Chaske Spencer
{{short description|American actor}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Chaske Spencer with Lets Move (cropped).JPG
| image_size =
| caption = Spencer in 2011
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Oklahoma, U.S.
| occupation = Actor
| years_active = 2002–present
| website =
}}
Chaske Spencer is an American actor. He gained prominence through his role as Sam Uley in the Twilight films (2009–2012). For his performance in the BBC and Amazon Prime series The English (2022), he was nominated for a British Academy Television Award.
Spencer's films include Shouting Secrets (2011), Winter in the Blood (2013), Desert Cathedral (2014), Woman Walks Ahead (2017), and Wild Indian (2021). He had recurring roles in the Cinemax series Banshee (2014–2016), the Amazon Prime series Sneaky Pete (2017–2018), and the NBC crime drama Blindspot (2019–2020).
Early life and education
Spencer was born in Oklahoma and grew up in Montana, as well as Kooskia, Lapwai, and Lewiston, Idaho. He has two younger sisters. His heritage includes Lakota, Nez Perce, Cherokee, Muscogee, French, and Dutch.[http://www.bettyconfidential.com/ar/ld/a/Interview-with-a-New-Moon-Werewolf.html Interview with a New Moon Werewolf | BettyConfidential.com] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707231008/http://www.bettyconfidential.com/ar/ld/a/Interview-with-a-New-Moon-Werewolf.html|date=July 7, 2011}}{{Cite web|last=Sweet|first=Brandi|title="Twilight: New Moon" and "Twilight: Eclipse" Actor Chaske Spencer Speaks Out on Getting Healthy in Indian Country|work=Let's Move! Bureau of Indian Education, Department of the Interior|access-date =April 29, 2012|date=June 1, 2011|url=http://www.letsmove.gov/blog/2011/06/01/%E2%80%9Ctwilight-new-moon%E2%80%9D-and-%E2%80%9Ctwilight-eclipse%E2%80%9D-actor-chaske-spencer-speaks-out-getting-h|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20111216061846/http://www.letsmove.gov/blog/2011/06/01/%E2%80%9Ctwilight-new-moon%E2%80%9D-and-%E2%80%9Ctwilight-eclipse%E2%80%9D-actor-chaske-spencer-speaks-out-getting-h| archive-date = December 16, 2011| url-status = dead}} He is Lakota Sioux, enrolled with the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of Montana through his mother.{{cite web |url=https://www.cowboysindians.com/2022/08/first-look-chaske-spencer-and-emily-blunt-in-the-english/ |title=First Look: Chaske Spencer and Emily Blunt in The English |date=August 20, 2022 |publisher=Cowboys & Indians |accessdate=2023-01-27 |archive-date=January 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127112435/https://www.cowboysindians.com/2022/08/first-look-chaske-spencer-and-emily-blunt-in-the-english/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://lmtribune.com/obituaries/janet-youngman-spencer/article_0cda0671-ff1f-57a1-b9be-1605f4c811da.html |title=Janet Youngman Spencer |date=April 4, 2015 |publisher=The Lewiston Tribune |accessdate=2023-01-27 |archive-date=January 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127112435/https://lmtribune.com/obituaries/janet-youngman-spencer/article_0cda0671-ff1f-57a1-b9be-1605f4c811da.html |url-status=live }}
Spencer graduated from Clearwater Valley High School in 1994, where he went by the name James Spencer.{{cite web|url=http://cvhs.sd244.org/Alumni.htm#1990 |title=Alumni |access-date=January 27, 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204205005/http://cvhs.sd244.org/Alumni.htm |archivedate=December 4, 2010 }}{{better source needed|date=September 2020}} As a young teen, he started acting in productions at the Lewiston Civic Theater. Spencer attended college at Lewis–Clark State College for a year, and considered a career in photography.{{Cite web|title=Chaske Spencer|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/chaske-spencer/bio/3000615607/|access-date=July 26, 2021|website=TVGuide.com|language=en|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726185000/https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/chaske-spencer/bio/3000615607/|url-status=live}} He eventually dropped out of Lewis–Clark State College to pursue his acting career.
Career
Spencer did odd jobs while taking acting lessons from coaches David Gideon and Ed Kovens.{{cite web|url = http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/03/19/chaske-spencer-native-actor-who-left-addiction-behind-148243|title = Chaske Spencer: A Native Actor Who Left Addiction Behind|author = Berry, Carol|date = March 19, 2013|access-date = July 15, 2016|publisher = Indian Country Today Media Network|archive-date = October 5, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161005232045/http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2013/03/19/chaske-spencer-native-actor-who-left-addiction-behind-148243|url-status = live}}{{cite web|url = http://www.buddytv.com/info/chaske-spencer-info.aspx|accessdate = July 15, 2016|publisher = Buddy TV|title = Chaske Spencer Biography|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160922182920/http://www.buddytv.com/info/chaske-spencer-info.aspx|archive-date = September 22, 2016|url-status = dead}} In 2002, he made his feature film debut as a young version of Eric Schweig's lead character in Skins. This was followed by further film roles in Dreamkeeper and Into the West.
