# Nick Ramus

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> Source revision: 1356958297
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{{Short description|American actor (1929–2007)}}
{{Infobox person
| image              =
| birth_name         = Nickolas George Ramus
| birth_date         = {{birth date|1929|09|09}}
| birth_place        = [Seattle](/source/Seattle), Washington, US
| death_date         = {{death date and age|2007|5|30|1929|09|09}}
| death_place        = [Benson, Arizona](/source/Benson%2C_Arizona), US
| occupation         = Actor
}}
'''Nickolas George Ramus''', also known and credited as '''Nick Ramus''', (September 9, 1929 – May 30, 2007)<ref name="ImageMakersBio">{{cite book |last1=Garcia Berumen |first1=Frank Javier |title=American Indian Image Makers of Hollywood |date=4 December 2019 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=9781476678139 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pkK9DwAAQBAJ&dq=Nick+Ramus&pg=PT218 |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref> was a [Blackfoot](/source/Blackfoot_Confederacy)<ref>{{cite news |title=Special depicts Indian surrender |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/333662981/?terms=%22Nick%2BRamus%22 |work=The Tampa Times |date=April 12, 1975 |location=Florida, Tampa |page=41|via = [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com)|access-date = September 25, 2018}} {{Open access}}</ref> [Native American](/source/Native_Americans_in_the_United_States) actor, best known for his appearances on [television](/source/television).

==Early life==
Ramus was born in [Seattle](/source/Seattle), Washington, and grew up in [Spokane](/source/Spokane%2C_Washington),<ref name="ImageMakersBio" /> but as a boy, his family moved to the [Blackfeet Reservation](/source/Blackfeet_Nation) in [Browning, Montana](/source/Browning%2C_Montana).

He eventually moved back to Washington, obtaining a [bachelor's degree](/source/bachelor's_degree) in [chemistry](/source/chemistry), while [minoring](/source/Academic_minor) in [zoology](/source/zoology). After dropping out of his first year in medical school, he migrated south, competing in boxing and motorcycle races.

In [San Francisco](/source/San_Francisco), Ramus received coaching in drama and voice, eventually leading to work in commercials. Several years later, he moved to [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles) and picked roles in films and television.<ref name="TucsonBio">{{cite news |last1=Matas |first1=Kimberly |title=Nick Ramus: Actor was 'a what-you-see-is-what-you-get kind |url=https://tucson.com/news/local/nick-ramus-actor-was-a-what-you-see-is-what-you-get-kind-of-guy/article_d363d4d4-6ee0-578c-84e5-0375da5e597d.html |access-date=27 August 2022 |work=Arizona Daily Star |date=15 June 2007}}</ref>

==Career==
Being of both Blackfoot and [Greek](/source/Greeks)<ref name="TucsonBio" /> ancestry, Ramus portrayed American Indian and [Hispanic](/source/Hispanic) characters during his 30-year career.

Ramus' television debut was a role in the [ABC](/source/American_Broadcasting_Company) series, ''[The Wide World of Mystery](/source/ABC's_Wide_World_of_Entertainment)'' (1973).<ref name="ImageMakersBio" />

In television movies and [miniseries](/source/miniseries), he appeared as Grey Cloud in ''[Born to the Wind](/source/Born_to_the_Wind)''<ref name="etvs">{{cite book|last1=Terrace|first1=Vincent|title=Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010|date=2011|publisher=McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers|location=Jefferson, N.C.|isbn=978-0-7864-6477-7|page=125|edition=2nd}}</ref> (1981), as Arapaho Chief Lost Eagle in ''[Centennial](/source/Centennial_(miniseries))''<ref name="AIRcentinal">{{cite book |title=American Indian Review: Issues 19-29 |date=1999 |publisher=Twin Light Trail |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U9ZrAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Nick+Ramus%22+%22Centennial%22 |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref> (1978-1979), as Tehohane in ''[The Chisholms](/source/The_Chisholms)''<ref name="TucsonBio" /> (1980), and as [Red Cloud](/source/Red_Cloud) in ''[Son of the Morning Star](/source/Son_of_the_Morning_Star_(film))'' (1991).<ref name="NYmagRedCloud">{{cite book |last1=Leonard |first1=John |title=Television: Home of the Braves |date=4 February 1991 |publisher=New York Magazine |page=41 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_ugCAAAAMBAJ&dq=%22Nick+Ramus%22+%22Son+of+the+Morning+Star%22&pg=PA41 |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref> Ramus also appeared as Mangus Colorado in the [TNT](/source/TNT_(U.S._TV_network)) film ''[Geronimo](/source/Geronimo_(1993_film))'' (1993).<ref name="GeronimoMangas">{{cite book |last1=Hilger |first1=Michael |title=Native Americans in the Movies: Portrayals from Silent Films to the Present |date=16 October 2015 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |isbn=9781442240025 |page=400 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9PuICgAAQBAJ&dq=%22Nick+Ramus%22+%22Geronimo%22&pg=PA400 |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref>

