D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai

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D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai
ᐊᓂᐦᔑᓂᓐ ᒪᐦᑳᔾ
Born
D'Pharaoh Miskwaatez McKay Woon-A-Tai

(2001-09-19) 19 September 2001 (age 20)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
NationalityCanadian
Other namesD'Pharaoh McKay
OccupationActor
Years active2018–present
FamilyFrank Woon-A-Tai (maternal grandfather)
Websitedpharaohwoonatai.com

D'Pharaoh Miskwaatez McKay Woon-A-Tai (born 19 September 2001) is an Oji-Cree actor from Canada. He is best known for his role as Bear Smallhill in the FX on Hulu comedy-drama series Reservation Dogs (2021).[1][2]

Early life[]

Woon-A-Tai and his fraternal twin Mi’De Xxavier were born in Toronto. Born D'Pharaoh Miskwaatez McKay (Mahkaai) Woon-A-Tai, his names reflect his Oji-Cree Anishinaabe, Chinese-Guyanese, and German heritage.[3] A black belt in Shotokan karate, he is the grandson of the notable Shotokan instructor Frank Woon-A-Tai.[4]

Woon-A-Tai alongside three (of what would eventually become five) siblings grew up in the Esplanade neighbourhood of the city and visited their paternal family in the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation at the weekends. He attended Nelson Mandela Park Public School.[3]

Career[]

Woon-A-Tai began his career with a recurring role as Chase Whaley in season 1 of the 2018 Family Channel series Holly Hobbie. In 2019, Woon-A-Tai played Tom Longboat in a two-episode arc of Murdoch Mysteries season 12. He made guest appearances as Lucky in Creeped Out and Mikey in Tribal.

Woon-A-Tai made his feature film debut as Hank in the film Beans directed by Tracey Deer, which became an official TIFF 2020 selection and won Best Motion Picture at the Canadian Screen Awards.[5]

In December 2020, it was announced Woon-A-Tai would star as Bear Smallhill in the 2021 FX on Hulu comedy-drama Reservation Dogs, "a slice-of-life triumph" from Sterling Harjo and Taika Waititi.[2] Set and filmed in rural Oklahoma, Reservation Dogs is a coming-of-age story that follows the antics of rebellious teenagers living on tribal land. The series' cast and crew are made up entirely of Indigenous people. The Denver Gazette described Bear as "played spectacularly by D’Pharaoh, this series' breakout star."[6]

Reservation Dogs was renewed for a second season at FX on Hulu and is currently in pre-production.[7]

Filmography[]

Film[]

Year Title Role Notes
2019 Wenonah Luc Short film
2020 Beans Hank

Television[]

Year Title Role Notes
2018 Holly Hobbie Chase Whaley Recurring role
2019 Murdoch Mysteries Tom Longboat Recurring role
2019 Creeped Out Lucky Episode: "The Takedown"
2020 Tribal Mikey Episode: "Runs with a Gun"
2021 Reservation Dogs Bear Smallhill Main role

References[]

  1. ^ Allaire, Christian (2021-08-09). "D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai Is Hollywood's Stylish Indigenous Star to Watch". Vogue. Archived from the original on 2021-08-10. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  2. ^ a b D'Addario, Daniel (2021-07-29). "'Reservation Dogs' Is a Slice-of-Life Triumph From Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi: TV Review". Variety. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
  3. ^ a b Simonpillai, Radheyan (2 December 2021). "D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai is crushing it on Reservation Dogs". Now Toronto. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  4. ^ Ahearn, Victoria. "Canadian 'Reservation Dogs' star on increasing Indigenous representation in the U.S." Times Colonist. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
  5. ^ "Toronto International Film Festival (2020)". IMDb. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
  6. ^ Terrones, Terry. "Taika Waititi produced Indigenous comedy filled with unique humor | TV Review". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
  7. ^ Otterson, Joe (2021-09-02). "'Reservation Dogs' Renewed for Season 2 at FX on Hulu". Variety. Retrieved 2021-09-23.

External links[]

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