Martin Sensmeier

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Martin Sensmeier
Martin Sensmeier.jpg
Sensmeier at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival
Born (1985-06-27) June 27, 1985 (age 36)[1][2]
Anchorage, Alaska, U.S.[3]
OccupationActor, Model
Years active2012–present
Partner(s)Kahara Hodges
Children1

Martin Sensmeier (born June 27, 1985) (Tlingit/Koyukon-Athabascan) is an American actor and model. Of Alaska Native and European-American descent, he is known for playing various Native American roles. He starred in the 2016 remake The Magnificent Seven and had a recurring role as Wanahton in the HBO television series Westworld (2018).

He is expected to star in the biopic Bright Path: The Jim Thorpe Story, expected to go into production in mid-2021. Sensmeier would be the first indigenous person to play the star athlete, who was Sac and Fox and won two Olympic gold medals in 1912.[4]

Early life[]

Sensmeier was born in 1985 in Anchorage, Alaska,[3] to Raymond and Eva Sensmeier, but was raised in Yakutat. His father is German-Tlingit and his mother is Koyukon-Athabascan from Ruby, Alaska, on the Yukon River. Sensmeier identifies with the cultures of his Alaska Native grandmothers, which his parents stressed.[5] Martin’s paternal grandfather, Gilbert Michael Sensmeier, was born in Indiana and is of German descent.

Career[]

Sensmeier began his working career as a welder before working on an oil rig for Doyon Drilling. He eventually quit to pursue an acting career in Los Angeles.[6][7] Sensmeier began work as a professional model before entering into acting.

His first feature film was the sci-fi thriller Beyond the Sky.[1] He appeared in a leading role, as one of the "seven", in the 2016 feature film The Magnificent Seven, a remake of an earlier version.

In 2017, Sensmeier was cast in the lead role in the biopic The Chickasaw Rancher, portraying Montford Johnson (Chickasaw), a man who built a ranching empire near the Chisholm Trail.[8] That year he also had a role as Chip Hanson in the movie Wind River.

Sensmeier joined the cast in the second (2018) season of the HBO television series Westworld, in the recurring role of Wanahton.

In 2020, he took on the role of Chief Eddy in the original English version of the video game Tell Me Why from Dontnod Entertainment. The game is set in Alaska and the character belongs to the indigenous Tlingit people, as does Sensmeier.

He has been tapped to star in a biopic entitled Bright Path: The Jim Thorpe Story, which is expected to go into production by Pictureworks Entertainment in mid-2021.[4] Thorpe (Sac and Fox) won two gold medals in the 1912 Olympics, played professional football and baseball, and is considered one of the greatest athletes of the 20th century. The screenplay was written by Abraham Taylor, with Alex Nibley and Sterlin Harjo. The major producer is Angelina Jolie.[9]

Personal life[]

Sensmeier is a member of the Native Wellness Institute, a youth advocacy group. He is proud of his Alaska Native heritage.[10]

In January 2020, he and partner Kahara Hodges announced they were expecting their first child.[11]

Filmography[]

Year Title Role Notes
2014 K'ina Kil: The Slaver's Son Tintah Short Film
Salem Mohawk Uncredited
2016 Lilin's Brood Wolf
The Magnificent Seven Red Harvest Lead Role
Westworld Native Warrior Uncredited; Episode: "The Original"
2017 Wind River Chip
2018 Perfect The Harvester
Westworld Wanahton Recurring
Beyond the Sky Kyle Blackburn
Spare Room David
2019 Yellowstone Martin Recurring (Season 2)
2020 FBI: Most Wanted Reginald Waters Episode: "Ghosts"
The Liberator Samuel Coldfoot[12] Main
2021 The Ice Road Cody
Rutherford Falls Ray
TBA The Things They Carried Kiowa
The Chickasaw Rancher Montford T. Johnson

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Patil, Tulsi (September 23, 2016). "How Alaskan actor Martin Sensmeier became one of 'The Magnificent Seven'". KTUU.
  2. ^ @sensmeier (28 June 2015). "Birthday Selfie. 6/27/15 #Grind" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b Schreffler, Laura (August 25, 2016). "The Magnificent Seven Star Martin Sensmeier's Haute Secrets to LA". Haute Living.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b Scott, Damon (5 September 2020). "Indian Country: Correct Jim Thorpe's Olympic record; 'Bright Path' movie about athlete's life in progress". Seminole Tribune. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  5. ^ "From Yakutat to Hollywood". Alaska Dispatch News.
  6. ^ Dunham, Mike (October 22, 2013). "Model Martin Sensmeier Hearts Moose. Plus: Moose Heart". Indian Country Today Media Network. ICTMN Staff. Archived from the original on October 21, 2016. Retrieved September 4, 2016.
  7. ^ Dunham, Mike (September 24, 2016). "From Yakutat to Hollywood". Alaska Dispatch News. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
  8. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (May 30, 2017). "Martin Sensmeier To Star In 'The Chickasaw Rancher'; Lydia Hearst Joins Indie Film '50K'". Deadline. Retrieved June 17, 2017.
  9. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (7 May 2018). "Angelina Jolie To Produce Jim Thorpe Biopic With Martin Sensmeier Starring". Deadline. Retrieved 11 July 2021.
  10. ^ "Native American models: much more than pretty faces". Traditional Native Healing. March 22, 2015.
  11. ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/B7gpAkjBBnN/?igshid=tbuy03v60zlg
  12. ^ Petski, Denise (January 31, 2019). "'The Liberator': Martin Sensmeier To Star In Netflix's Animated World War II Drama Series". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 9, 2020.

External links[]

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