Iron Eyes Cody (born Espera Oscar de Corti), was an Italian American actor. He portrayed Native Americans in Hollywood films, famously as Chief Iron Eyes in Bob Hope's The Paleface. He also played a Native American shedding a tear about litter in one of the country's most well-known television public service announcements, "Keep America Beautiful". Cody began acting in the early 1930s. He worked in film and television until his death. Cody claimed his father was Cherokee (and his mother Cree), also naming several different tribes, and frequently changing his claimed place of birth. To those unfamiliar with Indigenous American or First Nations cultures and people, he gave the appearance of living "as if" he were Native American, fulfilling the stereotypical expectations by wearing his film wardrobe as daily clothing—including braided wig, fringed leathers and beaded moccasins—at least when photographers were visiting, and in other ways continuing to play the same Hollywood-scripted roles off-screen as well as on.
Iron Eyes Cody (born Espera Oscar de Corti), was an Italian American actor. He portrayed Native Americans in Hollywood films, famously as Chief Iron Eyes in Bob Hope's The Paleface. He also played a Native American shedding a tear about litter in one of the country's most well-known television public service announcements, "Keep America Beautiful". Cody began acting in the early 1930s. He worked in film and television until his death. Cody claimed his father was Cherokee (and his mother Cree), also naming several different tribes, and frequently changing his claimed place of birth. To those unfamiliar with Indigenous American or First Nations cultures and people, he gave the appearance of living "as if" he were Native American, fulfilling the stereotypical expectations by wearing his film wardrobe as daily clothing—including braided wig, fringed leathers and beaded moccasins—at least when photographers were visiting, and in other ways continuing to play the same Hollywood-scripted roles off-screen as well as on.
He appeared in more than 200 films, including The Big Trail with John Wayne; The Scarlet Letter, with Colleen Moore; Sitting Bull, as Crazy Horse; The Light in the Forest as Cuyloga; The Great Sioux Massacre, with Joseph Cotten; Nevada Smith, with Steve McQueen; A Man Called Horse, with Richard Harris; and Ernest Goes to Camp as Chief St. Cloud, with Jim Varney.
In 1953, he appeared twice in Duncan Renaldo's syndicated television series, The Cisco Kid as Chief Sky Eagle. He guest starred on the NBC western series, The Restless Gun, starring John Payne, and The Tall Man, with Barry Sullivan and Clu Gulager. In 1961, he played the title role in "The Burying of Sammy Hart" on the ABC western series, The Rebel, starring Nick Adams. A close friend of Walt Disney, Cody appeared in a Disney studio serial titled The First Americans, and in episodes of The Mountain Man, Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone. In 1964 Cody appeared as Chief Black Feather on The Virginian in the episode "The Intruders." He also appeared in a 1968 episode of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood featuring Native American dancers.
Cody was widely seen as the "Crying Indian" in the "Keep America Beautiful" public service announcements (PSA) in the early 1970s.The environmental commercial showed Cody in costume, shedding a tear after trash is thrown from the window of a car and it lands at his feet. The announcer, William Conrad, says: "People start pollution; people can stop it."
The Joni Mitchell song "Lakota", from the 1988 album, Chalk Mark in a Rainstorm, features Cody's chanting. He made a cameo appearance in the 1990 film Spirit of '76.
Living in Hollywood, he began to insist, even in his private life, that he was Native American, over time claiming membership in several different tribes. In 1996, Cody's half-sister said that he was of Italian ancestry, but he denied it. After his death, it was revealed that he was of Sicilian parentage, and not Native American at all.
Cody, at age 94, died of mesothelioma at his home in Los Angeles on January 4, 1999.
External links
IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/nm0002014
Wikipedia: https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q587113
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Filmography (Movies)
The Hypocrite
Character:Crying Indian (archival footage)
Release Date:21/02/2024
The Great Indian Wars 1840-1890
Character:
Release Date:19/03/1991
The Spirit of '76
Character:Iron Eyes Cody
Release Date:12/10/1990
Ernest Goes to Camp
Character:Old Indian Chief
Release Date:22/05/1987
When the West Was Fun: A Western Reunion
Character:Self
Release Date:05/06/1979
Grayeagle
Character:Standing Bear
Release Date:28/12/1977
The Quest
Character:Old Indian
Release Date:13/05/1976
El Condor
Character:Santana
Release Date:19/06/1970
A Man Called Horse
Character:Medicine Man
Release Date:01/05/1970
The Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County
Character:Crazy Foot
Release Date:01/04/1970
Something for a Lonely Man
Character:Chief
Release Date:26/11/1968
Nevada Smith
Character:Taka-Ta (uncredited)
Release Date:10/06/1966
The Great Sioux Massacre
Character:Crazy Horse
Release Date:25/04/1965
Black Gold
Character:Charlie Two-Bits
Release Date:21/07/1962
Alias Jesse James
Character:2nd Indian on Train (uncredited)
Release Date:20/03/1959
The Light in the Forest
Character:Cuyloga's Counsellor
Release Date:08/07/1958
Gun Fever
Character:1st Indian Chief
Release Date:01/01/1958
Ride Out for Revenge
Character:Cheyenne Indian (uncredited)
Release Date:31/10/1957
Gun for a Coward
Character:Chief
Release Date:30/12/1956
Westward Ho, The Wagons!
