Billy Drago
Drago in 2010, photo by Prphotos.com
Birth Name: William Eugene Burrows
Date of Birth: November 30, 1945
Place of Birth: Hugoton, Kansas, U.S.
Date of Death: June 24, 2019
Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Ethnicity: English, one quarter Bohemian [Czech], some Irish, possibly other
Billy Drago was an American actor. His roles include the films Pale Rider, Vamp, and The Untouchables, and the series The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. and Charmed. He appeared in many B-films and cult projects.
He was the son of Gladys Marie and William Franklin Burrows, Jr. He was married to actress, acting coach, and writer Silvana Gallardo, until her death. He had two children, including actor and director Darren E. Burrows.
Billy had been described as being of Chiricahua Apache Native American descent on his father’s side, and Romani descent on his mother’s side. It is not clear if this is accurate.
Billy’s paternal grandfather was William Franklin Burrows (the son of John Riley Burrows, Jr. and Nancy/Nance Wells/Welles Cory). William was born in Illinois. John was the son of John Riley Burrows and Electa Hannah/Devol/DaVal. Nancy was the daughter of Thomas Harfield Cory and Hannah Legget/Leget. Hannah’s grandmother, Sarah Silverheels, was possibly Native American.
Billy’s paternal grandmother was Abbie Hull (the daughter of John Hull and Eliza Johnson). Abbie was born in Kansas. John was English, the son of Joseph Hull and Mary.
Billy’s maternal grandfather was Clarence William Wilcox (the son of William Lincoln Wilcox and Cora Alice Lutsey). Clarence was born in Kansas.
Billy’s maternal grandmother was Beatrice K. Libick/Libich (the daughter of Josef Libick and Julie, possibly Drazen). Beatrice was from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and was of Bohemian origin.
Sources: Genealogy of Billy Drago – https://www.findagrave.com
Genealogy of Billy Drago (focusing on his father’s side) – http://www.soapweed.com
Genealogy of Billy’s father – http://www.genealogy.com
Billy’s father on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
Billy’s mother on the 1930 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
His son is described as being 1/4 Cherokee Indian and 1/4 Apache Indian, but he has said that he is actually only about 1/8 Native American or less
http://www.filmweb.pl/person/Darren+E.+Burrows-6508/discussion/neccesarry+information-210885
“Libick” and expecially “Drazen” are both Slavic names, “Austria” (like “Russia”) as birth place does not mean “Austrian” (or Russian) ancestry.
that’s a possible explanation for his alleged Romani roots. IMBD states “Drago”(it could be Dragović) is his mother’s family name,
http://www.nightofthetemplarthemovie.com/shauna.html
“Romany Gypsy mother from Bohemia, Austria-Hungary”
That link is already up there. I’m not sure if the link with the son is reliable.
I thought that the Romani thing must come from the Austro-Hungarian side, but it’s probably like the Native American side, unverified.
Beatrice’s language on the census linked here is Bohemian.
father of Darren E. Burrows
Didn’t know native american+south asian=white dude.