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Geraldine Keams

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Geraldine Keams
Born (1951-08-19) August 19, 1951 (age 73)
Flagstaff, Arizona, U.S.
Years active1976–present

Geraldine Keams (born August 19, 1951) is a Navajo actress. She is best known for her work in numerous television series, often playing a maternal role.[1]

Biography

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Keams was born on August 19, 1951, in Flagstaff, Arizona. She was raised on the Navajo reservation then went to the University of Arizona, where she studied drama and film.

After graduating from college, Keams moved to New York City to pursue theater.[2] In New York, she wrote and performed with Hanay Geiogamah's (Kiowa/Delaware) Native American Theater Ensemble at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club.[3] She adapted a Navajo creation story for the 1972 production Na Haaz Zan and also performed in Geiogamah's Body Indian.[4] The ensemble took both pieces on tour in 1972 and 1973, performing at the University of New Mexico, the College of Santa Fe, Haskell Indian Junior College, the Walker Art Center, the American Indian Center in Chicago, the Smithsonian Institution, Rough Rock Demonstration School in Chinle, Arizona, Springfield College, the University of Massachusetts Amherst, the University of Michigan, the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Dartmouth College, and the University at Buffalo, among other places.[5]

Keams made her film debut playing Little Moonlight in Clint Eastwood's western The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976).

In 2021, she had a recurring role in the Peacock sitcom Rutherford Falls, about relationships between a fictional Native American tribe and the New England town it borders. Showrunner Sierra Teller Ornelas described Keams as "Navajo royalty", saying, "When she walked on the set, I was starstruck".[6]

In addition to her film work, Keams gives live performances and workshops. She is a resident artist at the Los Angeles Music Center. Keams currently resides in Pasadena, California.

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1976 The Outlaw Josey Wales Little Moonlight film
1977 The Car Donna film
1982 Born to the Wind Wind Woman television series
1991 Twin Peaks Irene Littlehorse television series
1991 Northern Exposure Great Aunt television series
1993 Shadowhunter Doctor TV movie
1996 The Secret of Lizard Woman Lizard Woman television series
2001 Dharma & Greg Meditation Leader television series
2002 The Slaughter Rule Gretchen Two Dogs film
2002 Angels Don't Sleep Here Arlene Grey Eagle film
2002 Skinwalkers Gina TV movie
2003 DreamKeeper Iktome's Wife TV movie
2003 Edge of America Mother Tsosie TV movie
2003 Scrambled Dora film
2005 A Thousand Roads short film
2005 Buffalo Dreams Abuela Rose TV movie
2008 Comanche Moon Hema mini-series
2010 Pickin' and Grinnin' Hopi Woman film
2010 Faster Preacher's Wife film
2012 Arcadia Security Guard film
2021 Rutherford Falls Rayanne television series[6]
2021 Reservation Dogs Mabel television series

References

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  1. ^ SiJohn, Raven. "Navajo actress has last laugh on Dharma and Greg". AAA Native Arts. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  2. ^ "Geri Keams » Biography – Geri Keams". gerikeams.com. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
  3. ^ La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. "Resident Company: Native American Theatre Ensemble". Accessed April 3, 2018.
  4. ^ La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. "Production: 'Na Haaz Zan' and 'Body Indian' (1972)". Accessed April 3, 2018.
  5. ^ La MaMa Archives Digital Collections. "Tour: American Indian Theatre Ensemble US Tour (Feb-April 1973)". Accessed April 3, 2018.
  6. ^ a b "New TV comedy 'Rutherford Falls' involves 4 Diné". Navajo Times. April 1, 2021. Retrieved May 21, 2021.
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