Actor. The grandson of famed Apache warrior Geronimo, he became a prolific character performer in Hollywood. Stevens played a wide variety of parts, especially during the silent era, but was most often seen as an Indian in westerns. His most notable role was as Injun Joe in "Tom Sawyer" (1930). Among his other credits are "The Mark of Zorro" (1920 and 1940 versions), "The Three Musketeers" (1921), "Robin Hood" (1922), "The Thief of Bagdad" (1924), "Tumbleweeds" (1925), "The Vanishing American" (1925), "The Black Pirate" (1926), "The King of Kings" (1927), "The Iron Mask" (1929), "The Virginian" (1929), "The Taming of the Shrew" (1929), "The Big Trail" (1930), "The Cisco Kid" (1931), "Viva Villa!" (1934), "The Lives of a Bengal Lancer" (1935), "The Call of the Wild" (1935), "The Plainsman" (1936), "Union Pacific" (1939), "Northwest Mounted Police" (1940), "Blood and Sand" (1941), "My Darling Clementine" (1946), "The Exile" (1947), "Ambush" (1949), "The Ten Commandments" (1956), "Last Train from Gun Hill" (1959), and "The Outsider" (1961). Stevens was born in Solomonsville, Arizona. After playing a bit part in "The Birth of a Nation" (1915) he was discovered by star-producer Douglas Fairbanks, who cast him in nearly all of his pictures. He also worked frequently for director Cecil B. DeMille. Perhaps because of his grandfather and his Anglicized name, Stevens was one of the first Native American actors to enjoy screen billing in Hollywood. He appeared in 183 films, and later in such TV shows as "The Lone Ranger", "The Adventures of Kit Carson", "Maverick", and "Rawhide".
Actor. The grandson of famed Apache warrior Geronimo, he became a prolific character performer in Hollywood. Stevens played a wide variety of parts, especially during the silent era, but was most often seen as an Indian in westerns. His most notable role was as Injun Joe in "Tom Sawyer" (1930). Among his other credits are "The Mark of Zorro" (1920 and 1940 versions), "The Three Musketeers" (1921), "Robin Hood" (1922), "The Thief of Bagdad" (1924), "Tumbleweeds" (1925), "The Vanishing American" (1925), "The Black Pirate" (1926), "The King of Kings" (1927), "The Iron Mask" (1929), "The Virginian" (1929), "The Taming of the Shrew" (1929), "The Big Trail" (1930), "The Cisco Kid" (1931), "Viva Villa!" (1934), "The Lives of a Bengal Lancer" (1935), "The Call of the Wild" (1935), "The Plainsman" (1936), "Union Pacific" (1939), "Northwest Mounted Police" (1940), "Blood and Sand" (1941), "My Darling Clementine" (1946), "The Exile" (1947), "Ambush" (1949), "The Ten Commandments" (1956), "Last Train from Gun Hill" (1959), and "The Outsider" (1961). Stevens was born in Solomonsville, Arizona. After playing a bit part in "The Birth of a Nation" (1915) he was discovered by star-producer Douglas Fairbanks, who cast him in nearly all of his pictures. He also worked frequently for director Cecil B. DeMille. Perhaps because of his grandfather and his Anglicized name, Stevens was one of the first Native American actors to enjoy screen billing in Hollywood. He appeared in 183 films, and later in such TV shows as "The Lone Ranger", "The Adventures of Kit Carson", "Maverick", and "Rawhide".
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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