Character:Many Stars
Release Date:20/12/1956
Johnny Moccasin
Character:Mountain Cloud
Release Date:06/06/1956
The Wild Dakotas
Character:Red Rock
Release Date:28/02/1956
Apache Ambush
Character:
Release Date:24/08/1955
Sitting Bull
Character:Crazy Horse
Release Date:06/10/1954
Arrow In The Dust
Character:Chief Rasacura (uncredited)
Release Date:25/04/1954
Fast Company
Character:Ben Iron Mountain
Release Date:21/05/1953
Apache War Smoke
Character:Apache with Major Dekker's Hat
Release Date:25/09/1952
Lost in Alaska
Character:Canook (uncredited)
Release Date:13/08/1952
Son of Paleface
Character:Chief Yellow Cloud
Release Date:14/07/1952
Ellis in Freedomland
Character:Male Model
Release Date:15/06/1952
Apache Country
Character:Indian with Pat (uncredited)
Release Date:30/05/1952
Fort Osage
Character:Osage Brave - Blue Shirt
Release Date:10/02/1952
Night Raiders
Character:Henchman Cherokee
Release Date:03/02/1952
Red Mountain
Character:Ute Indian
Release Date:01/11/1951
Fort Defiance
Character:Brave Bear (as Iron Eyes)
Release Date:09/10/1951
Ace in the Hole
Character:Indian Copy Boy (uncredited)
Release Date:29/06/1951
California Passage
Character:Indian
Release Date:15/12/1950
Cherokee Uprising
Character:Longknife
Release Date:07/10/1950
Broken Arrow
Character:Teese (uncredited)
Release Date:21/07/1950
The Iroquois Trail
Character:
Release Date:15/06/1950
Cody of the Pony Express
Character:Indian Who Slugs Cody (archive footage) (uncredited)
Release Date:06/04/1950
Mrs. Mike
Character:Chief Iron Eyes (uncredited)
Release Date:23/12/1949
The Cowboy and the Indians
Character:Indian Farmer (uncredited)
Release Date:15/09/1949
Sand
Character:Indian (uncredited)
Release Date:03/08/1949
Massacre River
Character:Chief Yellowstone
Release Date:26/06/1949
The Paleface
Character:Chief Iron Eyes
Release Date:17/12/1948
Indian Agent
Character:Wovoka
Release Date:11/12/1948
Blood on the Moon
Character:Toma (uncredited)
Release Date:11/11/1948
Train to Alcatraz
Character:Geronimo
Release Date:28/06/1948
The Gallant Legion
Character:Indian Warrior
Release Date:24/05/1948
The Senator Was Indiscreet
Character:Indian
Release Date:31/12/1947
Bowery Buckaroos
Character:Indian Joe
Release Date:22/11/1947
Unconquered
Character:Red Corn
Release Date:10/10/1947
Can't Help Singing
Character:Indian Scaring Caroline (uncredited)
Release Date:25/12/1944
The Phantom
Character:Native (uncredited)
Release Date:24/12/1943
Dawn on the Great Divide
Character:Indian
Release Date:18/12/1942
Springtime in the Rockies
Character:White Cloud (uncredited)
Release Date:06/11/1942
Overland Mail
Character:Indian
Release Date:22/09/1942
King of the Stallions
Character:
Release Date:18/09/1942
The Omaha Trail
Character:1st Friendly Indian
Release Date:01/09/1942
Pierre of the Plains
Character:Indian (uncredited
Release Date:29/07/1942
Pierre of the Plains
Character:Indian
Release Date:29/07/1942
Perils of Nyoka
Character:Arab
Release Date:27/06/1942
Ten Gentlemen from West Point
Character:Indian (uncredited)
Release Date:26/06/1942
My Gal Sal
Character:Indian (uncredited)
Release Date:30/04/1942
Lawless Plainsmen
Character:Indian
Release Date:17/03/1942
Valley of the Sun
Character:Indian (uncredited)
Release Date:06/02/1942
Don Winslow of the Navy
Character:Native Henchman at Mill [Ch. 5]
Release Date:06/01/1942
Ride 'Em Cowboy
Character:Indian (uncredited)
Release Date:17/11/1941
King of the Texas Rangers
Character:Carlos
Release Date:03/10/1941
This Woman Is Mine
Character:Hostile Indian
Release Date:22/08/1941
Saddlemates
Character:Black Eagle
Release Date:15/05/1941
In Old Cheyenne
Character:Indian
Release Date:04/04/1941
Western Union
Character:Indian Who Drinks Chemical Solution
Release Date:21/02/1941
Arizona
Character:Indian (uncredited)
Release Date:25/12/1940
Hudson's Bay
Character:Indian (uncredited)
Release Date:24/12/1940
Pony Post
Character:Indian
Release Date:01/12/1940
North West Mounted Police
Character:Indian Brave (Uncredited)
Release Date:22/10/1940
