August Schellenberg
Schellenberg in 2007, photo by Prphotos
Birth Name: August Werner Schellenberg
Date of Birth: July 25, 1936
Place of Birth: Montréal, Québec, Canada
Date of Death: August 15, 2013
Place of Death: Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Ethnicity:
*father – Swiss-German
*mother – likely English
August Schellenberg was a Canadian actor of film, stage, and television. He was known for playing Native American characters Randolph in the Free Willy films, Chomina in Black Robe, Chief Powhatan in The New World, and Sitting Bull in the mini-series Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. His other films include The Coffin Affair, Iron Will, Tremors 4: The Legend Begins, Going The Distance (2004), and Eight Below (2006). He was also known as Augie Schellenberg.
August was the son of Hilda and Werner Walter Schellenberg. His father was born in Oerlikon, Zürich, Switzerland, of Swiss-German descent. His mother was said to be of Mohawk or English-Mohawk ancestry. It appears that she was born in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England, and came to Canada in the late 1920s.
August was born in Montréal, and later moved to Toronto, Ontario, and finally Dallas, Texas, U.S. August was married to actress Joan Karasevich, until his death. He had three children, including two with Joan.
August’s paternal grandfather was August Schellenberg (the son of Friedrich Schellenberg and Elisabeth Wirth). August was born in Weisslingen, Zürich.
August’s paternal grandmother was Berta/Bertha Rosalie Ritter (the daughter of Jakob Ritter and Rosa Wolfensberger). Berta was born in Hittnau, Zürich. Rosa was the daughter of Kaspar Wolfensberger and Elisabeth Schoch.
August’s maternal grandfather possibly was Frederick Carratt (the son of Charles Carratt and Alice Gray). Frederick was born in Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England. Charles was the son of Edward Carratt and Mary Elizabeth Smith.
August’s maternal grandmother possibly was The Rev. Frances E. Cooper (born Frances Elizabeth Wheildon, the daughter of Joseph Wheildon and Francis/Frances Elizabeth Gibbs). The Rev. Frances was born in Hanley Castle, Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire, England. Joseph was the son of Joseph Weildon and Lucy Elizabeth Howard.
Sources: https://www.bbc.com
https://www.theglobeandmail.com
Genealogy of August Schellenberg – https://www.findagrave.com
Baptismal record of August Schellenberg – https://acanadianfamily.files.wordpress.com
Obituary of August’s father – https://www.newspapers.com
Obituary of August’s mother – https://www.newspapers.com
Obituary of August’s possible maternal grandmother, The Rev. Frances Elizabeth (Wheildon) Cooper – https://www.newspapers.com
So was him a fake one? He was believable though.
He lloks mestizo native american and white
Looks exatly 50/50
ok i take this back lol he looked almost full white he had some small NA features and thats it
A family tree on ancestry.com states that his mother was named Hilda Florence Carratt, and that she was born in Lincolnshire, England, to English parents. This can’t be right, can it?
This is the obituary of the man described as his maternal half-brother, and that certainly seems accurate.
https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/montrealgazette/obituary.aspx?n=james-ronald-morse&pid=144194965
Their mother died under the surname Trounce.
He is also described as having been raised by a foster mother, although Hilda Carratt is listed as Werner Schellenberg’s wife in the family tree. Also, some references describe his mother as “English-Mohawk.”
Update: This article states that he “grew up in the foster home of a Métis woman and her ten children in Montreal.” So that doesn’t sound like Hilda.
http://anishinabeknews.ca/2015/10/22/tantoo-cardinal-recipient-of-the-august-schellenberg-award-of-excellence/
Another update: this baptismal record seems to confirm that Hilda was his mother. Although I can’t quite make out the last name.
https://acanadianfamily.wordpress.com/2014/03/22/august-werner-schellenberg-metis-actor/
It says Hilda Smeltzer.
Right, that’s one of the names listed for her in the family trees. Not sure if that’s another marriage name or a birth name. I couldn’t find anyone named Hilda Smeltzer of the right age in Canada before the 1930s.
I found the tree. It says Hilda’s mother died in Montreal in 1969, but her obituary say she died in Wales in 1972. Also, the obituary only mentions ”Jimmie and Cookie” as her grandchildren, but Hilda’s obituary in 2001 says her children are Jim, August and June.
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83855299/obituary-for-hilda-trounce/
August Schellenberg was nicknamed Augie or Cookie.
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/theatre-and-performance/august-schellenberg-was-trailblazer-in-canadian-theatre/article14850396/
Where did you find the obit of his grandmother? I want to put this whole thing together.
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/83889975/obituary-for-frances-e-cooper/