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D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai

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D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai
ᐊᓂᐦᔑᓂᓐ ᒪᐦᑳᔾ
Born
D'Pharaoh Miskwaatez Loescher McKay Woon-A-Tai

(2001-09-19) September 19, 2001 (age 23)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Other namesD'Pharaoh McKay
OccupationActor
Years active2018–present
RelativesFrank Woon-A-Tai (maternal grandfather)

D'Pharaoh Miskwaatez Loescher McKay Woon-A-Tai (born September 19, 2001) is a Canadian actor of Oji-Cree descent. He is best known for his role as Indigenous teenager Bear Smallhill in the FX on Hulu comedy-drama series Reservation Dogs (2021–2023),[1][2] for which he received several accolades, including a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor.[3][4]

Early life

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Woon-A-Tai and his fraternal twin Mi'De Xxavier were born in Toronto. Born D'Pharaoh Miskwaatez Loescher McKay Woon-A-Tai, his name reflects his Oji-Cree, Chinese-Guyanese, and German heritage.[5] A black belt in Shotokan karate, he is the grandson of the notable Shotokan instructor Frank Woon-A-Tai on his mother's side. His paternal grandfather was Dr. Alex McKay, an Anishinaabemowin language professor at the University of Toronto's Indigenous Studies department.[6]

Woon-A-Tai and his three (of what would eventually become five) siblings grew up in the Esplanade neighbourhood of Toronto and visited their paternal family in the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation. He attended Nelson Mandela Park Public School.[5]

Career

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Woon-A-Tai began his career with a recurring role as Chase Whaley in season 1 of the 2018 Family Channel series Holly Hobbie. In 2019, Woon-A-Tai played Tom Longboat in a two-episode arc of Murdoch Mysteries season 12. He made guest appearances as Lucky in Creeped Out and Mikey in Tribal.

Woon-A-Tai made his feature film debut as Hank in the film Beans directed by Tracey Deer, which was a 2020 Toronto International Film Festival selection and won Best Motion Picture at the Canadian Screen Awards.[7]

In December 2020, it was announced Woon-A-Tai would star as Bear Smallhill in the 2021 FX on Hulu comedy-drama Reservation Dogs, "a slice-of-life triumph" from Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi.[2] Set and filmed in rural Oklahoma, Reservation Dogs is a coming-of-age story that follows the antics of rebellious teenagers living on tribal land. The series' entire creative team, core cast, and crew consists of Indigenous people, with the addition of a few non-Native actors in supporting or guest roles. The Denver Gazette described Bear as "played spectacularly by D’Pharaoh, this series' breakout star."[8] Reservation Dogs' second season premiered on August 3, 2022,[9] and the third and final season premiered on August 2, 2023.[10] His performance in the final season made him the first Indigenous actor to receive a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.[11][12] He wore a red handprint at the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards as a symbol of solidarity with Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.[13][14][15]

In 2022, it was announced that Woon-A-Tai would be joining Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk in the duo's directorial debut Hell of a Summer, which was released in 2023.[16] Woon-A-Tai plays Adam in the 2023 film Fitting In.[17] He also stars in the indie thriller film Only the Good Survive, alongside Sidney Flanigan, Frederick Weller, and Will Ropp. The film was also released in 2023.[18]

In March 2024, it was announced that Woon-A-Tai would be playing Ray Mendoza in Mendoza's upcoming film Warfare, alongside Noah Centineo, Charles Melton, Will Poulter, Joseph Quinn, and Kit Connor. The film is directed by both Mendoza and Alex Garland who has directed notable films such as Civil War and Ex Machina.[19] In April, the cast started military-style training in order to prepare for filming in London.

In September 2024, it was announced that Woon-A-Tai would be joining Darren Aronofsky's Caught Stealing alongside Bad Bunny, Zoe Kravitz, Austin Butler, Regina King, and Matt Smith.[20]

Personal life

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Woon-A-Tai has been dating American model and activist Quannah Chasinghorse[21] since 2021. The pair live together in Los Angeles, and are both signed to IMG[22] as models and for talent management.[21] They both appear together in the music video for Rob & Jack Lahana's single "Haute saison".[23] In 2024, they were both featured on Vogue Digital for Ralph Lauren.[24]

Filmography

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Film

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Filmography: Film
Year Title Role Director Notes
2019 Wenonah Luc Deanna Armenti Short film
2020 Beans Hank Tracey Deer
2023 Fitting In Adam Molly McGlynn
Only the Good Survive Ry Coolidge Dutch Southern
Hell of a Summer Mike Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk
2025 Warfare Ray Mendoza Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland Post-production
TBA Caught Stealing Dale Darren Aronofsky Filming

Television

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Filmography: Television
Year Title Role Notes
2018 Holly Hobbie Chase Whaley 3 episodes
2019 Murdoch Mysteries Tom Longboat 2 episodes
Creeped Out Lucky Episode: "The Takedown"
2020 Tribal Mikey Episode: "Runs with a Gun"
2021–2023 Reservation Dogs Bear Smallhill Main role
2022 TallBoyz Himself Episode: "Papa You Are My Dad"

