Chaske Spencer (Lakota Sioux) is an American actor. He gained prominence through his role as Sam Uley in the Twilight films (2009–2012). For his performance in the BBC and Amazon Prime series The English (2022), he was nominated for a British Academy Television Award.
Spencer's films include Shouting Secrets (2011), Winter in the Blood (2013), Desert Cathedral (2014), Woman Walks Ahead (2017), and Wild Indian (2021). He had recurring roles in the Cinemax series Banshee (2014–2016), the Amazon Prime series Sneaky Pete (2017–2018), and the NBC crime drama Blindspot (2019–2020).
Early life and education Spencer was born in Oklahoma and grew up in Montana, as well as Kooskia, Lapwai, and Lewiston, Idaho. He has two younger sisters. His heritage includes Lakota, Nez Perce, Cherokee, Muscogee, French, and Dutch.Interview with a New Moon Werewolf | BettyConfidential.com He is Lakota Sioux, enrolled with the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of Montana through his mother.
Spencer graduated in 1994 from Clearwater Valley High School, in Kooskia, Idaho, where he went by the name James Spencer. As a young teen, he started acting in productions at the Lewiston Civic Theater. Spencer attended college at Lewis–Clark State College for a year, and considered a career in photography. He eventually dropped out of Lewis–Clark State College to pursue his acting career.
Career Spencer did odd jobs while taking acting lessons from coaches David Gideon and Ed Kovens. In 2002, he made his feature film debut as a young version of Eric Schweig's lead character in Skins. This was followed by further film roles in Dreamkeeper and Into the West.
In 2009, Spencer played werewolf Sam Uley in the Twilight sequel New Moon, based on Stephenie Meyer's novel of the same name. He reprised his role in Eclipse, Breaking Dawn – Part 1, and Breaking Dawn – Part 2. Spencer won two Best Actor accolades at the American Indian Film Festival for his performances in the 2011 film Shouting Secrets and the 2013 film Winter in the Blood. He also had a role in the 2014 film Desert Cathedral.
After playing Deputy Billy Raven in the 2014 spinoff web series Banshees Origins, Spencer reprised his role in the third season of the main Cinemax series Banshee the following year. In 2017, Spencer starred in the film Woman Walks Ahead, appeared in the film Walking Out, and had a recurring role as Chayton Dockery in the Amazon Prime series Sneaky Pete. He went on to have another recurring role as Dominic Masters in the fourth and fifth seasons of the NBC crime drama Blindspot.
Spencer starred in the 2021 thriller film Wild Indian, for which he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. The following year, he starred opposite Emily Blunt in the Western miniseries The English, produced for Amazon Prime Video and BBC One. For his performance, Spencer was nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Best Actor.
Personal life During his teens, Spencer had struggles with substance abuse and alcoholism. He continued to drink heavily during his college years. He later developed an addiction to cocaine and heroin, and checked into rehab. While in rehab, Spencer stopped taking drugs. He nearly gave up on acting before his agent called him to audition for New Moon, the sequel to Twilight.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2002 Skins Teen Rudy 2003 Dreamkeeper Eagle Boy 2009 The Twilight Saga: New Moon Sam Uley 2010 The Twilight Saga: Eclipse 2011 Shouting Secrets Wesley The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 Sam Uley 2012 The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 2013 Winter in the Blood Virgil First Raise 2014 The Hero Pose Joe Short film Desert Cathedral Duran Palouse The Jingle Dress John Red Elk 2015 Addiction: A 60's Love Story Rick Barone 2017 Woman Walks Ahead Chaska 2021 Wild Indian Teddo TBA Indian Summer Wez McKendrick TBA Wind River: The Next Chapter Post-production
Television Year Title Role Notes 2005 Into the West Voices That Carry Episodes: "Ghost Dance"Miniseries 2012 The Frontier Eli Television film 2014 Banshee Origins Deputy Billy Raven Web miniseries 2015–2016 Banshee Recurring (season 3), guest (season 4) 2017 Longmire Mr. Dawson Episode: “No Greater Character Endorsement” 2017–2018 Sneaky Pete Chayton Dockery 8 episodes 2019–2020 Blindspot Dominic Masters 9 episodes 2019 The Society Mr. Pfeiffer Episode: "What Happened" Jessica Jones Jace Montero 2 episodes 2022 The English Sgt. Eli Whipp/Wounded Wolf 6 episodes 2024 Echo Henry "Black Crow" Lopez 5 episodes Teacup Ruben Shanley 2026 Bass X Machina Lighthorse (voice) Upcoming series, main role 2026 Dark Winds Sonny Bear Heart 3 episodes
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result Ref. 2011 American Indian Film Festival Best Actor Shouting Secrets 2013 Winter in the Blood 2014 SOFIE Awards Best Actor in a Short Film Hero Pose 2015 New York VisionFest Desert Cathedral Breakthrough Performance Award 2022 Independent Spirit Awards Best Supporting Male Wild Indian 2023 Royal Television Society Programme Awards Actor – Male The English British Academy Television Awards Best Actor
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