Billy Merasty
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- January 1, 1960 (age 66)
- Birthplace
- Brochet, Manitoba, Canada
Biography
Billy Merasty is an actor, playwright, Cree translator, and language keeper. He was born to Viola and Pierre Merasty in 1960 in Brochet, Manitoba. His grandfather was Joe Highway, a famous caribou hunter and champion dogsled racer. He moved to Toronto at age eighteen in search for his uncle René Highway, who was at the time working for the Toronto Dance Theatre. At age twenty-three Billy launched his acting career after graduating from the Native Theatre School for aspiring Indigenous artists. He then went on to work for the renowned Indigenous performing arts company Native Earth Performing Arts. Billy has worked as a film, television, and stage actor for decades and notably played the first Indigenous gay character on television on the CBC series, Liberty Street, in the role of Nathan. Billy received the Order of Manitoba (Order of the Buffalo Hunt) in recognition for his many years as an Indigenous role model in 2010.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
Aberdeen
Movie · as Alfred
Café Daughter
Movie · as Amos Horseknife
Stellar
Movie · as Auntie 1
Acting Good
TV · as Roger Laughingstick · 50 eps
SkyMed
TV · as Glen · 1 ep
It Chapter Two
Movie · as Shokopiwah Man
The Incredible 25th Year of Mitzi Bearclaw
Movie · as William Bearclaw
Diggstown
TV · as Chief Thomas · 1 ep
Falls Around Her
Movie · as Draven
Cardinal
TV · as Billy Ralph Northwind · 1 ep
Heritage Minutes: Queenston Heights
Movie · as John Norton
Moby Dick
TV · as Tashtego · 4 eps
Casino Jack
Movie · as Bartender
Northern Lights
Movie · as Jacob
Elijah
Movie · as Elijah Harper
Murdoch Mysteries
TV · as Gravekeeper Gary Cardinal · 1 ep
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Movie · as Young Man Afraid
Moose TV
TV · 8 eps
Mixed Blessings
TV · as Mark · 13 eps
Indian Summer: The Oka Crisis
TV · as John Cree · 2 eps
The Big White
Movie · as Cam
The New World
Movie · as Kiskiak
Battle of the Brave
Movie · as Owashak
Wonderfalls
TV · as Jerry · 1 ep
This Is Wonderland
TV · as Brian Perot (as William Merasty) · 1 ep
Stardom
Movie
The Virginian
Movie · as Lee Talltrees
Relic Hunter
TV · as Inuit Hunter · 1 ep
War of 1812
TV · as John Norton · 4 eps
Honey Moccasin
Movie · as Zachary John
Pocahontas: The Legend
Movie · as Kocoum
Les Légendes du Grand Nord
Movie · as Mawaki
The Confessional
Movie · as Moose
Liberty Street
TV · as Nathan Jones · 26 eps
No Price Too High
TV · 7 eps
X-Rated
Movie · as Nathan Jones
Exotica
Movie · as Man at Opera
The Broken Cord
Movie · as Frank Cree
Heritage Minutes
TV · as John Norton · 1 ep
The Shaman's Source
Movie · as Mathew Hare
Snake Treaty
Movie
Justice Denied
Movie · as Donald Marshall, Jr.
American Experience
TV · as Warrior · 1 ep