In this Article, August Schellenberg was an award-winning Canadian actor, known for his commanding performances. His most renowned roles included those in the Free Willy film series, Black Robe, The New World, and Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee; on stage, he took part in an all-aboriginal production of King Lear at Ottawa National Arts Centre; sadly he passed away at age 77 due to lung cancer on August 15, 2013. We honor his legacy both on screen and stage and as a Metis artist mentor on many. In this piece we pay our respects in memory of this incredible actor.
August Schellenberg Early Life and Education
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Schellenberg was born July 25th 1936 in Montreal Quebec to a Swiss father and an English-Mohawk mother. As a child he spoke both English and French fluently while being interested in sports and music – competing as both champion diver and boxer while playing trumpet and piano as a youth. At an early age he developed an aptitude for acting; enrolling at National Theatre School of Canada in 1963 before eventually receiving their Tyrone Guthrie Award as most promising young actor at Stratford Festival Festival that same year.
Film Career
Schellenberg made his cinematic debut in 1971 in Don Shebib’s coming-of-age drama Rip-Off. Subsequent films by Canadian and American directors followed, such as One Man, Power Play, Bear Island, Running Brave, and Heavy Metal, where he voiced various characters. Schellenberg achieved international renown and praise for playing Chomina, a Huron chief in Bruce Beresford’s Black Robe historical drama depicting Jesuit missions in New France; for this performance he won both Genie Awards and an American Indian Film Festival Eagle Spirit Award from American Indian Film Festival Eagle Spirit Award.
Schellenberg gained international renown for his portrayal of Randolph Johnson, a Native American whale trainer in the Free Willy movie series. Schellenberg made appearances in all three installments of this family-friendly adventure film featuring a young boy’s relationship with an orca captive in captivity. Additionally, Schellenberg had notable roles in other animal-centric movies including Iron Will, True Heart, and Eight Below.
Schellenberg also played historical figures and leaders of Native American tribes such as Sitting Bull, Powhatan and Idahi in movies such as Crazy Horse, The New World and Comanche Moon. He received an Emmy nomination for portraying Sitting Bull in Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee based on Dee Brown’s best-selling novel Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee; additionally he played Grandpa a Lakota storyteller on ABC miniseries DreamKeeper that examined various Native American legends and myths.
Theatre Career
Schellenberg was also renowned as an accomplished theatre actor, appearing at various regional theatres across Canada and the US. He played various characters ranging from Stanley Kowalski in A Streetcar Named Desire to Oscar in The Odd Couple; Faust to Enobarbus in Antony and Cleopatra. Additionally he featured in musicals such as Funny Girl and The Fantasticks as well as original plays like Tamara and Latitude 55deg.
Schellenberg was at his finest as King Lear in an all-aboriginal production of William Shakespeare’s classic play at Ottawa’s National Arts Centre in 2012. Under Peter Hinton’s direction and receiving critical acclaim and standing ovations alike for their performance, Schellenberg said that this role was his dream role and felt strongly connected with both Lear and its story.
Legacy and Influence
Schellenberg was not only renowned and talented actor but was also renowned for being an incredible mentor for many aspiring and emerging artists. He taught acting seminars at Centre for Indigenous Theatre and York University in Toronto as well as conducting motivational workshops across North America at schools, cultural groups and community organizations. Furthermore, he supported various causes and charities like Native Earth Performing Arts, Native American Rights Fund and World Wildlife Fund and was honored with both Civic Honours Award of Merit by City of Toronto in 1994 and Lifetime Achievement Award by American Indian Film Institute in 2013.
Schellenberg was immensely proud of his Metis heritage, and often spoke about its preservation and promotion for indigenous communities. He felt it essential that traditional practices be kept alive because it plays an integral part in identity, soul and respect of indigenous communities. Schellenberg served as an icon and role model to many Native American actors within Hollywood film and theatre industries through his efforts at raising their visibility and representation of indigenous communities through film and theatre projects.
August Schellenberg’s death was deeply mourned by family, friends, colleagues, and fans who remembered him as an engaging individual who lived a humble yet passionate life – as an actor he left behind an expansive body of work which showcased his talent, charisma, spirit and generosity; inspiring many along his journey as an artist and true gentleman who will forever remain fondly remembered by us all.
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