Michael Horse

• Name — Michael Horse • Birth Name — Michael James Heinrich • Born — 1949 • Birthplace — Los Angeles County, California, U.S. • Occupation — Actor • Spouse — Pennie Opal Plant • Years Active — 1981–present • Website — gatheringtribes.com/pages/about-michael-horse

Michael James Heinrich was born in Los Angeles County, California in 1949. Biographies have also given his birthplace as in or near Tucson, Arizona. His parents were Nancie Bellen Posten and George Heinrich, who married in 1953. Angela Aleiss wrote, "Heinrich listed his parents as Austrian." Biographies have also described his mother as being Swedish and George Heinrich being his adopted father. Horse "describes himself as half-Indian and part Zuni, Mescalero, Yaqui and Hispanic with a touch of Swedish…." In 2017, American art writer Daniel Grant wrote, "Horse has refused to apply to any one tribe for enrollment" in an article in which Horse stated that he belonged to "three nations... I'm one-eighth this and one-eighth that. I'm tired of explaining myself in fractions. I know who I am."

Horse's film debut came in the role of Tonto in the 1981 film The Legend of the Lone Ranger, which was a commercial failure. Before taking the role, Horse had been concerned that the character might be perceived as a stereotype. However, Horse later said that the fact that the film was not a big hit enabled him to launch a career as a character actor without being stuck in the role of Tonto. After appearing in David Lynch's short film The Cowboy and the Frenchman (1988), Horse portrayed Deputy Hawk, a police officer, in Lynch's TV series Twin Peaks (1990–91). He also acted in Passenger 57 (1992), House of Cards (1993), the 1990s version of the television series The Untouchables (1993), and North of 60 (1995–97). He also appeared in the Thanks episode "Thanksgiving" in 1999, portraying Squanto. He appeared as Deputy Owen Blackwood in four episodes of the first season of Roswell (1999). Horse also appeared as Sheriff Tskany in The X-Files episode "Shapes" in 1994. In 1999, Horse guest starred on Walker, Texas Ranger in the episode "Team Cherokee" as John Red Cloud, the owner of a Native American NASCAR racing team and a friend of the titular character, Texas Ranger Cordell Walker (Chuck Norris). Horse portrayed American Indian Movement (AIM) activist Dennis Banks in the 1994 film Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee. Eight years later, he lent his voice to Little Creek's friend in Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron. He portrayed Mike Proudfoot on Sons of Tucson. In 1995 he portrayed Dirty Bob in the Western film Riders in the Storm. He played the character Jindoga in Hawkeye. In 2017, Horse reprised his role as Deputy Hawk in the third season of TV series Twin Peaks. He also portrayed Twamie Ullulaq in the seventh season of The Blacklist in 2020.

He is married to Pennie Opal Plant.

• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1983 — It Takes Two — Frank White — Episode: "Mother and Child Reunion" • 1985 — Knight Rider — Jonathan Eagle — Episode: "Burial Ground" • 1986 — Amazing Stories — Male Friend / Indian — 2 episodes • 1988 — Longarm — Vasquez — Television film • 1988 — The French as Seen by... — Broken Feather — 2 episodes • 1989 — Paradise — Walking Water — Episode: "Burial Ground" • 1989–1991 — Twin Peaks — Deputy Tommy 'Hawk' Hill — 28 episodes • 1990 — New Kids on the Block — Various — 14 episodes • 1991 — P.S. I Luv U — Russell Grayfox — Episodes: "Unmarried... with Children" • 1991 — The Torkelsons — David Blackwing — Episode: "Thanksgivingsomething" • 1992–1993 — Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa — J.R. — Voice, 8 episodes • 1993 — Mighty Max — Yona-Ya-In — Episode: "The Maxnificent Seven" • 1993 — The Untouchables — Agent George Steelman — 19 episodes • 1994 — The X-Files — Sheriff Charles Tskany — Episode: "Shapes" • 1994 — Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee — Dennis Banks — Television film • 1994 — Problem Child — Various — 13 episodes • 1994–1996 — Gargoyles — Peter Maza / Carlos Maza — Voice, 4 episodes • 1995 — Hawkeye — Jindoga — Episode: "Vengeance Is Mine" • 1995 — 500 Nations — Voice — 3 episodes • 1995 — Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child — Sharp Flint — Voice, episode: "Snow White" • 1995 — Life with Louie — Cousin Joey — Episode: "The Fourth Thursday in November" • 1995–1997 — North of 60 — Andrew One Sky — 19 episodes • 1996 — The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest — Various — 4 episodes • 1996 — The Incredible Hulk — Jefferson Whitedeer — Episode: "And the Wind Cries... Wendigo" • 1996, 1997 — Adventures from the Book of Virtues — Waukewa's Father, Strong Wind — Voice, 2 episodes • 1997 — Duckman — Big Chief Fancy Pants — Voice, episode: "Role with It" • 1997 — The Legend of Calamity Jane — Quanna Parker — Voice, 13 episodes • 1997, 1999 — Superman: The Animated Series — Ubu, Sky Sentry Operator — Voice, 2 episodes • 1999 — Walker, Texas Ranger — John Red Cloud — 2 episodes • 1999 — Thanks — Dissquantum / Squanto — Episode: "Thanksgiving" • 1999 — Roswell — Owen Blackwood — 4 episodes • 2000 — The Wild Thornberrys — Wildlife Ranger Sam Rainwater — Voice, episode: "Pack of Thornberrys" • 2000 — Lost in Oz — Ponca — Television film • 2000, 2002 — Malcolm in the Middle — Steve / Security Guy — 2 episodes • 2001 — Dream Storm — Andrew One Sky — Television film • 2001 — Jackie Chan Adventures — Muntab Leader — Voice, episode: "Lost City of the Muntabs" • 2001 — Kristin — Jonathan Stillwater — Episode: "The Secret" • 2002 — ChalkZone — Bug O Nay Geeshig — Voice, television short • 2004 — What's New, Scooby-Doo? — Leon Strongfeather — Voice, episode: "New Mexico, Old Monster" • 2004 — All Grown Up! — Pizza Dude — Voice, episode: "Memoirs of a Finster" • 2004 — JAG — Wolf Tillicum — Episode: "Whole New Ball Game" • 2007 — Bone Eater — Storm Cloud — Television film • 2010 — Sons of Tucson — Mike Proudfoot — 3 episodes • 2012 — Young Justice — Holling Longshadow — Voice, episode: "Beneath" • 2014 — Hell on Wheels — Native American — Episode: "Bear Man" • 2017 — Twin Peaks — Deputy Chief Tommy 'Hawk' Hill — 14 episodes • 2017 — Godless — Chief Narrienta — 2 episodes • 2019 — Claws — Mac Lovestone / Mac Locklear — 8 episodes • 2020 — The Blacklist — Twamie Ullulaq — Episode: "Twamie Ullulaq (No. 126)" • 2022 — Motherland: Fort Salem — The Marshal — 3 episodes