Chaske Spencer
Chaske Spencer | |
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Spencer in 2011 | |
Born | Tahlequah, Oklahoma, United States | March 9, 1975
Occupation | Actor, producer |
Chaske Spencer (pronounced Chess-Kay; born March 9, 1975)[1] is a Native American actor and producer. He is perhaps best known for his role as Sam Uley in The Twilight Saga film series (2009–2012), and for his recurring role as Deputy Billy Raven in the Cinemax original series Banshee.
Life and career[]
Spencer was born in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and grew up in Montana, Kooskia, Lapwai, and Lewiston, Idaho. He has two younger sisters. His heritage includes Lakota, Nez Perce, Cherokee, Creek, French, and Dutch, and is a member of the Fort Peck Tribe.[2][3] He graduated from Clearwater Valley High School in 1994, where he went by the name James Spencer,[4][better source needed] and acted as a young teen at the Lewiston Civic Theater. Spencer went to college at Lewis Clark State College for a year, and considered a career in photography.[5] He eventually dropped out of Lewis Clark State College to pursue his acting career.
He did odd jobs and took acting lessons from coaches David Gideon and Ed Kovens.[6][7] Then he got a role in the 2002 film Skins, which then lead to Dreamkeeper, and Into the West. Spencer had struggles with addiction, and battled alcoholism for much of his teens. He would continue to drink heavily during his college years.[8] He later developed an addiction to cocaine and heroin, which inspired him to check into rehab.[6][9] While in rehab, Spencer stopped taking drugs, and almost gave up on acting before his agent called him to audition for New Moon, the sequel to Twilight.[9]
In 2009, Spencer played werewolf Sam Uley in New Moon, based on Stephenie Meyer's novel of the same name. He reprised his role in Eclipse, Breaking Dawn – Part 1, and Breaking Dawn – Part 2.[10]
In 2015, Spencer was cast in the recurring role of Billy Raven in Banshee after making his debut one year prior in the web series Banshee Origins.[11]
Spencer will star alongside Emily Blunt in The English for Amazon Prime Video and BBC One.[12]
Filmography[]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2002 | Skins | Teen Rudy | Movie |
2003 | Dreamkeeper | Eagle Boy | Movie |
2004 | Red Dead Revolver | Voice: Shadow Wolf / Chief Running Moon / Duellist | Video game |
2005 | Into the West | Voices That Carry | Episodes: "Ghost Dance" Miniseries |
2009 | The Twilight Saga: New Moon | Sam Uley | Movie |
2010 | The Twilight Saga: Eclipse | Movie | |
2011 | Shouting Secrets | Wesley | Movie |
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 | Sam Uley | Movie | |
2012 | The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 | Movie | |
The Frontier | Eli | TV Movie | |
2013 | Winter in the Blood | Virgil First Raise | Movie |
2014 | The Hero Pose | Joe | Short |
Desert Cathedral | Duran Palouse | Movie | |
Banshee Origins | Deputy Billy Raven | TV mini-series | |
The Jingle Dress | John Red Elk | Movie | |
2015 | Addiction: A 60's Love Story | Chaska | Movie |
2015–2016 | Banshee | Deputy Billy Raven | TV series |
2017 | Walking Out | Sun Bear | Movie |
Longmire | Mr. Dawson | Episode: “No Greater Character Endorsement” | |
Woman Walks Ahead | Movie | ||
2017–present | Sneaky Pete | Chayton Dockery | TV series |
2019–present | Blindspot | Dominic Masters | TV series |
2019 | The Society | Mr. Pfeiffer | Episode: "What Happened" |
Jessica Jones | Jace Montero | 2 episodes | |
2021 | Wild Indian | Teddo | Movie |
TBA | Indian Summer | Wez McKendrick | Movie |
TBA | The English | Eli Whipp | Upcoming series |
Awards and nominations[]
Year | Awards | Category | Work | Outcome |
---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | The Short Film Awards SOFIE Award | Best Actor in a Short Film | Hero Pose | Won |
References[]
- ^ "Chaske Spencer". IMDb. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
- ^ Interview with a New Moon Werewolf | BettyConfidential.com Archived 2011-07-07 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Sweet, Brandi (2011-06-01). ""Twilight: New Moon" and "Twilight: Eclipse" Actor Chaske Spencer Speaks Out on Getting Healthy in Indian Country". Let's Move! Bureau of Indian Education, Department of the Interior. Archived from the original on 2011-12-16. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-12-04. Retrieved 2010-01-27.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ "Chaske Spencer". TVGuide.com. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Berry, Carol (March 19, 2013). "Chaske Spencer: A Native Actor Who Left Addiction Behind". Indian Country Today Media Network. Retrieved July 15, 2016.
- ^ "Archived copy". Buddy TV. Archived from the original on September 22, 2016. Retrieved July 15, 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- ^ "Twilight actor Chaske Spencer has battled addiction; speaks to 900 at Plachta Auditorium | Central Michigan Life". web.archive.org. 2010-11-06. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Twilight star shares his story of struggle with substance abuse". The Daily Illini. 2010-11-05. Retrieved 2021-07-26.
- ^ Sciretta, Peter (March 23, 2009). "Summit Casts New Moon's Wolf Pack". /Film. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
- ^ Schilling, Vincent (January 9, 2015). "Chaske Spencer Joins Cast of 'Banshee' as Officer Billy Raven". Indian Country Today Media Network. Retrieved May 15, 2016.
- ^ Kanter, Jake (May 11, 2021). "'The English': Chaske Spencer, Rafe Spall Among Cast Joining Emily Blunt In BBC/Amazon Western Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
External links[]
- 1975 births
- Living people
- People from Tahlequah, Oklahoma
- American male film actors
- Native American male actors
- People from Lewiston, Idaho
- American people of Cherokee descent
- American people of Dutch descent
- American people of French descent