---
name: "Chief John Big Tree"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/chief-john-big-tree"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "2 June 1877"
died: "6 July 1967"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 1
updated: "2026-09-16T21:14:16.704448+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Chief John Big Tree

Actor. Born 2 June 1877 in Buffalo, New York, USA. Died 6 July 1967.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 2 June 1877, Buffalo, New York, USA
- **Died:** 6 July 1967
- **Also known as:** Chief Big Tree, Isaac Johnny John

## Biography

Chief John Big Tree, also credited as Chief Big Tree, was a Seneca actor born Isaac Johnny John on 2 June 1877 in Buffalo, New York. He appeared in at least 60 films between 1915 and 1950, frequently in uncredited roles as Native American characters.

His credits include *Stagecoach* (1939) as an Indian Scout, *Drums Along the Mohawk* (1939) as Blue Back, and a speaking role as Chief Pony That Walks in *She Wore a Yellow Ribbon* (1949). He worked with director John Ford on several Westerns. He died on 6 July 1967 at the Onondaga Indian Reservation in New York.

Big Tree claimed to have been one of three models for the profile on the Indian Head nickel designed by James Earle Fraser; the claim has been disputed. He appeared on the cover of *Esquire* magazine in March 1964.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, themoviedb.org.*

## On Fi1m (1)

- *Stagecoach* (1939), Fi1m 84, as Indian Scout (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/stagecoach.md)

## Also known for

- *She Wore a Yellow Ribbon* (1949), Chief Pony That Walks
- *Lost Horizon* (1937), Porter (uncredited)
- *Destry Rides Again* (1939), Indian in Saloon (uncredited)
- *The Big Trail* (1930), Indian (uncredited)
- *Drums Along the Mohawk* (1939), Blue Back
- *Western Union* (1941), Chief Spotted Horse
- *The Iron Horse* (1925), Cheyenne Chief (uncredited)
- *Devil's Doorway* (1950), Thundercloud

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/chief-john-big-tree