Eric Schweig

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Eric Schweig (born Ray Dean Trasher ; born June 19, 1967 in Inuvik , Northwest Territories ) is a Canadian actor .

He was best known for his role as Chingachgook's son Uncas in The Last of the Mohicans (1992).

Life

Eric Schweig was born on June 19, 1967 in Inuvik and is of Inuit on his mother's side and German on his father's side. He was adopted by an English-speaking Franco-German family at the age of six months, which he later referred to as "state-approved kidnapping ". His biological mother died in 1989 of complications from alcoholism without seeing her son again. He lived in Inuvik until he was six, then moved with his family to Bermuda and later to Combermere , Ontario . His adoptive parents regularly abused him. At the age of 16, he ran away from home and went to Toronto, where he earned his living as a scaffolding builder.

In 1987 he was discovered by chance by a film producer who suggested him for a role in The Shaman's Source (1990). Without ever having completed an acting training, he prevailed against his competitors and took on the role of Robert Cow in the film . This started his film career.

In addition to appearances in various television series, he also appeared sporadically in stage productions such as The cradle will fall and A glass Tiger . He was best known for the role of Uncas in Michael Mann's film The Last of the Mohicans from 1992.

Because of its appearance, Schweig was repeatedly cast in typical Indian roles (original sound "... running through the forest with a bow and arrow in a loincloth ..."). In order to counteract this one-sided definition of roles ( type casting ) and to give his career new impetus, he finally decided to cut off his long black hair.

In the course of his career he identified more and more with his Indian descent. In schools he holds lectures in so-called outreach programs on topics such as racism , alcoholism and depression among the indigenous tribes of North America. Schweig is also passionate about carving spiritistic and Indian masks. In addition, he has mastered some instruments such as guitar, drums and harmonica.

Filmography (selection)

  • 1990: The Shaman's Source
  • 1992: The Long Way of Luke B. ( By Way of the Stars , miniseries)
  • 1992: The Last of the Mohicans (The Last of the Mohicans)
  • 1993: The Flames of War ( For Love and Glory , Movie made for TV)
  • 1993: The Broken Chain (TV movie)
  • 1994: Squanto: A Warrior's Tale
  • 1994: The Dream of Apollo XI (Pontiac Moon)
  • 1995: Heart of an Indomitable ( Follow the River , TV movie)
  • 1995: The Scarlet Letter (The Scarlet Letter)
  • 1995: Tom and Huck (Tom and Huck)
  • 1996: The Lovers of the Red River Red River ( Les amants de rivière rouge , miniseries)
  • 1996: Dead Man's Walk ( Dead Man's Walk , TV movie)
  • 2000: Big Eden
  • 2002: Skins
  • 2003: Mr. Barrington
  • 2003: Cowboys and Indians: The JJ Harper Story (TV movie)
  • 2003: The Missing
  • 2005: Into the West ( Into the West , miniseries)
  • 2005: It Waits
  • 2005: Shania: A Life in Eight Albums (TV movie)
  • 2006: Indian Summer: The Oka Crisis (Miniseries)
  • 2006: Mr. Soul (TV movie)
  • 2006: One Dead Indian (TV movie)
  • 2006: Not Like Everyone Else (TV movie)
  • 2007: Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee (TV movie)
  • 2009: Blackstone (TV movie)
  • 2009: Kissed by Lightning
  • 2009–2011: Cashing In (TV series, 20 episodes)
  • 2010: Casino Jack
  • 2010: A Flesh Offering
  • 2011-2013: Blackstone (TV series, 23 episodes)
  • 2013: Maïna

Prices

  • 2000: LA Outfest Grand Jury Award for Outstanding Actor in a Feature Film for Big Eden
  • 2011: Nomination in the category Best Lead Performance by a Male in a Dramatic Series for Blackstone

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. a b An actor's odyssey: Drinking, homelessness preceded movie success ( Memento of the original from November 2, 2012 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. in San Jose Mercury News , September 25, 2002 @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.highbeam.com
  2. a b Eric Schweig Adoption Speech at mohicanpress.com, accessed July 29, 2013
  3. Eric Schweig- mask carving as therapy [1]
  4. ^ LA Outfest - Awards for 2000 at imdb.com, accessed July 29, 2013