Native American actor Rudy Youngblood, of Comanche and Cree descent, has a rich and varied background. Born and raised in a small town in Texas, he never stayed in one place for long, but eventually settled down to attend school and graduate from Belton High School. Proud of his roots, Youngblood has always been driven to succeed and make a name for himself in the entertainment industry.
Before making his on-screen debut in Mel Gibson's Oscar-nominated film "Apocalypto" in 2006, Youngblood worked as a laborer in various fields. One of his most notable experiences was touring for three seasons with Peter Buffett's Native American Dance/Theatrical Production, "Spirit-The Seventh Fire", where he played the role of a warrior protector. He was also part of the Native American Dance Theatre.
However, in 2005, Youngblood decided to take a leap of faith and move to Los Angeles to pursue his own theatrical production. It was during this time that he was cast in the lead role of 'Jaguar Paw' in "Apocalypto". To prepare for the film, Youngblood spent weeks learning the Yucatan Mayan language, despite having less than a month to do so. He also performed all his own stunts, including a death-defying 175 ft free fall during the waterfall scene and running in front of a live 200-pound jaguar.
Youngblood's natural athleticism and dedication to his craft earned him praise from stunt coordinator Mic Rodgers, who described him as "the purest athlete I've ever met". He has also starred in other films, including the lead role as 'Brandon' in the 2010 MMA film "Beatdown".
As of May 2016, Youngblood is currently working on several upcoming projects, including the film "Wind Walkers" alongside director Russell Friedenberg, and "Crossing Point" by Daniel Zirrilli. He is also set to star in "The Dance of the Blue Tattoo" and "Say Something", and is executive producer and leading role in the upcoming film "AG-1 Adrift".
Despite facing many challenges and hardships throughout his life, Youngblood has persevered and become one of the few mainstream Native American actors of his generation. He is passionate about sharing his knowledge and experiences with youth across the country, and hopes that his story will inspire and motivate them to strive for success and personal growth.
