- Eric Schweig
Infobox actor
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name = Eric Schweig
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birthname =
birthdate = birth date and age|1967|06|19
location =Inuvik,Northwest Territories ,Canada
deathdate =
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occupation = Actor
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awards =Eric Schweig (born on
19 June ,1967 ) is a Canadianactor best known for his role asChingachgook 's sonUncas in the "The Last of the Mohicans" (1992).Biography
Early life
Eric Schweig was born in Inuvik,
Northwest Territories , from anInuit lineage on his mother side and German descent on his father side [ [http://www.members.tripod.com/pebbles62/usa.htm USA TODAY Fall'93 ] ] . he was adopted at the age of six months by a Caucasian (German-French) family [ [http://www.members.tripod.com/pebbles62/inuvik.htm Inuvik Drum ] ] . He spent hischildhood in Inuvik, until he was six, and then moved toToronto ,Ontario .At the age of 16, Eric Schweig left his foster home and supported himself by framing houses. In 1987, at twenty years old, he was approached by a producer who suggested he audition for a role in the movie called "The Shaman's Source" (1990). Without any formal education or experience as an actor he won the role. The film launched his career in the
film industry .Career
Amongst his numerous screen credits since then (more than thirty) Eric acting highlights include his portrayal of
Uncas in the epic motion picture "The Last of the Mohicans" (1992) and his portrayal of Pike Dexter in the movie "Big Eden " (2000), for which he won the Grand Jury Prize at the Los Angeles Outfest film festival. In 1992, he was casted as Black Thunder in theDisney Channel mini-series "By Way of the Stars" withGordon Tootoosis as The Cree Chief andTantoo Cardinal as Franoise. It was shot in Uxbridge, Ontario. He starred in "The Scarlet Letter" and Disney's "Tom and Huck " withAmy Wright in 1995.Amongst his period film credits since "The Last of the Mohicans", Eric became the famous
Mohawk leaderJoseph Brandt /Thayendanegea for TNT's telefilm "The Broken Chain" (1993), playing for the first time the main character in a movie (Schweig metWes Studi again for this motion picture). It was shot entirely inVirginia . More recently, Eric Schweig also landed the lead actor in movies addressing more contemporary issues aboutaboriginal people : "Skins" (2002), "Cowboys and Indians: The J.J. Harper Story" (2003) and "One Dead Indian" (2006).Personal life
During the 90s, Schweig started an artistic quest to regain his aboriginal roots. Like many Inuits, and since his childhood, Eric has carved small objects in wood or stone (figure,
kayak , etc.). Under thecoaching of artist Vern Etzerza, he studied traditional Pacific Coastcarving before directing his talent specifically towards the recreation of the traditional Inuit Spirit Masks, in collaboration with master carver Art Thompson.The collection of masks carved by him is not only a successful attempt to reconnect with his heritage and with
Inuit art , but also a necessary labour ofpsychological resilience facing traumatised childhood. In 1999, at the "Vancouver Inner City Foster Care Conference", Eric Schweig indeed delivered a heartfelt testimony about his painful experience ofadoption andviolence [http://www.mohicanpress.com/mo05005.html] . As a disastrous consequence of this uprooting and manhandling, Schweig struggle during many years againstalcohol abuse anddrug abuse .His fame as an actor gives him the opportunity to share his own experience of life during numerous speeches he performed in Canada and
United States of America . He was able then to aware a large audience to aboriginal issues regarding the care of children.Schweig Currently resides in
Winnipeg ,Manitoba . He is currently working as a full time Resource Assistant for Youth, providing assistance to inner-city youth.elected filmography
*"The Last of the Mohicans" (1992)
*"The Broken Chain" (1993) on TNT
*"" (1994)
*"The Scarlet Letter" (1995)
*"Big Eden " (2000)
*"The Missing " (2003)
*"Into the West" (2005miniseries )
*"" (2005 television movie)
* "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (2007)----
FILMOGRAPHY
1990 : "The Shaman's Source" : Robert Crow1992 : "By Way of the Stars" (TV mini-series) : Black Thunder1992 : "The Last of the Mohicans" :Uncas 1993 : "For Love and Glory" (TV) : Moses Moon1993 : "The Broken Chain" (TV) : Joseph Brandt / Theyendangea1994 : "Squanto: A Warrior's Tale" : Epenow1994 : "Pontiac Moon" : Ernest Ironplume1995 : "Follow the River" (TV) : Wildcat1995 : "The Scarlet Letter" :Metacomet 1995 : "Tom and Huck" : Injun Joe1996 : "Red River" (TV) : Napoléon1996 : "Dead Man's Walk" (TV) : Buffalo Hump2000 : "Big Eden" : Pike Dexter2002 : "Skins" : Rudy Yellow Lodge2003 : "Mr. Barrington" : Samuel2003 : "Cowboys and Indians: The J.J. Harper Story" (TV) : Harry Wood2003 : "The Missing" : Pesh-Chidin a.k.a. El Brujo2005 : "Into the West" (TV) : Sitting Bull2005 : "It Waits" : Joseph Riverwind2005 : "Shania: A Life in Eight Albums" (TV) : Jerry Twain2006 : "One Dead Indian" (TV) : Sam George2006 : "Indian Summer: The Oka Crisis"2006 : "Not Like Everyone Else" : Tim Blackbear2006 : "Mr. Soul" : Steve Lonethunder2007 : "Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee" : Gall2008 : "The Stone Child" (in production) : RayGuest star in television series :
1988 : "War of the Worlds" episode "Dust To Dust" (episode # 1.14)1994 : "Due South"1994 : "Hawkeye" episode "The Ally" (episode # 1.13)1995 : "500 Nations"(voice only)2000 : "Canada : A People's History" (episode # 5)2000 : "Hollywood Off-Ramp" episode "Casino" (episode # 1.6)Awards
2000 : Grand Jury Award L.A. OutfestOutstanding Actor in a Feature Film for "Big Eden"
Eric was also honoured on June 9, 2008, with an Honorary Doctorate of Education from Nipissing University, one of Canada's most highly regarded faculties of education.
References
External links
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