In television series, Ramus had a recurring role in the [soap opera](/source/soap_opera) ''[Falcon Crest](/source/Falcon_Crest)''{{r|etvs|page1=323}} as Gus Nunouz, and as Chief [Black Kettle](/source/Black_Kettle) in ''[Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman](/source/Dr._Quinn%2C_Medicine_Woman)''.<ref name="Quinn">{{cite book |last1=Brode |first1=Douglas |title=Shooting Stars of the Small Screen: Encyclopedia of TV Western Actors, 1946–Present |date=2010 |publisher=University of Texas Press |isbn=9780292783317 |page=293 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o8uLbvRWBSAC&dq=%22Nick+Ramus%22+%22Black+Kettle%22&pg=PA293 |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref> Guest appearances also included ''[Gunsmoke](/source/Gunsmoke)'', ''[Harry and the Hendersons](/source/Harry_and_the_Hendersons_(TV_series))'',  ''[Little House on the Prairie](/source/Little_House_on_the_Prairie_(TV_series))'',<ref name="AIRcentinal" /> ''[MacGyver](/source/MacGyver_(1985_TV_series))'', ''[Northern Exposure](/source/Northern_Exposure)'', ''[Stingray](/source/Stingray_(1985_TV_series))'', and ''[Walker, Texas Ranger](/source/Walker%2C_Texas_Ranger)'', among others.<ref name="ImageMakersBio" />

On the big screen, Ramus' film debut was a role in ''[Black Eye](/source/Black_Eye_(film))'' (1974).<ref name="BlackAct" /> He would go on to star in the first Native American language film, ''[Windwalker](/source/Windwalker_(1980_film))'' (1980).<ref name="WindStock">{{cite book |last1=Fuller |first1=Linda K. |last2=Loukides |first2=Paul |title=Beyond the Stars: Stock characters in American popular film: Volume 1 |date=1990 |publisher=Bowling Green University Popular Press |isbn=9780879724795 |page=13 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3BMM2wGKTQ4C&dq=%22Nick+Ramus%22&pg=PA13 |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref> Other film roles include ''[The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again](/source/The_Apple_Dumpling_Gang_Rides_Again)''<ref name="AAApple" /> (1979) as Indian Chief, ''[Invasion U.S.A.](/source/Invasion_U.S.A._(1985_film))'' (1985), ''[Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home](/source/Star_Trek_IV%3A_The_Voyage_Home)''<ref name="SThelmsman">{{cite book |last1=Okuda |first1=Michael |last2=Okuda |first2=Denise |last3=Mirek |first3=Debbie |title=The Star Trek Encyclopedia |date=17 May 2011 |publisher=Pocket Books/Star Trek |isbn=9781451646887 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cbYf2l7gczUC&dq=%22Nick+Ramus%22+%22Star+Trek%22&pg=PT1804 |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref> (1986) as ''Saratoga'' Helmsman, ''[Love at Stake](/source/Love_at_Stake)''<ref name="Wannatoka">{{cite book |last1=Willis |first1=John A. |title=Screen World: Volume 40 |date=1989 |publisher=Crown Publishers |page=120 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=osszAQAAIAAJ |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref> (1987) as Chief Wannatoka, ''[Journey to Spirit Island](/source/Journey_to_Spirit_Island)'' (1992), and ''[3 Ninjas Knuckle Up](/source/3_Ninjas_Knuckle_Up)'' (1995), among others.<ref name="ImageMakersBio" />

In 2006, Ramus took the role as Local Guy in the independent short film, ''Alma'' (2007) featuring Carmen Corral (as Alma) who portrays a Mexican-immigrant teenager, unaware that she is undocumented. The film's executive producer was Victoria Westover, a program director for the Hanson Film Institute at the [University of Arizona](/source/University_of_Arizona).<ref name="TucsonBio" />

Ramus also wrote ''An Evening with Sitting Bull'' in the 1990s, from which he performed a one-man show.<ref name="EveSit">{{cite book |last1=Zalar |first1=Paula |title=American Indian Review: Issues 19-29 |date=1999 |publisher=Twin Light Trail |pages=4,29,31 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U9ZrAAAAMAAJ |access-date=27 August 2022 |chapter=A Day with Nick Ramus... An Evening with Sitting Bull}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Ramus married Harriet Mary Howard and had three children.<ref name="ImageMakersBio" /> He was remarried to Kaysie McCallister in 1995, and moved to the [San Pedro River](/source/San_Pedro_River_(Arizona)) valley area, near [Benson](/source/Benson%2C_Arizona), [Arizona](/source/Arizona) in 2002. By that time he had retired, except for occasional appearances.<ref name="TucsonBio" />

