Home >

Billy Merasty

Billy Merasty

Birthday: 1960-01-01 | Place of Birth: Brochet, Manitoba, Canada

Billy 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

Acting

Year
Title

Role

2019
The Incredible 25th Year of Mitzi Bearclaw

as    William Bearclaw

2009
Northern Lights

as    Jacob

2007
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

as    Young Man Afraid

2005
The Big White

as    Cam

1995
Pocahontas: The Legend

as    Kocoum

1990
The Shaman's Source

as    Mathew Hare