Michael Spears Biography: Net Worth, Height, Age, Awards, Ethnicity, Parents, Movies, Girlfriend
Michael Spears is an American actor, singer, drummer and cultural advocate of Kul Wičaša Lakota heritage from the Lower Brulé Sioux Tribe of South Dakota.
He began acting as a child with his appearance as Otter in Dances with Wolves and later gained wider recognition through Into the West, Imprint, Yellow Rock, Winter in the Blood, The Activist, Reservation Dogs, 1883 and 1923.
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| Name: | Michael Spears |
| Born: | 28 December 1977 (age 48 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Chamberlain, South Dakota, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity: | Lakota |
| Height: | 1.88m |
| Religion: | Christianity |
| Parents: | Mary Ann Godfrey, Patrick Spears |
| Siblings: | Edward "Eddie" Spears |
| Children: | Jasmin Spears, Noah Spears |
| Occupation: | Actor, Singer, Drummer, Cultural Consultant |
| Net Worth: | $2 million |
Early Life and Education
Michael Spears was born on 28 December 1977 in Chamberlain, South Dakota, to Mary Ann Godfrey and Patrick Spears. He grew up with six siblings, including his younger brother, actor Eddie Spears.
He spent his early childhood on the Lower Brulé Reservation before his family moved to Pierre and later Aberdeen, where he attended Jefferson Elementary and graduated from Aberdeen Central High School in 1995.
His later cultural education has included continued study of the Lakota language and traditional practices. He is of Sicangu Lakota ethnicity and Christian by religion.
Career
Michael Spears began acting at approximately 13 years old after his father encouraged him to audition for Dances with Wolves.
He won the role of Otter in Kevin Costner’s 1990 Western, making his screen debut in an Academy Award-winning film and gaining early national attention.
He subsequently appeared in The Broken Cord, The Broken Chain, Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee and Skins, gradually establishing himself as a respected Native American performer.
Spears reached another significant milestone with his portrayal of Dog Star in Steven Spielberg’s miniseries Into the West (2005), followed by prominent roles in Imprint, Shadowheart, The Legend of Hell’s Gate, Yellow Rock, Winter in the Blood and The Activist.
His later television work includes Longmire, Z Nation, Reservation Dogs, 1883 and 1923, where he portrayed Runs His Horse. In 2025, he portrayed Sitting Bull in Sitting Bull, performing entirely in Lakota.
Beyond acting, he performs as a hand-drum singer, speaks and teaches about Lakota culture, mentors Indigenous youth and works in areas including cultural consulting and Indigenous representation.
Awards and Nominations
- 1993 — Young Artist Awards — Best Young Actor Under Ten in a Television Movie, The Broken Cord — Nominated
- 2011 — American Indian Film Festival — Best Actor, Yellow Rock — Nominated
- 2012 — Western Heritage Awards — Bronze Wrangler, Lead Actor, Yellow Rock — Won
- 2013 — American Indian Film Festival — Best Supporting Actor, The Activist — Nominated
Social Media
- Instagram Handle: @michaelspears4sbf
Personal Life
Michael Spears, 48 years old and 1.88m tall, has four children, including Jasmin Spears and Noah Spears, as well as two sons from his long-term relationship with an unnamed woman of Italian-American and Indigenous ancestry.
He has not publicly identified a spouse, and the relationship is generally described as a long-term partnership rather than a marriage.
Net Worth
Michael Spears has an estimated net worth of $2 million USD. His income is derived primarily from acting in films and television productions, supplemented by music, cultural consulting, voice work and public speaking.
His long career and continued involvement in both mainstream entertainment and Indigenous cultural projects provide additional professional income.
Filmography
- Dances with Wolves (1990) — Otter
- Lakota Woman: Siege at Wounded Knee (1994) — Stat Man
- Skins (2002) — Teddy Yellow Lodge
- Into the West (2005) — Dog Star
- Imprint (2007) — Tom Greyhorse
- Shadowheart (2009) — Washakie
- The Legend of Hell’s Gate: An American Conspiracy (2011) — Kutseena
- Yellow Rock (2011) — Broken Wing
- Longmire (2012) — Micah Dullknife
- Guns, Girls and Gambling (2012) — Redfoot
- Winter in the Blood (2013) — Raymond Long Knife
- 1883 (2022) — Comanche Trader
- Reservation Dogs (2022) — Danny
- The Year of the Dog (2023) — Fred
- Sitting Bull (2025) — Sitting Bull
What People Ask
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