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Last of the Mohicans actor Russell Means dies | Last of the Mohicans actor Russell Means dies |
(about 17 hours later) | |
Russell Means, who played a leading role in The Last of the Mohicans, has died at the age of 72. | Russell Means, who played a leading role in The Last of the Mohicans, has died at the age of 72. |
Means played Chingachgook, the adopted father of Daniel Day Lewis's character Hawkeye, in the 1992 film. | |
Means was also a former American Indian Movement (AIM) activist, who helped lead a 1973 uprising at Wounded Knee. | Means was also a former American Indian Movement (AIM) activist, who helped lead a 1973 uprising at Wounded Knee. |
The actor and activist died on Monday at his ranch in Porcupine, South Dakota, a spokeswoman for the Oglala Sioux Tribe said. | The actor and activist died on Monday at his ranch in Porcupine, South Dakota, a spokeswoman for the Oglala Sioux Tribe said. |
Donna Salomon, the tribal spokeswoman, called Means' death a "great loss" for the tribe. | Donna Salomon, the tribal spokeswoman, called Means' death a "great loss" for the tribe. |
In August 2011, Means announced he had inoperable throat cancer and told the Associated Press he was eschewing mainstream medicines in favour of traditional Native American treatments. | In August 2011, Means announced he had inoperable throat cancer and told the Associated Press he was eschewing mainstream medicines in favour of traditional Native American treatments. |
The Last of the Mohicans was his first film role and he went on to also appear in films such as Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers. | The Last of the Mohicans was his first film role and he went on to also appear in films such as Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers. |
He also voiced Chief Powhatan in Disney's 1995 animated movie Pocahontas. | He also voiced Chief Powhatan in Disney's 1995 animated movie Pocahontas. |
Controversial figure | Controversial figure |
Means guest starred in US TV series Curb Your Enthusiasm in 2004. | Means guest starred in US TV series Curb Your Enthusiasm in 2004. |
He also made two albums of protest music with lyrics he wrote - Electric Warrior and The Radical. | He also made two albums of protest music with lyrics he wrote - Electric Warrior and The Radical. |
The AIM's armed occupation of Wounded Knee in South Dakota - the site of an infamous massacre of Native Americans by US soldiers in the late 19th Century - lasted for 71 days. | The AIM's armed occupation of Wounded Knee in South Dakota - the site of an infamous massacre of Native Americans by US soldiers in the late 19th Century - lasted for 71 days. |
The protest followed the failure of AIM followers to impeach the elected tribal president, whom they accused of corruption. | The protest followed the failure of AIM followers to impeach the elected tribal president, whom they accused of corruption. |
Means ran unsuccessfully for president of his tribe and for the Libertarian nomination for US president in 1988. | Means ran unsuccessfully for president of his tribe and for the Libertarian nomination for US president in 1988. |
But he was also a controversial figure, partly because of the AIM's alleged involvement in the slaying of one of their activists Annie Mae Aquash in 1975. | But he was also a controversial figure, partly because of the AIM's alleged involvement in the slaying of one of their activists Annie Mae Aquash in 1975. |
Authorities believed it was the work of AIM members because they suspected she was an FBI informant. | Authorities believed it was the work of AIM members because they suspected she was an FBI informant. |
Paul deMain, a Native American journalist who researched the case, said the AIM's leaders know who ordered Aquash's killing but have covered up the truth for decades. | Paul deMain, a Native American journalist who researched the case, said the AIM's leaders know who ordered Aquash's killing but have covered up the truth for decades. |
Means blamed one of his fellow AIM leaders, Vernon Bellecourt, for ordering her killing. | Means blamed one of his fellow AIM leaders, Vernon Bellecourt, for ordering her killing. |
Bellecourt denied the allegations in a 2004 interview. He died in 2008. | Bellecourt denied the allegations in a 2004 interview. He died in 2008. |
Means was married four times and leaves ten children. | Means was married four times and leaves ten children. |
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