Michael Joseph Charles Greyeyes, known professionally as Michael Greyeyes, is a member of the Cree Nation from Saskatchewan, Canada.
Michael Greyeyes’ father is from the Muskeg Lake First Nation and his mother is from the Sweetgrass First Nation of Saskatchewan.
Michael Greyeyes was first a professional ballet dancer whose acting career started in 1993 when he won the supporting role of “Juh” in the TNT production “Geronimo.”
Michael Greyeyes has won 4 Best Actor Awards from First Americans In The Arts (FAITA), an organization that recognizes Native achievement in the media, for his roles in “Crazy Horse,” “Stolen Women, Captured Hearts,” “The Lost Child” and “Skipped Parts.”
He completed his Master’s Degree in Fine Arts at the School of Theatre and Dance at Kent State University and graduated in May 2003. He graduated from the National Ballet School in 1984, and went on to apprentice with The National Ballet of Canada before joining the company as a Corps de Ballet member in 1987.
After three years, he moved to New York City to join the company of choreographer Eliot Feld. Michael performed in many of Mr. Feld’s seminal works including “Intermezzo”, “Skara Brae”, and “The Jig is Up.” He performed in roles created for him in such ballets as “Common Ground” and “Bloom’s Wake.”
Michael’s acting career began in 1993 when he was cast as “Juh” in TNT’s “Geronimo”, which led to numerous television appearances, including guest starring performances in “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”, “Walker, Texas Ranger”, “Numbers”, “Dr Quinn Medicine Woman”, , “Millennium”, and in 1998 he starred in “Stolen Women, Captured Hearts”, with Janine Turner and Patrick Bergen.
Greyeyes was featured in the mini-series “Klondike”, “Dreamkeeper”, “Rough Riders”, “Big Bear’, and “True Women.”
His films include: “Dance Me Outside”, “Smoke Signals,” “Sunshine State,” ‘Skipped Parts,” and “Skinwalkers,” based on the book by Tony Hillerman.
Michael continued his dance research on the modern form of traditional dancing, Powwow. His journey of exploration was documented in a documentary entitled “He Who Dreams: Michael on the Powwow Trail” for CBC Television by Adrienne Clarkson. He choreographed and performed in Rebecca Belmore’s durational performance art work “Gone Indian” for Toronto’s Nuit Blanche.
He continues to perform regularly. Michael Greyeyes’ more recent works include “The New World” directed by Terence Malick, “Tecumseh’s Vision,” a PBS Documentary/ Live Action drama created for PBS and Passchendaele, which opened the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival, “Untitled # 1535” a site-specific dance work he choreographed for Dusk Dances, Triptych (a short film broadcast nationally on Bravo! Television), and The Journey (Pimooteewin), an opera work he directed with music by Melissa Hui and libretto by Tomson Highway. He also did the voice of Tommy in the action game Prey.
In 2010, Michael founded Signal Theatre, a company that explores intercultural and transdisciplinary live performance. As Artistic Director and choreographer, he has overseen the creation of three major works, including “From Thine Eyes” (Harbourfront Centre), “Nôhkom” (The Banff Centre), and “A Soldier’s Tale” (Fleck Dance Theatre), a work examining the aftermath of war upon soldiers and their families. “A Soldier’s Tale” was co-produced by The National Arts Centre and The Canada Dance Festival and opened the 2014 Canada Dance Festival in Ottawa at the NAC Theatre.
Signal Theatre has also produced installations and performance art works, such as “Winter Home” which premiered in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan and will be seen at the 2015 Prismatic Festival in Halifax.
Michael is an Associate Professor of Theatre at York University and is married to wife Nancy, and has two daughters, Eva and Lilia.
Write to Michael:
Fans are Welcome to Send Postcards to Michael at the Following Address:
Michael Greyeyes
c/o Gold Marshak Liedtke Associates
3500 West Olive Avenue, Suite 1400
Burbank, California 91505
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