D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai

D'Pharaoh Miskwaatez McKay Woon-A-Tai (born 19 September 2001) is a Canadian actor of Indigenous descent. He is best known for his role as Bear Smallhill in the FX on Hulu comedy-drama series Reservation Dogs (2021),[1][2] for which he was nominated for a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series.[3]

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

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

Early life

Woon-A-Tai and his fraternal twin Mi’De Xxavier were born in Toronto. Born D'Pharaoh Miskwaatez Loescher McKay Woon-A-Tai, his names reflect his Oji-Cree, Chinese-Guyanese, and German heritage.[4] 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 is Dr. Alex McKay, an Anishinaabemowin language professor at the University of Toronto's Indigenous Studies department.[5]

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 at the weekends. He attended Nelson Mandela Park Public School.[4]

Career

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.[6]

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."[7] Reservation Dogs' second season premiered on August 3, 2022,[8] and the third season premiered on August 2, 2023.[9]

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.[10] Woon-A-Tai plays Adam in the 2023 film Fitting In.[11] 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.[12]

Personal life

Woon-A-Tai has been dating American model and activist, Quannah Chasinghorse[13] since 2021. The pair live together in Los Angeles, and are both signed to IMG[14] as models and for talent management.[13] They both appear together in the music video for Rob & Jack Lahana's single "Haute saison".[15]

Filmography

Film
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 Byrk

Television
Filmography: Television
Year Title Role Notes
2018 Holly Hobbie Chase Whaley Recurring role
2019 Murdoch Mysteries Tom Longboat Recurring role
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
Filmography: Web series
Year Title Role Notes
2022 Normal Ain't Normal Wes Buzzfeed Web Series[16]

Videography

Music videos
Year Artist Song Album
2022 Rob, Jack Lahana Haute saison (feat. Gordon Tracks & Giogio Poi)[15] Haute saison (Single)

Awards and nominations
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

References
  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. 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. Simonpillai, Radheyan (2 December 2021). "D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai is crushing it on Reservation Dogs". Now Toronto. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  5. Ahearn, Victoria. "Canadian 'Reservation Dogs' star on increasing Indigenous representation in the U.S." Times Colonist. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
  6. "Toronto International Film Festival (2020)". IMDb. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
  7. Terrones, Terry. "Taika Waititi produced Indigenous comedy filled with unique humor | TV Review". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 2021-09-23.
  8. 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.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. Harvey, Dennis. "Bloody Hell Review: A Teen Sex Comedy Thrown a Curveball by Mother Nature", Variety, March 14, 2023
  12. 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.
  13. "There's Never Been a TV Star Like D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai". GQ. 2022-08-03. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  14. Chikhoune, Ryma (2022-08-10). "EXCLUSIVE: Rising Star D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai Signs With IMG Models". WWD. Retrieved 2023-02-11.
  15. Rob & Jack Lahana - Haute saison feat. Gordon Tracks & Giorgio Poi (Official Video), retrieved 2023-02-11
  16. "Unlord the Land" | Normal Ain't Normal w/ D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai and Martin Sensmeier, retrieved 2023-02-11
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