==Death==
Ramus developed pneumonia in January of 2007, and doctors found a [neoplasm](/source/neoplasm) in his lungs. He opted out of surgery that could have potentially been debilitating.<ref name="TucsonBio" /> On May 30, 2007, Ramus died in [Benson, Arizona](/source/Benson%2C_Arizona) at age 77.<ref name="opa">{{cite book |last1=Lentz |first1=Harris M. III |title=Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2007: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture |date=2008 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=9780786434817 |page=300 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t3zGCwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Nick+Ramus%22&pg=PA300 |access-date=26 September 2018 |language=en}}</ref>

==Filmography==
===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|1974
|''[Black Eye](/source/Black_Eye_(film))''<ref name="BlackAct">{{cite book |last1=Parish |first1=James Robert |last2=Hill |first2=George A. |last3=Hill |first3=George H. |title=Black Action Films: Plots, Critiques, Casts and Credits for 235 Theatrical and Made-for-television Releases |date=1989 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=9780899504568 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZHtZAAAAMAAJ&q=Nick%20Ramus |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref>
|
|
|-
|1979
|''[The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again](/source/The_Apple_Dumpling_Gang_Rides_Again)''<ref name="AAApple">{{cite book |last1=Sarno |first1=Art |title=Academy Awards |date=1980 |publisher=E S E California |isbn=9780912076379 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bl0hV_v0kmQC |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref>
|Indian Chief
|
|-
|1980
|''[Windwalker](/source/Windwalker_(film))''
|Smiling Wolf / Crow Brother / Narrator
|
|-
|1985
|''[Invasion U.S.A.](/source/Invasion_U.S.A._(1985_film))''
|Clark Little Hawk
|
|-
|1986
|''[Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home](/source/Star_Trek_IV%3A_The_Voyage_Home)''
|Saratoga Helmsman
|
|-
|1987
|''[Love at Stake](/source/Love_at_Stake)''
|Chief Wannatoka
|
|-
|1988
|''[Journey to Spirit Island](/source/Journey_to_Spirit_Island)''<ref name="IronHawkMPA">{{cite book |title=The Motion Picture Annual |date=1989 |publisher=CineBooks |page=88 |isbn=9780933997219 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UhUIAQAAMAAJ&q=Nick%20Ramus |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref>
|Tom
|
|-
|1989
|''Caddie Woodlawn''<ref name="FFGcw">{{cite book |last1=Maltin |first1=Leonard |title=Leonard Maltin's Family Film Guide |date=1999 |publisher=Penguin Group |isbn=9780451197146 |page=91 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b9FNfsXY_ogC |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref>
|Chief Tukenbheska
|
|-
|1995
|''[3 Ninjas Knuckle Up](/source/3_Ninjas_Knuckle_Up)''
|Chief Roundcreek
|
|-
|2006
|''The Treasure of Painted Forest''<ref name="ImageMakersBio" />
|Mr. Godfrey
|
|-
|2007
|''Alma''<ref name="TucsonBio" />
|Local Guy
|Independent Short Film
|-
|2007
|''Rapturious''
|Voice
|Final film role
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|1973
|''[The Wide World of Mystery](/source/ABC's_Wide_World_of_Entertainment)'' 
|
|
|-
|1974
|''[Gunsmoke](/source/Gunsmoke_(TV_series))''
|Lynit
|Episode: "The Iron Blood of Courage"
|-
|1975
|''[I Will Fight No More Forever](/source/I_Will_Fight_No_More_Forever)''<ref name="NoMore4ever">{{cite book |last1=Bowker |first1=R.R. |title=Bowker's Complete Video Directory: Volumes 1-4 |date=1992 |publisher=R R Bowker Publishing |page=488 |isbn=9780835237680 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1UcbAQAAMAAJ&q=%22Nick%20Ramus%22 |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref>
|Rainbow
|TV movie
|-
|1976
|''The Quest''&nbsp;{{Citation needed|date=August 2022|reason=Cursory search of GoogleBooks doesn't connect Ramus with the Title. There was a Pilot Movie, then the TV Series. Need an RS Citation to confirm..}}
|Iron Hawk
|TV movie
|-
|1977
|''[Little House on the Prairie](/source/Little_House_on_the_Prairie_(TV_series))''
|Little Crow
|Episode: "Freedom Flight"
|-
|1977
|''[Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color](/source/Walt_Disney's_Wonderful_World_of_Color)''<ref name="ImageMakersBio" />
|Tioga
|Episode: "Kit Carson and the Mountain Men: Parts 1 & 2"
|-
