Eric Schweig

Infobox actor
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name = Eric Schweig


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birthdate = birth date and age|1967|06|19
location =Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada
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occupation = Actor
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Eric Schweig (born on 19 June, 1967) is a Canadian actor best known for his role as Chingachgook's son Uncas in the "The Last of the Mohicans" (1992).

Biography

Early life

Eric Schweig was born in Inuvik, Northwest Territories, from an Inuit 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 his childhood in Inuvik, until he was six, and then moved to Toronto, 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 the Disney Channel mini-series "By Way of the Stars" with Gordon Tootoosis as The Cree Chief and Tantoo Cardinal as Franoise. It was shot in Uxbridge, Ontario. He starred in "The Scarlet Letter" and Disney's "Tom and Huck" with Amy Wright in 1995.

Amongst his period film credits since "The Last of the Mohicans", Eric became the famous Mohawk leader Joseph Brandt/Thayendanegea for TNT's telefilm "The Broken Chain" (1993), playing for the first time the main character in a movie (Schweig met Wes Studi again for this motion picture). It was shot entirely in Virginia. More recently, Eric Schweig also landed the lead actor in movies addressing more contemporary issues about aboriginal 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 the coaching of artist Vern Etzerza, he studied traditional Pacific Coast carving 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 of psychological 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 of adoption and violence [http://www.mohicanpress.com/mo05005.html] . As a disastrous consequence of this uprooting and manhandling, Schweig struggle during many years against alcohol abuse and drug 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" (2005 miniseries)
*"" (2005 television movie)
* "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee (2007)

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FILMOGRAPHY

1990 : "The Shaman's Source" : Robert Crow
1992 : "By Way of the Stars" (TV mini-series) : Black Thunder
1992 : "The Last of the Mohicans" : Uncas

1993 : "For Love and Glory" (TV) : Moses Moon

1993 : "The Broken Chain" (TV) : Joseph Brandt / Theyendangea

1994 : "Squanto: A Warrior's Tale" : Epenow

1994 : "Pontiac Moon" : Ernest Ironplume

1995 : "Follow the River" (TV) : Wildcat

1995 : "The Scarlet Letter" : Metacomet

1995 : "Tom and Huck" : Injun Joe

1996 : "Red River" (TV) : Napoléon

1996 : "Dead Man's Walk" (TV) : Buffalo Hump

2000 : "Big Eden" : Pike Dexter

2002 : "Skins" : Rudy Yellow Lodge

2003 : "Mr. Barrington" : Samuel

2003 : "Cowboys and Indians: The J.J. Harper Story" (TV) : Harry Wood

2003 : "The Missing" : Pesh-Chidin a.k.a. El Brujo

2005 : "Into the West" (TV) : Sitting Bull

2005 : "It Waits" : Joseph Riverwind

2005 : "Shania: A Life in Eight Albums" (TV) : Jerry Twain

2006 : "One Dead Indian" (TV) : Sam George

2006 : "Indian Summer: The Oka Crisis"

2006 : "Not Like Everyone Else" : Tim Blackbear

2006 : "Mr. Soul" : Steve Lonethunder

2007 : "Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee" : Gall

2008 : "The Stone Child" (in production) : Ray

Guest 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. Outfest

Outstanding 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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