wrote ...

Hollywood is all fake, Actors are actors. This is what acting is all about....If actors stayed within the realm of just portraying their ethnic background there is no real extension of their abilities. however, I firmly believe in the support of the Native Peoples and their voices MUST be heard in this respect....they can bring the true emotion and authenticity to the screen. Its like having an English person portray a German soldier in a WWII movie.....with No Accent!!! True to Life is importan

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Wednesday, May 20 at 11:35 PM huh? wrote ...

Rdehwyl, Tonto was Potawatomi, a real nation from the midwest. Not sure where your information came from. And yes, cassondra, there is something called blood quantum, and there is a thing called a tribal enrollment card. Depp should not be playing Tonto.

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Monday, Mar 30 at 12:48 PM rogb wrote ...

man chris your an idiot "to say you have to be native decent to play native is prejudice" your kidn right? if we were all the same, then why were we natives put on reservations and being separated from our own rights to claim our own land and to live free. dude try livin the reservation life be you say we are the same.

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Tuesday, Mar 17 at 9:20 PM RdeHwyl wrote ...

Of course, no one has mentioned that the author of this op-ed piece has several of his 'facts' made up from whole cloth. Tonto was never an Apache, but came from the fictional Native American Tribe of Apotawatame. And Friday was described as "a black native" by the author...

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Tuesday, Mar 17 at 8:55 PM Salabra wrote ...

Native Americans should play Native Americans, just as surely as Australian Aborigines should play Australian Aborigines (Yes, Europeans playing Natives has been done here too) Sally (Anglo-Celt from Australia) PS: Jeff Chandler may have been outlandish as Cochise, but so was John Wayne as Genghis Khan!

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Tuesday, Mar 3 at 2:37 PM Drama Queen wrote ...

I attended Sundance Film Festival 2008 and saw "Frozen River"and was so excited by this movie but fell over when I saw the DVD. The opening and closing and several other scenes were gone!These scenes I felt were very important to the character of Lila, the Mohawk mother. I congratulate Heather Rae the Native producer but what Sony Classics did to the original screening was lessen the native characters!

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Tuesday, Feb 24 at 12:47 PM Earthsong4 wrote ...

Hey Guys! I am brand new to this site, just finished reading article on "redface" actors. I am a "wasicu" doing my best to convert to the ways and language {Mohegan) of the Native American Indians. The television of the whites (even cartoons) are so violent and deceptive I don't watch anymore. Please, don't be depressed. It's you guys that have it going on -- in every arena! Let me know what I can do. A white girl trying to walk the red road.

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Monday, Feb 23 at 6:17 AM GrandmawasaCherokeePrincess wrote ...

I think the author has a point that some of you are missing It shouldn't be so much how little blood the actors have, but how well they know the culture. I think the point is the problem of continuing native stereotypes. Picking someone who'll 'act' Indian using stereotypes that dehumanize Indian people. Some actors just can't do that or even know what is wrong. That's why Native people are important (But i bet there are some who wouldn't even care!)

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Saturday, Feb 21 at 11:42 PM KC wrote ...

I guess Indians will have to become and play caucasion parts in movies, so lets lighten our skins and put on some blond wigs, oh yeah don't forget the eye contacts. Yes, Hollywood only cares about making money so how can they make money on Indians trying to seek the truth in anything?

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Saturday, Feb 21 at 11:25 PM TJR wrote ...

TLC is NOT a management company, the quote is taken completely out of context...that entire piece I wrote is called "Is Hollywood, Clueless, Lazy, Political or All Three" and is now several years old. I'm a casting director, and was writing as one about a major film. FYI - J.D. is Native and has never denied it for one. Wes Studi is playing a major character in NBC's "Kings" that begins airing next month and there are many other Natives who are on TV as well. We do still have a LONG way to go

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Friday, Feb 20 at 6:43 PM Phoenix Navajo wrote ...

Booo hoooo. Native Americans just need to learn how to write and film their own. PERIOD. I go to a few Native American Film Festivals and know, we don't need Hollywood. Look at Slumdog Millionaire.

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Friday, Feb 20 at 6:03 AM Liesl Forbes wrote ...

I agree there are excellent Native American actors to choose, but I also think Depp has a lot of insight. He co-wrote, directed and starred in The Brave, and he was brilliant. From what I have read and seen, he highly respects and cherishes his ancestry. If Hugh Laurie can play a New Jersey doctor and Jane Seymour can play Dr. Quinn, medicine woman, I think Depp can play Tonto.

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Thursday, Feb 19 at 2:27 PM NATIVE wrote ...

Wow, i wonder how many of the previous people who commented are actually INDIANS... i mean pull out and show me your tribal ids. I mean indian people already have been put through many racial, demeaning situations and now we can't even have indians play indians? Rather Hollywood is slamming a door in our faces and saying u arent good enough to play this role so we will find someone else to portray you. C'mon Johnny Depp? It seems more that they would want to sell tickets than sell the truth.

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Thursday, Feb 19 at 1:07 PM MoreNatives wrote ...

We need real natives playing these parts. Any of these "redface" actors can get work in other roles, which they will do. These roles in the article are native characters and should be played by REAL NATIVES. I enjoy Johnny Depp as much as anyone else but he shouldn't play the part of Tonto. I imagine Tonto will be fully humanized in the movie and that exposure should go to a real native actor. Good article!

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Thursday, Feb 19 at 12:20 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Depp has for many years supported Native American causes. He has expressed his pride in his Native ancestry. To think for a second that he'd demean that ancestry in a film is irresponsible. Tonto as played on radio and tv (by a Native actor) furthered stereotypes. If anything Depp will make sure the Native image is enhanced. Don't get so hung up on the Pirates role. Try watching some of his dozens of other films to see that he approaches each part uniquely.

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Thursday, Feb 19 at 12:08 PM cassondra wrote ...

Speaking of Taylor Lautner, how much Native American does a person have to have to be considered Native. Is there a blood test you have to take or a card you have to carry. And why is discovering your Native ancestry a bad thing? Shouldn't it be celebrated, and used to show that we are all carrying History with us.

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Thursday, Feb 19 at 5:42 AM chris wrote ...

Wow!get your facts right!Johhny Depp has THREE different types of native blood!Have you actually LOOKED at the man?That is NOT the German and Irish part you see on that face! Try watching"The Brave"if you cannot see his beautiful native blood!Of course any actor of any heritage can play a native. Its why they call it acting!To say you have to be of native decent to play native is so prejudice. Natives get over yourselves! We are ALL THE SAME! Skin should not seperate people! Terrible!

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Wednesday, Feb 18 at 9:03 PM piratefan60 wrote ...

I guess the person who wrote this article has never seen a movie called "The Brave." Johnny Depp plays a Native American. He can play the part nicely. I too am part Cherokee. Johnny looks Native American he's dark, has high cheek bones, he looks the part. I only have the high cheek bones. I think the culture and heritage of my ancestors will live on. As long as the charcter is done correctly with respect to our ancestors and the Native Americans.

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Wednesday, Feb 18 at 4:57 PM Jenn wrote ...

Summit almost ditched Taylor not because he wasn't native American, but because he wasn't bulky enough to portray the character he was assigned.

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