Web series

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Filmography: Web series
Year Title Role Notes
2022 Normal Ain't Normal Wes Buzzfeed Web Series[25]

Episode: "Unlord the Land"

Videography

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Music videos

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Year Artist Song Album
2022 Rob, Jack Lahana Haute saison (feat. Gordon Tracks & Giogio Poi)[23] Haute saison (Single)

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result
2022 Independent Spirit Awards Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series (Shared with the cast) Reservation Dogs Won
Pena de Prata Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series (Shared with the cast) Won
2023 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
2024 Critics' Choice Television Awards Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated

References

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  1. ^ Allaire, Christian (2021-08-09). "D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai Is Hollywood's Stylish Indigenous Star to Watch". Vogue. Archived from the original on 2021-08-10. Retrieved 2021-10-16.
  2. ^ a b D'Addario, Daniel (2021-07-29). "'Reservation Dogs' Is a Slice-of-Life Triumph From Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi: TV Review". Variety. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
  3. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (January 15, 2023). "Critics Choice Awards: Full List of Winners". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 16, 2023. Retrieved January 16, 2023.
  4. ^ Pedersen, Erik (December 5, 2023). "'The Morning Show' & 'Succession' Lead Critics Choice Awards TV Nominations". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Simonpillai, Radheyan (2 December 2021). "D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai is crushing it on Reservation Dogs". Now Toronto. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  6. ^ Ahearn, Victoria. "Canadian 'Reservation Dogs' star on increasing Indigenous representation in the U.S." Times Colonist. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
  7. ^ "Toronto International Film Festival (2020)". IMDb. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
  8. ^ Terrones, Terry (6 August 2021). "Taika Waititi produced Indigenous comedy filled with unique humor | TV Review". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
  9. ^ Pedersen, Erik (May 13, 2021). "FX Summer Premiere Dates: 'Reservation Dogs', 'What We Do in the Shadows', New Series 'The Old Man' & 'The Bear', More". Deadline. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  10. ^ Rice, Lynette (May 15, 2023). "'Justified: City Primeval' Trailer Drops; FX Reveals Debut Dates For 'The Full Monty' & 'Rez Dogs,' End Of 'Archer'". Deadline. Retrieved May 15, 2023.
  11. ^ Phillips, Carly Thomas, Christy Piña, Zoe G.; Thomas, Carly; Piña, Christy; Phillips, Zoe G. (July 19, 2024). "Emmy Nominations 2024: Historic, Record-Breaking and Otherwise Notable Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ Lewis, Hilary; Nordyke, Kimberly (July 17, 2024). "Emmys 2024: List of Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  13. ^ Rahimi, Rosa (2024-09-16). "D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai's bold Emmys statement highlights missing and murdered Indigenous women". CNN. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  14. ^ Thomas, Carly (2024-09-16). "'Reservation Dogs' Star D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai Brings Symbolic Message to Emmys With Red Hand Painted on Face". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  15. ^ Allaire, Christian (2024-09-16). "The Meaning Behind D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai's Red Carpet Statement at the 2024 Emmy Awards". Vogue. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  16. ^ Grobar, Matt (2022-07-18). "'Hell Of A Summer': D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, Abby Quinn & Pardis Saremi Join Horror-Comedy From Directors Finn Wolfhard & Billy Bryk". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  17. ^ Harvey, Dennis. "Bloody Hell Review: A Teen Sex Comedy Thrown a Curveball by Mother Nature", Variety, March 14, 2023
  18. ^ Grobar, Matt (2022-08-03). "Sidney Flanigan, Frederick Weller, D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai & Will Ropp To Topline Indie Thriller 'Only The Good Survive'". Deadline. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  19. ^ Cordero, Rosy (2024-03-27). "Ray Mendoza & Alex Garland's 'Warfare' Feature Casts 'Reservation Dogs' Star D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-07-27.
  20. ^ Cordero, Rosy (2024-09-24). "D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai Joins Austin Butler In Sony Crime Thriller 'Caught Stealing' From Director Darren Aronofsky". Deadline. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
  21. ^ a b "There's Never Been a TV Star Like D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai". GQ. 2022-08-03. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  22. ^ Chikhoune, Ryma (2022-08-10). "EXCLUSIVE: Rising Star D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai Signs With IMG Models". WWD. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  23. ^ a b Rob & Jack Lahana - Haute saison feat. Gordon Tracks & Giorgio Poi (Official Video), 18 May 2022, retrieved 2023-02-11
  24. ^ Goodman, Lilah Ramzi, Blair Getz Mezibov, Tonne (2023-04-19). "Just One Thing: A Classic Ralph Lauren Button-Up Is the Single Wardrobe Staple You Shouldn't Go Without". Vogue. Retrieved 2024-07-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  25. ^ "Unlord the Land" | Normal Ain't Normal w/ D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai and Martin Sensmeier, 4 October 2022, retrieved 2023-02-11
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