A Sicangu Lakota (Sioux) who spent most of his life on the Rosebud
Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota, Ted Thin Elk saw very few
movies in his lifetime, and was 72 when he got his first role as
"Grandpa Samuel Reaches" in the film
Thunderheart (1992). Contrary to his bad boy
reputation,
Val Kilmer treated the septuagenarian first-time actor with
deference and helped him with his scenes in front of the camera. When
the camera wasn't rolling, the two could be found discussing Native
American topics in general and Lakota ones in particular.
Ted Thin Elk was accorded a "First Americans in the Arts" award in
1992, the first year the honor was awarded. He was a highly respected
elder on the Rosebud Reservation and was a member of the Sicangu Treaty
Council and the Grey Eagle Society.