Tatanka Wanbli Sapa Xila Sabe Means is a Native American actor, comedian, boxer, entrepreneur, and activist of Oglala Lakota, Omaha, and Dine descent. He is best known for his roles in Saints & Strangers and Tiger Eyes.
Acting career
Means' first screen role was in 2004 playing lead stunt double in the film Black Cloud, which was shot in the same gym where he had previously trained as a boxer. He has since had major roles in several films and TV series. In the miniseries Into the West he played Crazy Horse. In More Than Frybread, he played Buddy Begay, a "hip-hop Navajo fry-bread rock star" who sells fry-bread from a truck on the reservation. A reviewer who described it as the "showiest part" in the film said, "Means.. overdoes it a little... but that's part of Buddy's personality." In Tiger Eyes, based on the novel by Judy Blume, he played Wolf Ortiz, a Native American boy who shows the main character his ancestral lands and introduces her to his culture. Critics have applauded Means' casting and performance in Tiger Eyes. One described him as "quietly affecting"; another said that he "could have come off as a holy-native cliche, but instead seems entirely real"; and another wrote that he was "superbly cast... a voice that can quickly disarm and charm a newcomer... it's clear that we're seeing something almost never seen in a contemporary feature film, which is an utterly authentic representation of a New Mexican." Another review said he is "New Mexican down to his body language and the expression in his eyes.. a thrill to behold on screen." Other major roles include Hobbamock, an elite Pokanoket warrior, in Saints & Strangers, Delvin in Neither Wolf Nor Dog, and Charges the Enemy in The Son. Means has also appeared in The Burrowers as 'Tall Ute', Sedona as Chuck, The Host, Banshee as 'Hoyt Rivers', A Million Ways to Die in the West, The Night Shift, , and Graves. In 2019, he appears in Once Upon a River as Bernard Crane, in Montford: The Chickasaw Rancher as Rising Wolf, and in The Dust Monologues as The Jackrabbit. Also in 2019, he is cast in a film version of Alex Kershaw's book The Liberator, as Private Thomas Otaktay, a Lakota soldier fighting with the 157th Field Artillery Regiment during World War Two. Means takes pride in portraying Native men as modern, complex people rather than the racist or stereotypical characters sometimes found in Hollywood films.
As a comedian, Means performs with the group 49 Laughs Comedy. Other members include Pax Harvey, James Junes, Ernie Tsosie ii, and Adrianne Chalepah. His standup routines have strong ties back to his Native heritage. In one popular standup, he discusses how Native people tease each other ruthlessly and always solve any awkwardness with the phrase “Aaaayyyyeeee". In another, as he tries to explain email, his grandfather is horrified that he would throw spam into the trash.
Entrepreneur
Means was awarded the American Indian Business Leaders Entrepreneur of the year award in 2011. He created an original clothing line called “Tatanka Clothing,” which is intended to create cultural awareness for Native people and Native business people. In 2006, he appeared in a 21st Century Skins Native American Men's Calendar, which he also helped market.
Personal life
Tatanka Means is one of nine children of Oglala Lakota activist Russell Means, one of the leaders of the American Indian Movement in 1970, and himself an actor. Russell Means also appeared in Tiger Eyes, playing the terminally ill screen father of Tatanka's character. He died soon after filming ended. Tatanka carried his father's urn during the funeral. Means' full name, Tatanka Wanbli Sapa Xila Sabe Means, has the meaning Black Buffalo Eagle. Originally from Chinle, Arizona, Means now lives in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. He is married to Christine Means, a yoga instructor, with whom he has a daughter. Means is an advocate for being sober of alcohol and drugs.
