I was first introduced to Larry Sellers in 1992, before the television show “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” premiered on Saturday nights (running for six seasons).
My personal photo (with Larry's autograph)
Larry Sellers was a Native American actor and stuntman of Osage and Cherokee descent and an adopted member of the Lakota nation. He became known for his regular role as Cloud Dancing in the popular CBS hit series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993), and received an Emmy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actor. He also worked as a technical advisor on the show, notably on linguistic aspects.
When Larry was filming in the Hollywood studio backlot, he would drop by during our weekly Native American Craft Nights taught by Tribal Elder Barbara Drake, held in a school auditorium (Ontario Montclair School District, San Bernardino, CA). He performed puppetry and played his hand-carved flutes for the elementary schoolers and the toddlers.
I also facilitated numerous workshops when I worked with the Title IX and Title X programs and Parent Advisory Committee. Larry was always flattered when asked to work with our teen and pre-teen students.
Soft-spoken, courteous, Larry shared his knowledge and experiences with others. Fame did not change him; he was, first and foremost, a spiritual man. *on a personal note, I spoke with Larry about a YA historical novel I was completing, “Tanayia—Whisper upon the Water.” Native American boarding schools in the late 1880s were not a topic many publishers were willing to publish at that time. Larry reminded me it was my duty to give the story life. He also shared his personal experiences of being sent away to boarding school at the age of five. He told me, firmly, the novel would sell.
Larry was correct “Tanayia—Whisper upon the Water was purchased by a publisher. The novel was “Book of the Month and Teen Read” at numerous Public Libraries and a National Book Award nominee.
Larry Sellers’s Career:
Larry Sellers enlisted in the Navy after graduating from high school.
Larry was a 17-year veteran in the entertainment industry as an actor, stuntman, translator, and technical advisor.
An educator, historian, and historical consultant about his heritage.
He was one of the eight scholars chosen nationally as a Fellow at the Newberry Library Center for the History of the American Indian, located in Chicago.
Larry worked with the Arizona State Department of Education / Division of Indian Education among the many accomplishments as a consultant. And he has also worked with Traditional Tribe Medicine, the Arizona State Department of Alcohol and Drug Abuse, and the Phoenix Indian Medical Center Rehabilitation Program.
As he was an actor as well, his acting credits include the feature films “Son of the Morning Star,” “Quick and the Dead,” “Revolution,” “Like Father – Like Son,” and “Assassination,” “Wayne’s World II.” Moreover, his television credits are the film “Kenny Rogers as ‘The Gambler’ III — The Legend Continues” on the CBS Television Network and the series “Life Goes On.“
Little known facts: He participated in the Wiwang Wacipi [Sun Dance] Ceremony. It is said (though I did not confirm with Larry) he turned down an offer to appear in Kevin Costner's epic Dances with Wolves (1990) because he was not given the four days required to complete the Sun Dance ceremony.
2016 - 2021, he worked as an Osage language instructor in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.
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| Larry Sellers (Pinterest Photo) |
To learn more about Larry Sellers, please visit:
http://www.thedqtimes.com/pages/dqfolklore.htm (Website for Dr. Quinn Forklore) Cloud Dancing and Native American Folklore, too
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0565364/ Larry wrote (several years after our workshop discussion) the script, “Hearts and Minds,” for this episode Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman, show which dealt with the Native American education/boarding school.
I am blessed to have known Larry Sellers.
Thank you for allowing me to share my memories with you,
Connie Vines
Buy Links:
https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/vinesbwl
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tanayia-connie-vines/1127822389?ean=9780228600060
https://www.amazon.com/Tanayia-Whisper-Water-Connie-Vines-ebook/dp/B0894GGJ3G/r
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