Larry Sellers was a multifaceted Native American individual of Osage and Cherokee descent, who was also adopted by the Lakota nation. He was a renowned actor and stuntman, known for his captivating portrayal of Cloud Dancing in the highly acclaimed CBS series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, which premiered in 1993.
Sellers' impressive career also featured notable roles in various films and television shows. He played a Comanche in the 1994 film Lightning Jack, a Cheyenne Sheriff in Beverly Hills, 90210, and a Native American casino owner in an episode of the popular series The Sopranos, which aired in 1999.
However, Sellers' legacy extends far beyond his work in the entertainment industry. At the tender age of 28, he had a profound vision that led him to study the traditional Sun Dance of the Plains Indians and work towards its reintroduction to the Osage people. This ancient ritual, of great religious significance, was performed as a supplication to the Great Spirit to ensure the tribe's overall well-being.
Traditionally, the Sun Dance was a physically demanding ceremony that involved four days of prayer and dancing while deprived of food and water. Sellers was so committed to this spiritual practice that he turned down a role in the epic film Dances with Wolves, directed by Kevin Costner, because he was not given the four days required to complete the Sun Dance ceremony.
Sellers was a dedicated advocate for the preservation of the Osage language and culture. He founded a non-profit organization dedicated to this cause and, from 2004, operated the Missionary Society for the Preservation of Traditional Values, which aimed to uphold and revive spiritual values and heritage.
Larry Sellers resided in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, a town named after a prominent 28th century chief and the seat of the Osage tribal government. He passed away on December 9, 2021, at the age of 72, leaving behind a rich legacy that continues to inspire and educate people about the importance of preserving Native American culture and traditions.
