Adam Beach Biography and Profile

Adam Beach Profile
Name: Adam Beach
Birth Name: Adam Ruebin Beach
Height: 5' 11½''
Sex: M
Nationality: Canadian
Birth Date: November 11, 1972
Birth Place: Ashern, Manitoba, Canada
Profession: Actor
Education: Gordon Bell High School, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Husband/Wife: Tara Mason (married on July 5, 2003), Meredith Porter (divorced in 2002)

Son: Luke Beach (born in January 1998; mother: Meredith Porter), Noah Beach (born in February 1996; mother: Meredith Porter)

Claim to fame: His role in the movie 'Smoke Signals', directed by Chris Eyre (1998)

Adam Beach Biography

Canadian actor Adam Beach parlayed his success in a string of independent features and television series into major roles in Hollywood productions, culminating in the highly visible Clint Eastwood-helmed WWII drama, “Flags of Our Fathers” (2006). With the exposure provided by such a high profile project and director, Beach’s versatility and appeal made him the most visible Native American actor working in film. This emergence allowed Beach to bring his own experiences and inspiration back to Native American youth living in reservations across the country. Born Nov. 11, 1972 in Ashern, Manitoba, Canada, Beach was a First Nation (indigenous people of Canada) of Saulteaux origin. He and his family lived on the Dog Creek Reservation until he reached age eight, when he lost both parents to tragic accidents within a three-month span. Beach and his brothers were adopted and raised by and aunt and uncle, quickly relocating to Winnipeg, where he joined his high school drama club on a lark. But he quickly fell in love with performing (Beach credited Johnny Depp, who is part Cherokee, as his inspiration), and dropped out of high school to accept roles at the Manitoba Theatre for Young People. Beach’s first on-screen credit came in 1990 when, at the age of 18, he was cast in a supporting role in the TV movie, “Lost in the Barrens.” Roles in other Canadian TV and theater productions followed, including the lead in the Disney historical drama, “Squanto: A Warrior’s Tale” (1995). But Beach’s breakout role came in Bruce McDonald’s independent feature, “Dance Me Outside” (1995). Based on a novel by W.P. Kinsella, the film, which focused on the personal lives of several residents of a Canadian reservation, won over film audiences with its wit and style, and Beach was frequently singled out for his comic flair as the best pal of the film’s lead. The success of the film led to a TV spin-off series, “The Rez” (CBC, 1995-98), with Beach in the cast (though not playing his film character). Beach continued to work steadily following “Dance Me Outside;” he also fathered two sons in 1996 and 1998. In the latter year, he landed another career highlight in Chris Eyre’s “Smoke Signals,” a comedy-drama about two young men dealing with their families and heritage during a road trip to collect the remains of one man’s father. The film, which was the first written, produced, directed by and starring Native Americans artists, netted numerous awards on the festival circuit (including the Sundance Film Festival and Independent Spirit Award), and helped bring Beach to Hollywood’s attention. A small role in the comedy-drama “Mystery, Alaska” (1999) was Beach’s first inroad as a newly minted buzz item; he also flexed his comic muscles as David Spade’s sidekick in the lowbrow jokefest “Joe Dirt” (2001). This was soon followed by his most substantial role to date – that of a Navajo soldier utilized by the U.S. Army to deliver code in their native language during World War II in John Woo’s “Windtalkers” (2002). Not from the Navajo tribe, Beach convinced Woo that he could hold his own with leading men Nicholas Cage and Christian Slater. For this role, Beach had to learn to speak Navajo, which he mastered in no time. Though not a blockbuster hit, the film gave Beach a sizable showcase, proving he could more than hold his own against major American stars like Cage. That same year, Beach reunited with Chris Eyre to co-star for executive producer Robert Redford in “Skinwalkers,” a PBS production based on the mystery novel by Tony Hillerman. As Navajo reservation officer Jim Chee, Beach was partnered with Wes Studi’s plainclothes detective Joe Leaphorn; the pair reunited for two subsequent productions based on Hillerman’s novels, all of which enjoyed considerable popularity with public television viewers. Between 2004-06, Beach bounced between film and television, with appearances on “Third Watch” (NBC, 1999-2005), “Everwood” (The WB/ABC Family, 2002- ), and a cameo in the execrable Paris Hilton feature, “Bottom’s Up” (2006). That same year, he once again found himself in possession of an impressive role – that of WWII soldier Ira Hayes, one of the GIs that raised the flag on Iwo Jima, and whose life took a dramatic and tragic turn upon returning to civilian life, in “Flags of Our Fathers.” As the alcoholic soldier who is treated like a hero at war, but haunted by the racism of the times in his civilian life, Beach wowed the critics, who singled out his performance for its singular quality in a picture filled with top talent.

