Marvin (Ted) Thin Elk, Sr. (August 14, 1919 – January 27, 1997) was a Sicangu

Lakota Lakota may refer to: *Lakota people, a confederation of seven related Native American tribes *Lakota language, the language of the Lakota peoples Place names In the United States: *Lakota, Iowa *Lakota, North Dakota, seat of Nelson County *Lakota ...

Sioux The Sioux or Oceti Sakowin (; Dakota language, Dakota: Help:IPA, /otʃʰeːtʰi ʃakoːwĩ/) are groups of Native Americans in the United States, Native American tribes and First Nations in Canada, First Nations peoples in North America. The ...

actor who spent most of his life on the

Rosebud Indian Reservation The Rosebud Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation in South Dakota, United States. It is the home of the federally recognized Rosebud Sioux Tribe, who are Sicangu, a band of Lakota people. The Lakota name ''Sicangu Oyate'' translates as t ...

in South Dakota. Ted became very involved in the Sicangu Lakota community through his participation in the Lakota Treaty Council and membership in the Grey Eagle Society. Because of his involvement in the community, Ted Thin Elk was awarded the title of chief. At the age of 72 Ted was cast in his first role as Grandpa Sam Reaches in the film ''

Thunderheart ''Thunderheart'' is a 1992 American Neo-Western mystery film directed by Michael Apted from a screenplay by John Fusco. The film is a loosely based fictional portrayal of events relating to the Wounded Knee incident in 1973, when followers of th ...

''. For his work in the film, Ted Thin Elk was accorded a First Americans in the Arts Award in 1992, the first year the honor was awarded. Ted continued his acting career by participating in two more films, ''

The Broken Chain ''The Broken Chain'' is a 1993 TV movie made by the TNT network. It tells the true story of Iroquois warrior Thayendanegea participating in the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War. Cast *Pierce Brosnan: William Johnson *Eri ...

'' and ''

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 ...

'', and a television mini-series, '' Heaven and Hell: North and South, Book III'', before passing away in 1997.

Personal life

In Ted Thin Elk's 77 years of life he had three different spouses. His first marriage was to a woman named Arvella Pawnee in 1946. These two were married for 21 years until Arvella died in 1967; during this time they had 9 children together. After the passing of his first wife, he was remarried to a woman named Mary Sitting Hawk in 1969. Again, these two were married for 16 years until Mary died in 1985. Ted's final marriage was to Anna V. Carroll in 1993. This marriage only lasted a year before it was annulled in 1994. In his early 20s, Ted Thin Elk served in the United States military during World War II. He was a private in the United States Army stationed in Africa and a part of the Northern African Campaign. During his service in Africa, Ted sustained a minor injury and was relieved of service, returning to the United States.

Filmography

References

External links

* 1919 births 1997 deaths Native American male actors Brulé people 20th-century American male actors Male actors from South Dakota {{NorthAm-native-stub