|1978–1979
|''[Centennial](/source/Centennial_(TV_miniseries))''
|Lost Eagle
|4 episodes
|-
|1979
|''[The Chisholms](/source/The_Chisholms)''
|Tehohane
|TV miniseries
|-
|1981–1982
|''[Falcon Crest](/source/Falcon_Crest)''
|Gus Nunouz
|13 episodes
|-
|1982
|''[The Legend of Walks Far Woman](/source/The_Legend_of_Walks_Far_Woman)''<ref name="ImageMakersBio" />
|Left Hand Bull
|TV movie
|-
|1982
|''[Born to the Wind](/source/Born_to_the_Wind)''
|Grey Cloud
|TV series
|-
|1982
|''[The Mystic Warrior](/source/The_Mystic_Warrior)''<ref name="GWPOlepi">{{cite book |last1=Parish |first1=James Robert |last2=Pitts |first2=Michael R. |title=The Great Western Pictures II |date=1988 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=9780810821064 |page=231 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=34wYAAAAIAAJ&q=%22Nick%20Ramus%22 |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref>
|Chief Olepi
|TV movie
|-
|1985
|''[Tall Tales & Legends](/source/Tall_Tales_%26_Legends)''<ref name="SixTensTallTales">{{cite book |last1=Marill |first1=Alvin H. |title=Six Decades of Sagebrush Sheriffs, Scalawags, and Sidewinders |date=June 2011 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=9780810881334 |page=94 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TrIspiOaqboC |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref>
|Sitting Bull
|Episode: "Annie Oakley"
|-
|1987
|''[Capitol](/source/Capitol_(TV_series))''<ref name="ImageMakersBio" />
|General Abdullah
|Episode #1.1270
|-
|1987
|''[Stingray](/source/Stingray_(1985_TV_series))''<ref name="ImageMakersBio" />
|Alexander Bondy
|Episode: "The Neniwa"
|-
|1989
|''[Paradise](/source/Paradise_(American_TV_series))''<ref name="TVGparadise">{{cite book |title=TV Guide: Volume 38, Issues 17-21 |date=1990 |publisher=Triangle Publications |page=78 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7No4AAAAIAAJ&q=%22Nick%20Ramus%22 |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref>
|Chief Black Cloud
|Episode: "The Burial Ground"
|-
|1989
|''[Monsters](/source/Monsters_(American_TV_series))''<ref name="MonsTT">{{cite book |last1=Muir |first1=John Kenneth |title=Terror Television: American Series, 1970-1999 |date=25 February 2013 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=9781476604169 |page=351 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yxpDUAFrwfwC&dq=%22Nick+Ramus%22+%22Half+as+Old+as+Time%22&pg=PT351 |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref>
|Temple Guide
|Episode: "Half as Old as Time"
|-
|1990
|''[Northern Exposure](/source/Northern_Exposure_(television_series))''
|Chief
|Episode: "Soapy Sanderson"
|-
|1991
|''[Harry and the Hendersons](/source/Harry_and_the_Hendersons_(TV_series))''<ref name="HnH">{{cite book |last1=Lentz III |first1=Harris M. |title=Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Film and Television Credits: Television shows |date=2001 |publisher=McFarland |page=1866 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bWRZAAAAMAAJ&q=%22Nick%20Ramus%22%20%22Harry%20and%20the%20Hendersons%22 |access-date=27 August 2022}}</ref>
|Medicine Man
|Episode: "Roots, The Herb"
|-
|1991
|''[MacGyver](/source/MacGyver_(1985_TV_series))''
|Standing Wolf
|Episode: "Trail of Tears"
|-
|1993
|''[Geronimo](/source/Geronimo_(1993_film))''
|Mangus Colorado
|TV movie
|-
|1993–1995
|''[Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman](/source/Dr._Quinn%2C_Medicine_Woman)''
|Chief Black Kettle
|10 episodes
|-
|1995
|''[Walker, Texas Ranger](/source/Walker%2C_Texas_Ranger)''
|Bright Water
|Episode: "On Sacred Ground"
|}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Biography}}
* {{IMDb name|0709142}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramus, Nick}}
Category:1929 births
Category:2007 deaths
Category:Blackfeet Tribe people
Category:Native American male actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male film actors
Category:Male actors from Seattle
Category:People from Benson, Arizona
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:20th-century Native American actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:21st-century Native American actors

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Nick Ramus](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Ramus) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick_Ramus?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.