I am not ashamed to admit I learned that Iron Eyes Cody was actually Italian American on an episode of the Sopranos. Iron Eyes Cody, or Espera Oscar de Corti, appeared in over 200 films! But what Ralph Cifaretto brought up in an attempt to stop Native Americans from burning an effigy of Italian-American hero Columbus on Columbus day reminded me of the nearly comical (so sad it's funny?) aversion the television and film industry has to using actual Native Americans to portray Native Americans in movies, television shows, and commercials.
For example...
I mean, yes, he has a tribal tattoo with salmon and everything but real Taylor Lautner is actually Dutch, German, and French with 'distant' Native American ancestry. I wonder if that would have been noted on his Wikipedia page if he hadn't have played Jacob Black, the 'Native American friend' of the lead character, Bella Swan.
Just something to think about.
Here are links to Iron Eyes Cody and Taylor Lautner's Wikipedia pages.
And here is a link to a website that lists Native American actors along with links to their IMDB pages.
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