In 2009, Spencer played werewolf Sam Uley in the Twilight sequel New Moon, based on Stephenie Meyer's novel of the same name. He reprised his role in Eclipse, Breaking Dawn – Part 1, and Breaking Dawn – Part 2.{{cite web|url = http://www.slashfilm.com/summit-casts-new-moons-wolf-pack/|title = Summit Casts New Moon's Wolf Pack|author = Sciretta, Peter|date = March 23, 2009|accessdate = July 14, 2016|publisher = /Film|archive-date = September 16, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160916023150/http://www.slashfilm.com/summit-casts-new-moons-wolf-pack/|url-status = live}} Spencer won two Best Actor accolades at the American Indian Film Festival for his performances in the 2011 film Shouting Secrets and the 2013 film Winter in the Blood. He also had a role in the 2014 film Desert Cathedral.
After playing Deputy Billy Raven in the 2014 spinoff web series Banshees Origins, Spencer reprised his role in the third season of the main Cinemax series Banshee the following year.{{cite web|url = http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/01/09/chaske-spencer-joins-cast-banshee-officer-billy-raven-158643|title = Chaske Spencer Joins Cast of 'Banshee' as Officer Billy Raven|author = Schilling, Vincent|date = January 9, 2015|access-date = May 15, 2016|publisher = Indian Country Today Media Network|archive-date = October 6, 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161006003227/http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/01/09/chaske-spencer-joins-cast-banshee-officer-billy-raven-158643|url-status = live}} In 2017, Spencer starred in the film Woman Walks Ahead, appeared in the film Walking Out, and had a recurring role as Chayton Dockery in the Amazon Prime series Sneaky Pete. He went on to have another recurring role as Dominic Masters in the fourth and fifth seasons of the NBC crime drama Blindspot.
Spencer starred in the 2021 thriller film Wild Indian, for which he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. The following year, he starred opposite Emily Blunt in the Western miniseries The English, produced for Amazon Prime Video and BBC One.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/chaske-spencer-rafe-spall-emily-blunt-bbc-amazon-the-english-1234753780/amp/|title='The English': Chaske Spencer, Rafe Spall Among Cast Joining Emily Blunt In BBC/Amazon Western Series|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Jake|last=Kanter|date=May 11, 2021|access-date=May 11, 2021|archive-date=May 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513100638/https://deadline.com/2021/05/chaske-spencer-rafe-spall-emily-blunt-bbc-amazon-the-english-1234753780/amp/|url-status=live}} For his performance, Spencer was nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Best Actor.
Personal life
During his teens, Spencer had struggles with substance abuse and alcoholism. He continued to drink heavily during his college years.{{Cite web|date=November 6, 2010|title=Twilight actor Chaske Spencer has battled addiction; speaks to 900 at Plachta Auditorium {{!}} Central Michigan Life|url=https://www.cm-life.com/2010/11/04/twilight-actor-chaske-spencer-fights-to-stay-sober-speaks-to-about-900-in-plachta-auditorium/|access-date=July 26, 2021|archive-date=November 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101106135548/https://www.cm-life.com/2010/11/04/twilight-actor-chaske-spencer-fights-to-stay-sober-speaks-to-about-900-in-plachta-auditorium/|url-status=bot: unknown}} He later developed an addiction to cocaine and heroin, and checked into rehab.{{Cite web|date=November 5, 2010|title=Twilight star shares his story of struggle with substance abuse|url=https://dailyillini.com/news/2010/11/05/twilight-star-shares-his-story-of-struggle-with-substance-abuse-2/|access-date=July 26, 2021|website=The Daily Illini|archive-date=July 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726185001/https://dailyillini.com/news/2010/11/05/twilight-star-shares-his-story-of-struggle-with-substance-abuse-2/|url-status=live}} While in rehab, Spencer stopped taking drugs. He nearly gave up on acting before his agent called him to audition for New Moon, the sequel to Twilight.
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2002
| Skins | Teen Rudy | |
| 2003
| Eagle Boy | |
| 2009
| rowspan="2" | Sam Uley | |
| 2010
| |
| rowspan="2" | 2011
| Shouting Secrets | Wesley | |
| The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1
| rowspan="2" | Sam Uley | |
| 2012
| The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 | |
| 2013
| Virgil First Raise | |
| rowspan="3" | 2014
| The Hero Pose | Joe | Short film |
| Desert Cathedral
| Duran Palouse | |
| The Jingle Dress
| John Red Elk | |
| 2015
| Addiction: A 60's Love Story | Rick Barone | |
| 2017
| Chaska | |
| 2021
| Teddo | |
| TBA
| Indian Summer | Wez McKendrick | |
| TBA
| Wind River: The Next Chapter | | Post-production |
=Television=
=Video games=
- Red Dead Revolver (2004), Various
Awards and nominations
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|1119726}}
- [https://archive.today/20130129051932/http://www.miptalk.com/?p=426 Chaske Spencer - MIPtalk.com Interview]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spencer, Chaske}}
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male voice actors
Category:People from Lewiston, Idaho
Category:American people of Cherokee descent
Category:American people of Dutch descent
Category:American people of French descent
Category:Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes people
Category:Native American people from Montana