Donald L. Shanks (born February 26, 1950) is an
American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
actor
An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), li ...
and
stuntman
A stunt performer, often called a stuntman or stuntwoman and occasionally stuntperson or stunt-person, is a trained professional who performs daring acts, often as a career. Stunt performers usually appear in films or on television, as opposed ...
, known for his role as
Michael Myers in ''
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers'', and Nakoma, the Native American friend of the title character in the 1977 television series ''
The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams
''The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams'' is a 1974 independent feature film produced by Charles E. Sellier Jr. and Raylan D. Jensen for Sun Classic Pictures. The film's popularity led to an NBC television series of the same name. The title char ...
''.
Biography
Shanks was born in
Piasa, Illinois
Piasa is an unincorporated community in Macoupin County, Illinois, United States. Piasa is located on Illinois Route 16 west of Shipman. Piasa has a post office
A post office is a public facility and a retailer that provides mail servic ...
in 1950. Shanks portrayed
Michael Myers in ''
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers''. In 2006, he appeared as Ben Willis, the infamous serial killer in the film ''
''. Shanks, who is of
Cherokee
The Cherokee (; chr, ᎠᏂᏴᏫᏯᎢ, translit=Aniyvwiyaʔi or Anigiduwagi, or chr, ᏣᎳᎩ, links=no, translit=Tsalagi) are one of the indigenous peoples of the Southeastern Woodlands of the United States. Prior to the 18th century, t ...
and
Illini descent, appeared in the film ''
The Last Sin Eater'' as a Native American chief. It was released in the
U.S.
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
on February 9, 2007.
Filmography
Actor
*''
Smothered
This is a list of television programs formerly or currently broadcast by TLC (TV network), TLC.
Current programming First-run original programming
Re-runs of acquired programming
Future programming Original programming
*''MILF Manor'' (January ...
'' (2016) - Self
*''
Little Bear and the Master'' (2008)
*''
The Last Sin Eater'' (2007) - Indian Chief
*''
'' (2006) (V) - Ben Willis / The Fisherman
*''
Urban Legends: Bloody Mary'' (2005) (V) - Coach Jacoby
*''
No Dogs Allowed'' (2002) - Junior
*''
Touched by an Angel
''Touched by an Angel'' is an American fantasy drama television series that premiered on CBS on September 21, 1994, and ran for 211 episodes over nine seasons until its conclusion on April 27, 2003. Created by John Masius and executive produced b ...
'' (2001) (TV series) - Guard #1
*''
Water with Food Coloring'' (2001) - Thug
*''
Twice Today'' (2001) - Joe Oliver
*''
Primary Suspect
''Primary Suspect'' is a 2000 American action- thriller-mystery film written by D.Alvelo and Marc Bienstock and directed by Jeff Celentano. The film stars William Baldwin, Brigitte Bako, and Lee Majors.
Plot
While on an undercover infiltration ...
'' (2000) - (Chief) Lance
*''
The Crow: Salvation'' (2000) - Guard #1
*''
Ride with the Devil'' (1999/I) - George
*''
Made Men
In the American and Sicilian Mafia, a made man is a fully initiated member of the Mafia. To become "made", an associate first must be Italian or of Italian descent and sponsored by another made man. An inductee will be required to take the oat ...
'' (1999) - Caleb
*''
The Tempest'' (1998) (TV) - Overseer
*''
Legion of Fire: Killer Ants!'' (1998) (TV) - Greywolf
*''
Truth or Consequences, N.M.'' (1997) - Vago Wiseguy #3
*''
Walking Thunder
''Walking Thunder'' is a 1994 film starring James Read, John Denver and David Tom and Bart the Bear, written and directed by Craig Clyde. It relates the memoirs of a young boy Jacob McKay who travels with his family on a wagon on their way to Cal ...
'' (1997) - Blood Coat
*''Last Resort'' (1996) - Walking Far
*''
Unforgivable'' (1996) (TV) - George
*''
3 Ninjas Knuckle Up
''3 Ninjas Knuckle Up'' is a 1993 American martial arts comedy film taking place in between ''3 Ninjas'' and '' 3 Ninjas Kick Back''. The film was directed by Shin Sang-ok, using the pseudonym "Simon Sheen". The film was shot in 1992, the same yea ...
'' (1995) (as Donald L. Shanks) - Charlie
*''
Dumb and Dumber
''Dumb and Dumber'' is a 1994 American buddy comedy film directed by Peter Farrelly, who cowrote the screenplay with Bobby Farrelly and Bennett Yellin. It is the first installment in the ''Dumb and Dumber'' franchise. Starring Jim Carrey and ...
'' (1994) - Third Waiter
*''
The Legend of Wolf Mountain'' (1993) - Simcoe
*''
The ButterCream Gang in Secret of Treasure Mountain'' (1993) (V) - Indian holding an axe
*''
Wind Dancer
Sofia Elizabeth Mantega, also known as Wind Dancer and formerly known as Renascence, is a fictional character, a mutant appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics. One of the student body in the Xavier Institute, she is a member of the N ...
