Julian Black Antelope, also known as JBA, is a self-taught, award-winning actor, writer, director, and producer of Indigenous/Central American and Irish descent. With 20 years of industry experience, he has worked globally, bringing a unique perspective to his craft.
Black Antelope's career began in the Canadian music scene before transitioning to film and television in the early 2000s. He built his career with a mix of day player roles, stunts, and working on various crew positions on numerous projects in southern Alberta, including the six-part mini-series "Into the West" (2005) for DreamWorks and TNT.
His breakout role came in the critically acclaimed television series "Blackstone" (2009),where he played the character Darrien Tailfeathers for four seasons. His performance earned him a Canadian Screen Award nomination.
Black Antelope has since worked consistently on film and television projects, including "Penny Dreadful" (2014),"Dominion Creek" (2015),"Condor" (2018),"Dark Justice" (2018),"Hold the Dark" (2018),"Debris" (2021),"The Flash" (2014),"Prey" (2022),and "Grendel".
As an actor with a strong sense of physicality, Black Antelope often plays characters that combine stunt action with a larger-than-life or menacing presence. However, he has also showcased his natural comedic sensibility in recent years with roles in "Jann" (2019) and his own TV series "The Secret History of: The Wild West" (2021).
Black Antelope has also produced and created his own work, including the historical series "The Secret History of: The Wild West" and several independent feature film projects, such as "Empyrean" (2016) and "True Fiction" (2019). This has allowed him to maintain creative control and continue to grow as an actor.
In addition to his acting career, Black Antelope has dedicated his time and energy to training and mentoring the next generation of First Nations creatives. He founded the Counting Coup Indigenous Film Academy, a subsidized film training initiative, and has expanded it into the Pathfinders Film Institute Corp. (PFI),which offers comprehensive and certified film production training programs for aspiring BIPOC storytellers.
As the CEO and President of PFI, Black Antelope recognizes the importance of providing training opportunities to Indigenous creatives in remote communities. He has committed to forging pathways to connect these communities with the industry, providing online instruction and traveling to remote areas to offer training.
Julian Black Antelope's commitment to his craft, cultural heritage, and fostering the next generation of Indigenous/BIPOC talent make him an inspiring and influential figure in the entertainment world today. He credits his sanity, strength, and foundation to his spiritual commitment to his cultural practices and is grateful for the unwavering support from his wife Tracy and their three beautiful daughters, Sparrow, Emiko, and Romin.