Young Bill Hickok
Character:Big Bear
Release Date:21/10/1940
Too Many Girls
Character:Indian
Release Date:08/10/1940
Colorado
Character:Indian Henchman
Release Date:15/09/1940
Kit Carson
Character:Indian
Release Date:30/08/1940
Untamed
Character:Indian (uncredited)
Release Date:24/07/1940
Winners of the West
Character:indian
Release Date:02/07/1940
Young Buffalo Bill
Character:Acuna's Aide
Release Date:11/04/1940
Green Hell
Character:Indian (uncredited)
Release Date:26/01/1940
Maintain the Right
Character:Killer
Release Date:13/01/1940
Crashing Thru
Character:Indian Joe - Harrington's Henchman
Release Date:11/12/1939
Overland Mail
Character:Indian Chief
Release Date:16/11/1939
Fighting Mad
Character:2nd Indian at Post
Release Date:05/11/1939
Overland with Kit Carson
Character:Running Wolf
Release Date:21/07/1939
The Oregon Trail
Character:Crow Foot
Release Date:04/07/1939
Across the Plains
Character:Brave
Release Date:01/06/1939
Union Pacific
Character:Indian (uncredited)
Release Date:05/05/1939
The Kid From Texas
Character:Wild West Show Indian
Release Date:14/04/1939
Scouts to the Rescue
Character:Indian
Release Date:17/01/1939
The Cowboy and the Lady
Character:Rodeo Indian (uncredited)
Release Date:17/11/1938
The Lone Ranger
Character:Bullet-Bringer
Release Date:13/02/1938
Prairie Thunder
Character:Indian (uncredited)
Release Date:10/09/1937
The Boss Rider of Gun Creek
Character:
Release Date:01/12/1936
The Bold Caballero
Character:Indian (uncredited)
Release Date:01/12/1936
Ride, Ranger, Ride
Character:Comanche War Party Leader (uncredited)
Release Date:30/11/1936
Treachery Rides the Range
Character:Little Deer
Release Date:02/05/1936
Custer's Last Stand
Character:Chief Brown Fox
Release Date:02/04/1936
Rose Marie
Character:Indian Dancer (uncredited)
Release Date:31/01/1936
Custer's Last Stand
Character:Chief Brown Fox
Release Date:02/01/1936
The Farmer Takes a Wife
Character:Indian
Release Date:05/07/1935
Chandu on the Magic Island
Character:Cat Man
Release Date:01/01/1935
The Return of Chandu
Character:Cat Man
Release Date:01/10/1934
Young Eagles
Character:Temple Guard
Release Date:30/06/1934
Massacre
Character:Indian (uncredited)
Release Date:20/01/1934
Fighting With Kit Carson
Character:Cheyenne Rider
Release Date:01/07/1933
King of the Arena
Character:Circus Indian
Release Date:01/06/1933
Wild Girl
Character:Indian (uncredited)
Release Date:09/11/1932
Texas Pioneers
Character:Little Eagle
Release Date:18/05/1932
Murders in the Rue Morgue
Character:Indian at Sideshow (uncredited)
Release Date:27/01/1932
The Rainbow Trail
Character:John Tom
Release Date:03/01/1932
Oklahoma Jim
Character:War Eagle
Release Date:10/10/1931
The Viking
Character:Indian (uncredited)
Release Date:02/11/1928
Television Appearances
The A-Team
Character:Chief Watashi
Hollywood
Character:Self
The Immortal
Character:
Medical Center
Character:Chanter
Then Came Bronson
Character:Chief John Carbona
Here's Lucy
Character:Medicine Man
Hondo
Character:
The F.B.I.
Character:Medicine Man
Branded
Character:
The Virginian
Character:Chief Black Feather
The Mike Douglas Show
Character:Self
Mister Ed
Character:Chief Thundercloud
Guestward, Ho!
Character:
Outlaws
Character:
The Tall Man
Character:
The Rebel
Character:Sammy Hart
Rawhide
Character:Medicine Man (uncredited)
Rawhide
Character:John Redcloud
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
Character:
Lawman
Character:
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
Character:Eskimo Pilot (uncredited)
Maverick
Character:Indian (uncredited)
The Thin Man
Character:
Sugarfoot
Character:Joe White Cloud
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Character:Nemanna
Sergeant Preston of the Yukon
Character:
Cheyenne
Character:
Gunsmoke
Character:Indian
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp
Character:
The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok
Character:
The Cisco Kid
Character:Chief Big Cloud
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