Adam Beach

Infobox actor
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name = Adam Beach


imagesize = 200px
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birthdate = birth date and age|1972|11|11
location = flagicon|Canada Ashern, Manitoba
deathdate =
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yearsactive = 1990–present
spouse = Meredith Porter
(divorced, 2 children)
Tara Mason
(2003–2008) (divorced)
homepage =
notable role = Victor Joseph in "Smoke Signals"
Ben Yazzie in "Windtalkers"
Ira Hayes in "Flags of Our Fathers"
Dr. Charles Eastman
(Ohiyesa) in "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee"
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Adam Ruebin Beach (born November 11, 1972) is a Golden Globe nominated Canadian actor of Saulteaux descent. He is best known for his roles as Marine Private First Class Ira Hayes in "Flags of Our Fathers", Private Ben Yahzee in "Windtalkers", Dr. Charles Eastman (Ohiyesa) in "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee", Chester Lake in "" and Tommy, a Native American, in Walker Texas Ranger.

Early life

Born in Ashern, Manitoba, Adam Beach grew up with his two brothers on the Dog Creek Indian Reserve. When he was eight, his mother, who was eight months pregnant, was killed by a drunk driver. Soon after the car crash, his father died in a boating accident. Beach and his brothers subsequently moved to Winnipeg to live with an aunt and uncle. [http://www.northernstars.ca/actorsabc/beach_adambio.html "Adam Beach"] "Northern Stars" (accessed March 14, 2007)]

Career

Beginning

While in high school at Gordon Bell High School, he attended a drama class. The class was originally supposed to be a place to "goof off" with his friends, but Beach soon exhibited natural talents in acting. He began performing in local theatre productions, and eventually dropped out of school to take a lead role at the Manitoba Theatre for Young People. At age 18, he won a small role in the miniseries "Lost in the Barrens", based on the Farley Mowat novel. In the following years, he continued to work in local theatre and guest-starred on television shows like "Walker, Texas Ranger" and "Touched by an Angel". Shortly afterwards, Beach was cast as a regular on the television shows "North of 60" and "The Rez". [http://www.northernstars.ca/actorsabc/beach_adambio.html "Adam Beach"] "Northern Stars" (accessed March 14, 2007)]

Professional

After his roles in "Dance Me Outside" and "Smoke Signals" brought international attention to him, [http://www.northernstars.ca/actorsabc/beach_adambio.html "Adam Beach"] "Northern Stars" (accessed March 14, 2007)] there was a call for Beach in Hollywood, but he took his time in answering it. He took a small role in Disney's "Mystery, Alaska" in 1999 and in 2000 accepted a role in the thriller, "The Last Stop". Comedy-wise, Beach displayed his skills in "The Art of Woo" and the 2001 hit "Joe Dirt" as Kicking Wing, a Native American who sells fireworks.

In 2002, "Windtalkers", starring Beach, came out in theaters. To prepare for this role, Beach spent six months learning the Navajo language. He was also able to use this skill in his next project, "Skinwalkers", directed by Chris Eyre, who gave him his breakout role in "Smoke Signals".

Between large-scale projects, he made small appearances on television on such shows as "JAG" and "Third Watch". Also, in 2003, he returned to his character that he first portrayed in "Skinwalkers" in the movie "Coyote Waits". He also made a guest appearance in the hit show "The Dead Zone" as an Indian shaman (in the episode "Shaman").

In 2006, Beach portrayed Ira Hayes in Clint Eastwood's featured film "Flags of Our Fathers". During the filming of this movie, both Beach's grandmother and his best friend died. "And if you add those up, there's a lot of emotion. When you're doing a movie, when you let go emotionally, there's nothing to grab onto." he said about the deaths. [http://www.moviehole.net/interviews/20061109_interview_adam_beach.html "Interview: Adam Beach"] "MovieHole.net" (accessed March 14, 2007)] About playing the part, Beach said, "For me, playing Ira was a meaningful relationship, I would call it – trying to find out how he was, or how he thought and felt." [http://www.moviehole.net/interviews/20061109_interview_adam_beach.html "Interview: Adam Beach"] "MovieHole.net" (accessed March 14, 2007)] The movie won two Academy Award nominations and Beach was nominated for multiple Best Supporting Actor honors. [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0063440/awards Adam Beach - Awards] "Internet Movie Database" (accessed February 20, 2008)]

In 2007, Beach starred in HBO Films' adaptation of Dee Brown's history, "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee". In the film, Beach portrays the Sioux advocate, author and medical doctor Ohiyesa (Charles Eastman) and his changing understanding of Indian-US relations during the period leading up to the Wounded Knee Massacre.

In addition to starring in the Canadian television series "Moose TV"; Beach is executive producing and starring in the movie "Older Than America", the independent feature shot in Cloquet, Minnesota mostly on the Fond du Lac Ojibwe reservation. He also joined the cast of "" as Detective Chester Lake for the show's ninth season after guest-starring in season eight, [ [http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20070109nbc01 Breaking News - FILM STARS ADAM BEACH AND KAL PENN GUEST STAR ON NBC'S 'LAW & ORDER: SVU', TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, (10 P.M. ET/PT) | TheFutonCritic.com] . Retrieved May 13, 2008.] but in April 2008, "TV Guide" announced that he (as well as Diane Neal [ [http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Ausiello-Report/Ausiello-Scoop-Mystery/800037798 Ausiello Scoop: Mystery Surrounding Dourdan and Neal's Exits Deepens - Ausiello Report | TVGuide.com] . Retrieved May 13, 2008.] ) will not return for the show's tenth season. [ [http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-News-Blog/Todays-News/Order-Adam-Beach/800037893 Out of Order: Adam Beach Bids SVU Adieu - Today's News: Our Take | TVGuide.com] . Retrieved May 13, 2008.]

In 2006, Beach unsuccessfully attempted to run for the leadership of his Lake Manitoba First Nation, but has stated he will try again during the next election. [ [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070212/adam_beach_070212/20070212?s_name=oscars2007 Adam Beach enjoying his fast Hollywood ride] , CTV.ca, February 12, 2007]

Personal life

Beach has two sons with his first wife Meredith Porter; Noah Beach was born in 1996 and Luke Beach was born in 1998. Beach and Porter divorced in 2002. In July 2003, Beach married his second wife, Tara Mason. They are now divorced. Adam is expecting his third child with his current girlfriend, Summer.

Awards and nominations

Filmography

References

External links

*imdb|id=0063440|name=Adam Beach
* [http://www.nativecelebs.com/profiles/adam_beach.htm Profile at NativeCelebs.com]
* [http://www.northernstars.ca/actorsabc/beach.html Filmography at NorthernStars.ca]
* [http://nativenetworks.si.edu/eng/rose/beach_a.htm#open Profile at Native Networks]
* [http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1585075,00.html Time.com Q&A]
* [http://www.cbc.ca/thehour/video.php?id=1400 "The Hour" interview] - Video
* [http://tf.org/person/690 Adam Beach Filmography]

Persondata
NAME = Beach, Adam Ruebin
ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
SHORT DESCRIPTION = Canadian actor
DATE OF BIRTH = 11 November 1972
PLACE OF BIRTH = Ashern, Manitoba, Canada
DATE OF DEATH =
PLACE OF DEATH =