Tatanka Means

Tatanka Means (also credited as Tatanka Wanbli Sapa Xila Sabe Means) is a Native American screen artist known for bringing grounded intensity and humor to film and television. Born February 19, 1985, in Porcupine, South Dakota, he draws on Oglala Lakota, Omaha, and Diné heritage in a career that spans acting, comedy, and public advocacy.

Means gained wider recognition through prominent appearances including Saints & Strangers and Tiger Eyes, where his performances helped spotlight contemporary Indigenous characters with nuance. His film work also includes roles such as Rising Wolf in Montford: The Chickasaw Rancher, Tall Ute in The Burrowers, Seeker Hawke in The Host, and Scar in Surrounded, alongside credits in Wind River: Rising, Sedona, and The Hybrids Family.

Beyond the screen, Means has built a multifaceted profile as a comedian, boxer, entrepreneur, and activist. He is one of nine children of the late Russell Means—an Oglala Lakota activist, American Indian Movement leader, and actor—continuing a family legacy of cultural visibility through storytelling and public life.