Moses J. Brings Plenty (born September 4, 1969) is an Oglala Lakota television, film, and stage actor, as well as a traditional drummer and singer. He is best known for his portrayal as Mo in the Paramount Network series Yellowstone.[1]
Moses Brings Plenty | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 4, 1969 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Notable work | Yellowstone |
Early life and family
editMoses Brings Plenty was born on the Pine Ridge Reservation, in South Dakota.[1] He is a direct descendant of Brings Plenty, an Oglala Lakota warrior who fought in the Battle of Little Big Horn.[2][3]
His nephew Cole Brings Plenty portrayed Pete Plenty Clouds in two episodes of 1923.[4][5] Cole was found dead on April 5, 2024, at the age of 27, after having been reported missing five days prior.[6]
Acting career
editAs an actor, Brings Plenty has played bit parts in Hidalgo, Thunderheart, and Pirates of the Caribbean.[7] He also played Quanah Parker in the History Channel documentary Comanche Warrior, which was filmed on the Wild Horse Sanctuary in the southern Black Hills; Crazy Horse on History Channel's Investigating History documentary "Who Killed Crazy Horse"; and the BBC documentary series The Wild West. He acted in Rez Bomb, considered to be the first movie with a universal storyline set on a reservation. Rez Bomb has been part of the international film festival circuit instead of playing strictly to Native American film festivals, which is a major breakthrough for Native cinema.[8]
In addition to doing theater work in Nebraska, he also portrayed an Apache warrior in the 2011 science fiction western film Cowboys & Aliens[7] and Shep Wauneka in Jurassic World Dominion in 2022.[9]
Brings Plenty plays Mo in the Paramount series Yellowstone. His role has grown through each season, finally becoming a series regular in season five. He is also the show's Native affairs coordinator, working with tribes to ensure that the Native languages and cultures are represented correctly.[10]
Moses Brings Plenty was one of the experts who tested and displayed the weapons and tactics used by Oglala Lakota war leader Crazy Horse in an episode of the third season of Spike TV's Deadliest Warrior. He appeared in the sixth episode of the fourth season of AMC's Hell on Wheels. He also appeared in all seven episodes of the 2020 historical drama miniseries, The Good Lord Bird.[11]
Moses has also appeared in 2023's Lawmen: Bass Reeves, on Paramount Network.[12]
Music, dance, and modeling career
editBrings Plenty played drums for the band Brulé, who combines traditional Native American drums and flute with contemporary musical instruments.[13] He performs with and drums for the Many Moccasins Dance Troupe,[14] based in Winnebago, Nebraska, that combines modern Native American dance with powwow dances.[7]
Activism
editBrings Plenty is concerned about providing accurate representations of Native peoples in mass media. He stated in a 2008 interview, "Young people told me they don’t see our people on TV. Then it hit me, they are right. Where are our indigenous people, people who are proud of who they are?"[1] Brings Plenty also works behind the scenes on Yellowstone and its spin-off prequels 1883 and 1923 as Taylor Sheridan's American Indian Affairs Coordinator to make sure that each show appropriately represents Native culture.[15][16]
He has performed for charity events such as Project Lighthouse, who provides warm clothing and bedding to northern Indian reservations.[17]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Rez Bomb | Johnny | |
| 2011 | Cowboys & Aliens | Apache Warrior #2 | |
| 2013 | The Cherokee Word for Water | Charlie Soap | |
| 2022 | Jurassic World Dominion | Shep Wauneka | |
| 2023 | Dead Man's Hand | Mahto |
Television
edit| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | The Wild West | Crazy Horse | Episode: "Custer's Last Stand" |
| 2011 | Deadliest Warrior | Himself | Episode: "Crazy Horse vs. Pancho Villa" |
| 2012 | American Experience | Crazy Horse | Episode: "Custer's Last Stand" |
| 2014 | House of Cards | Chief Whitehall | Episode: "Chapter 21" |
| 2014 | Hell on Wheels | White Feather | Episode 6: "Bear Man" |
| 2016 | The American West | Sitting Bull | 8 episodes |
| 2018–present | Yellowstone | Mo | 39 episodes |
| 2020 | The Good Lord Bird | Ottawa Jones | |
| 2023 | Lawmen: Bass Reeves | Minco Dodge |
Awards and achievements
editOn April 12, 2024, Brings Plenty was honored with a New Horizon Award, a lifetime achievement award given out at the annual Western Heritage Awards at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum. Brings Plenty dedicated the award to his nephew, Cole.[18]
References
edit- ^ a b c Melmer, David. "Moses Brings Plenty." Archived 2011-04-28 at the Wayback Machine Native Legacy Magazine. Summer 2008 (retrieved 7 November 2010)
- ^ Elliott, Michael A. (2008). Custerology: The Enduring Legacy of the Indian Wars and George Armstrong Custer. University of Chicago Press. p. 57.
- ^ "'Yellowstone's Mo Brings Plenty Posts Moving Tribute to His 'Ancestors' on Anniversary of Battle of Little Bighorn". Outsider. June 28, 2022.
- ^ "'Yellowstone': That's Mo Brings Plenty's Nephew, Cole, As Pete Plenty Clouds in '1923' Episode 7". Outsider. February 19, 2023.
- ^ Jenkins, Carolyn (February 26, 2023). "1923's Pete Plenty Clouds Is Played By A Big Yellowstone Star's Nephew". Looper.
- ^ Romero, Dennis (April 6, 2024). "Missing '1923' actor Cole Brings Plenty, 27, found dead in Kansas". NBC News. Retrieved April 8, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Hatcher, Jenn. "Moses with Moccasins." KNOP TV: News 2. (retrieved 7 November 2010) [dead link]
- ^ "‘Rez Bomb’ DVD release February 8." Indian Country Today. 22 January 2010 (retrieved 7 November 2010)
- ^ Boisvert, Lauren (April 16, 2022). "'Yellowstone': Eagle-Eyed Fans Spot Mo Brings Plenty in 'Jurassic World: Dominion' Trailer". Outsider.
- ^ Jackie, Strause (June 22, 2023). "'Yellowstone''s Mo Brings Plenty on Accurate Representation: 'If I Can't Get Support of That Tribe, I'm Failing at My Job'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
- ^ "'The Good Lord Bird': IMDb". IMDb.
- ^ Soto, Josiah (November 3, 2023). "Who Is Moses Brings Plenty? Why You May Recognize the 'Lawmen: Bass Reeves' Star". The Pioneer Woman. Retrieved July 7, 2024.
- ^ Groman, Gary. "Brule' a unique special Branson entertainment experience." Archived 2010-03-24 at the Wayback Machine Branson Courier. 14 July 2009 (retrieved 7 November 2010)
- ^ Guzman, Chabella. "Dance troupe brings old and new to performance." Star-Herald. 26 October 2010 (7 November 2010)
- ^ Bedard, Mike (January 30, 2023). "1923's Storyline Had Mo Brings Plenty Weeping Behind The Scenes". Looper.
- ^ Venable, Nick (February 28, 2023). "Yellowstone Star Mo Brings Plenty Talks Importance Of Serving As American Indian Affairs Coordinator For Taylor Sheridan's Westerns". CinemaBlend.
- ^ Floriano, Rachel. "Project Lighthouse brings warmth to those on the reservation." Examiner. 26 March 2010 (retrieved 7 November 2010)
- ^ Berg, Kaili (April 17, 2024). "Moses Brings Plenty Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award". Native News Online. Retrieved July 7, 2024.