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D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai is an actor associated with indigenous films and series, with the latter gaining attention for his role in the series "Reservation Dogs," co-created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi.
"Reservation Dogs" marked an important moment for the representation of Indigenous stories in mainstream media, and young actors like D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai played a pivotal role in its success. Portraying characters that are both grounded in their indigenous culture and representative of universal coming-of-age experiences, they offered audiences a fresh, authentic look into the lives of contemporary Native youth.
Woon-A-Tai and his twin brother, Mi’De Xxavier, hail from Toronto. His full name, D'Pharaoh Miskwaatez Loescher McKay Woon-A-Tai, mirrors his diverse Oji-Cree, Chinese-Guyanese, and German lineage. He is skilled in Shotokan karate, holding a black belt, a legacy from his maternal grandfather, the renowned Shotokan instructor Frank Woon-A-Tai. On his father's side, his grandfather is Dr. Alex McKay, a professor of the Anishinaabemowin language at the University of Toronto's Indigenous Studies department.
Growing up in Toronto's Esplanade area, Woon-A-Tai and three of his siblings, later becoming five in total, would frequently spend weekends with their paternal family in the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation. His schooling took place at Nelson Mandela Park Public School.
Embarking on his professional journey, Woon-A-Tai first graced the screen as Chase Whaley in the 2018 Family Channel's series "Holly Hobbie." 2019 saw him portraying Tom Longboat in a two-part segment of "Murdoch Mysteries" season 12 and making guest appearances in "Creeped Out" and "Tribal." He ventured into movies with his role as Hank in the award-winning film "Beans" by Tracey Deer. December 2020 brought the announcement of his leading role as Bear Smallhill in "Reservation Dogs," a Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi creation set in rural Oklahoma, focusing on teen antics on tribal land. Lauded for his performance as Bear, the series' third season is anticipated on August 2, 2023. The following year, 2022, revealed his participation in Finn Wolfhard and Billy Bryk's directorial venture, "Hell Of A Summer," slated for a 2023 release. His upcoming projects for 2023 include "Bloody Hell," where he portrays Adam, and the Indie Thriller "Only the Good Survive," featuring alongside Sidney Flanigan, Frederick Weller, and Will Ropp.