Adam Beach Milestones
* 1981 After parents deaths, moved to Winnipeg when he was adopted by an aunt and uncle
* 1989 TV acting debut in Lonesome Dove (CBS)
* 1993 Feature debut in Cadillac Girls
* 1994 Co-starred in Dance Me Outside, directed by Bruce McDonald
* 1996 Had supporting role in the feature A Boy Called Hate
* 1996 Reunited with Bruce McDonald on the Canadian TV series The Rez
* 1997 Appeared on the Canadian TV series Madison
* 1998 Breakthrough screen role as one of the leads in Smoke Signals
* 1999 Supported Russell Crowe in the hockey comedy-drama Mystery, Alaska
* 2000 Had lead in the CBC series Harry s Case
* 2001 Appeared in Joe Dirt
* 2002 Co-starred with Nicolas Cage in the WWII drama Windtalkers
* 2002 Starred alongside Wes Studi in the TV adaptation of Skinwalkers for airing on PBS Mystery!
* 2003 Starred in The Big Empty
* 2006 Portrayed Ira Hayes, one of the men who lifted the flag at the battle of Iwo Jima in Clint Eastwood s Flags of Our Fathers
* 2007 Joined the cast of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC) for one season only, as Detective Chester Lake
* 2007 Starred in the HBO Films adaptation of Dee Brown s novel, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee as the Sioux advocate, author and medical doctor Ohiyesa; earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor
* Raised on the Dog Creek Reservation in Manitoba until parents deaths

Adam Beach Filmography
Actor Credits
* Older Than America (2008) * Bottoms Up (2006) Jesus de Jesus * Flags of Our Fathers (2006) Ira Hayes * Now & Forever (2005) John Myron * American Mystery! Coyote Waits (2003) * Posers (2003) * The Big Empty (2003) Randy * Skinwalkers (2002) * Windtalkers (2002) Ben Yahzee * Joe Dirt (2001) Kicking Wing * The Art of Woo (2001) Ben Crowchild * Mystery, Alaska (1999) Galin Winetka * The Last Stop (1999) * Smoke Signals (1998) Victor Joseph * Coyote Summer (1996) * A Boy Called Hate (1996) Billy Little Plume * Dance Me Outside (1995) Frank Fencepost * Cadillac Girls (1994) Will * Squanto: A Warrior's Tale (1994) Squanto * Wonderworks - Spirit Rider (1993) * Bliss

Adam Beach Gossip, News & Trivia

# Accepted the Rising Star Award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival
, January 2007.
# Join the cast of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit later this year. (2007)
# Is a Saulteaux Indian from Manitoba, Canada, one of three North American Indians tribesmen who appeared prominently in WINDTALKERS (2002).
# Member of the Ojibwa Nation (Native American)
# Spent six months learning the Navajo for role in WINDTALKERS (2002).
# Lost both his parents in separate accidents, only months apart, when he was 8 years old.
# Spends a lot of time doing speaking engagements all over North America particularly with Native American and First Nation youth.
# His mother was killed by a drunk driver in front of their house while pregnant. His father drowned himself due to depression.
# His favorite way of relaxing is to sleep or nap. He's known for being able to sleep no matter what is going on around him or how loud it is. On set, he's napped under trees and even under a truck.
# Loves scaring people and would love to do a high level horror film.
# In 1996 Adam starred in the first film completely written, produced, directed and acted by Native Americans, Smoke Signals. Directed by Chris Eyre, Signals premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, winning the Audience Award and the Filmmaker's Trophy, with a third nomination for the Grand Jury Prize.
# Plays the electric bass guitar.
# After losing both his parents to accidents within several months, Adam became very angry, eventually joining a street gang to vent his emotions, only to soon find a better why to express those feelings, through acting.
# His favorite sport is ice hockey.
# In high school, Adam formed Lethic, a garage band which did covers of Black Sabbath songs.
# Used to run home from school to watch Johnny Depp on 21 Jump Street.
# His favorite film is STAND BY ME.