Photo: Carolmooredc / CC BY-SA 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
For me, Russell Means is impossible to file away as merely an actor. Born on the Pine Ridge Reservation and an Oglala Lakota to his core, he put his body on the line for Native American rights and turned the American Indian Movement into something the world could not ignore. His film roles in Pocahontas and Thomas and the Magic Railroad lent a real presence, but they were footnotes to a life of confrontation. What I admire most is the consistency: the man who fought offscreen was the same man onscreen. He used fame as a megaphone, never a hiding place, and that integrity is what I keep coming back to.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Russell Means
- Name (Japanese)
- ラッセル・ミーンズ
- Reading
- らっせる・みーんず
- Born
- November 10, 1939 – October 22, 2012
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Scorpio / Rabbit
- Origin
- Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- actor / musician / autobiographer / film actor / politician
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- San Leandro High School
- University
- Private
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Pocahontas | — | |
| Notable work | Thomas and the Magic Railroad | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Russell Means born?
November 10, 1939 – October 22, 2012.
Where is Russell Means from?
Russell Means is from Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota, United States.
What does Russell Means do?
Russell Means works as actor, musician, autobiographer, film actor, politician.
What is Russell Means known for?
Notable works include Pocahontas, Thomas and the Magic Railroad.
Actor — see all → · Musician — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.