'' (1993) - Halfmoon
*''
The Secret Of Lost Creek
''The Secret of Lost Creek'' is an American adventure television series that aired on the Disney Channel from February 1 to March 1, 1992.
Premise
Two siblings spend the summer at their grandparents' house where Jeannie finds clues to a buried ...
'' (1992) (TV series) - Charlie Little Elk
*''
The Indian Runner
''The Indian Runner'' is a 1991 crime drama film written and directed by Sean Penn in his directorial debut. Based on Bruce Springsteen's song "Highway Patrolman", the film depicts the relationship between two brothers who find themselves on oppos ...
'' (1991) - Young Indian Runner
*''
Tripwire
A tripwire is a passive triggering mechanism. Typically, a wire or cord is attached to a device for detecting or reacting to physical movement.
Military applications
Such tripwires may be attached to one or more mines – especially fragme ...
'' (1990) - Indian Fighter
*''
Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers'' (1989) (as Donald L. Shanks) -
Michael Myers/Man in Black
*''
Spirit of the Eagle
The Spirit of the Eagle Award is a Boy Scouts of America (BSA) honorary posthumous special recognition for a youth member under the age of 21 who has lost his or her life in an accident or through illness.
The intention of this award is to help h ...
'' (1989) - Running Wolf
*''
Stranger on My Land'' (1988) (TV) - Construction Worker #1
*''
Louis L'Amour's Down the Long Hills Louis may refer to:
* Louis (coin)
* Louis (given name), origin and several individuals with this name
* Louis (surname)
* Louis (singer), Serbian singer
* HMS Louis, HMS ''Louis'', two ships of the Royal Navy
See also
Derived or associated te ...
'' (1986) (TV) - Ashawakie
*''
Silent Night, Deadly Night
''Silent Night, Deadly Night'' is a 1984 American slasher film directed by Charles E. Sellier, Jr., and starring Robert Brian Wilson, Lilyan Chauvin, Gilmer McCormick, Toni Nero, Linnea Quigley, Britt Leach, and Leo Geter. The story concerns a ...
'' (1984) (as Donald L. Shanks) - Santa Climbing in Window
*''
Sweet Sixteen'' (1983) - Jason Longshadow
*''
Revenge of the Ninja
''Revenge of the Ninja'' is a 1983 American martial arts– thriller film directed by Sam Firstenberg, and starring martial artist Sho Kosugi, Keith Vitali, Virgil Frye and Kane Kosugi. The plot follows a ninja trying to protect his only son fr ...
'' (1983) - Chief
*''
Legend of the Wild
A legend is a genre of folklore that consists of a narrative featuring human actions, believed or perceived, both by teller and listeners, to have taken place in human history. Narratives in this genre may demonstrate human values, and possess ...
'' (1981) -
*''
The Ghost Dance'' (1980) (as Donald L. Shanks) - Excavation Worker
*''
The Incredible Hulk
The Hulk is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in the debut issue of '' The Incredible Hulk'' (May 1962). In his comic book a ...
'' (1979) (TV series) - Little Jim
*''
The Chisholms
''The Chisholms'' is a CBS western miniseries starring Robert Preston, which aired from March 29, 1979, to April 19, 1979; and continued as a television series from January 19, 1980, to March 15, 1980.Alex McNeil, ''Total Television'', New York: ...
'' (1979) (mini TV series) - Enapay
*''
How the West Was Won'' (1979) (TV series) - Red Kettle
*''
The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams
''The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams'' is a 1974 independent feature film produced by Charles E. Sellier Jr. and Raylan D. Jensen for Sun Classic Pictures. The film's popularity led to an NBC television series of the same name. The title char ...
'' (1977–1978) (TV series) - Nakoma
*''
The Last of the Mohicans
''The Last of the Mohicans: A Narrative of 1757'' is a historical romance written by James Fenimore Cooper in 1826.
It is the second book of the '' Leatherstocking Tales'' pentalogy and the best known to contemporary audiences. '' The Pathfinde ...
'' (1977) (TV) - Uncas
*''
Guardian of the Wilderness
''Guardian of the Wilderness'' is a 1976 theatrical narrative film (often alternatively titled ''Mountain Man'') directed by David O'Malley about the true story of Galen Clark, an explorer who successfully campaigned to have the Yosemite area se ...
'' (1976) - Teneiya
*''
The Adventures of Frontier Fremont'' (1976) -
*''
The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams
''The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams'' is a 1974 independent feature film produced by Charles E. Sellier Jr. and Raylan D. Jensen for Sun Classic Pictures. The film's popularity led to an NBC television series of the same name. The title char ...
'' (1974) - Nakoma
External links
*
Don Shanks – The New York Times Article
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shanks, Don
1950 births
Living people
American male film actors
American male television actors
20th-century American male actors
21st-century American male actors
Male actors from Illinois
Native American male actors
American people of Cherokee descent
People from Macoupin County, Illinois
American stunt performers