August Werner Schellenberg (July 25, 1936 – August 15, 2013) was a Canadian actor. He played Randolph in the first three installments of the ''

Free Willy ''Free Willy'' is a 1993 American Adventure film, adventure Drama (film and television), drama film, directed by Simon Wincer, produced by Lauren Shuler Donner and Jennie Lew Tugend, written by Keith A. Walker and Corey Blechman from a story by ...

'' film series (1993–1997) as well as characters in '' Black Robe'' (1991), '' The New World'' (2005), and dozens of other films and television shows. During his career, Schellenberg won a Gemini Award in 1986 and a Genie Award in 1991, as well as being nominated for a

Primetime Emmy Award The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Owned and operated by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the P ...

in 2007.

Life and career

Schellenberg was born and lived in

Montreal, Quebec Montreal is the List of towns in Quebec, largest city in the Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Quebec, the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, second-largest in Canada, and the List of North American cit ...

, until he moved to

Toronto, Ontario Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

, in 1967. He was of English, Mohawk and Swiss-German descent. He also spoke French. He was based in Toronto until 1995. He lived in

Dallas, Texas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

, with his wife, actress Joan Karasevich. He was the father of three daughters, two with Karasevich. He was trained at the National Theatre School of Canada from 1963 to 1966. His initial work was in the Don Shebib-directed coming-of-age film ''Rip-Off'', in 1971. In 1981, he did voices for the

animated film Animation is a filmmaking technique whereby still images are manipulated to create moving images. In traditional animation, images are drawn or painted by hand on transparent celluloid sheets to be photographed and exhibited on film. Animati ...

'' Heavy Metal''. During the 1990s he had major roles in '' Black Robe'' (as Chomina), ''

'' and its sequels (as Randolph Johnson), ''

Iron Will ''Iron Will'' is a 1994 American adventure film. It is based on the true story of the 1917 dog-sled race from Winnipeg, Manitoba to Saint Paul, Minnesota, Saint Paul, Minnesota, a -long stretch and part of the "Red River-St. Paul Sports Carniv ...

'' (Ned Dodd), '' True Heart'' (Khonanesta), and TV film ''

Crazy Horse Crazy Horse ( , ; – September 5, 1877) was a Lakota people, Lakota war leader of the Oglala band. He took up arms against the United States federal government to fight against encroachment by White Americans, White American settlers on Nativ ...

'' (

Sitting Bull Sitting Bull ( ; December 15, 1890) was a Hunkpapa Lakota people, Lakota leader who led his people during years of resistance against Federal government of the United States, United States government policies. Sitting Bull was killed by Indian ...

). He went on to star as

Chief Powhatan Powhatan (), whose proper name was Wahunsenacawh (alternately spelled Wahunsenacah, Wahunsunacock, or Wahunsonacock), was the leader of the Powhatan, an alliance of Algonquian-speaking Native Americans living in Tsenacommacah, in the Tidewat ...

in Terrence Malick's 2005 film '' The New World''. He also had roles in Disney's '' Eight Below'' and in the doco ''The Green Chain'' (2007). In 2011, he appeared in two episodes of the television series '' Stargate Universe'' as Yaozu. His favorite role was that of

in the film ''Crazy Horse'', a character he reprised in the film version of the Dee Brown bestseller '' Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee'', for which he received an

Emmy The Emmy Awards, or Emmys, are an extensive range of awards for artistic and technical merit for the television industry. A number of annual Emmy Award ceremonies are held throughout the year, each with their own set of rules and award catego ...

nomination. He also starred in ''Dreamkeeper'' (2003) as Pete Chasing Horse. Schellenberg was nominated for three

Genie Awards The Genie Awards were given out annually by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television to recognize the best of Canadian cinema from 1980–2012. They succeeded the Canadian Film Awards (1949–1978), known as the "Etrog Awards" for sculpt ...

and won one (for ''Black Robe''). He was also nominated for two Gemini Awards, and won one (for the television movie ''The Prodigal''). In 2012, he performed the title role in an all-aboriginal production of

William Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...

's ''

King Lear ''The Tragedy of King Lear'', often shortened to ''King Lear'', is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is loosely based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his ...

'' at the

National Arts Centre The National Arts Centre (NAC) () is a Arts centre, performing arts organization in Ottawa, Ontario, along the Rideau Canal. It is based in the eponymous National Arts Centre (building), National Arts Centre building. History The NAC was one ...

Ottawa Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It is located in the southern Ontario, southern portion of the province of Ontario, at the confluence of the Ottawa River and the Rideau River. Ottawa borders Gatineau, Gatineau, Quebec, and forms the cor ...

, alongside a cast that also included Billy Merasty as Gloucester, Tantoo Cardinal as Regan, Jani Lauzon in a dual role as Cordelia and the Fool, Craig Lauzon as Kent, and the play's assistant director, Lorne Cardinal, as The Duke of Albany."Aboriginal cast in staging of King Lear"
''

Ottawa Citizen The ''Ottawa Citizen'' is an English-language daily newspaper owned by Postmedia Network in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. History Established as the Bytown ''Packet'' in 1845 by William Harris (journalist), William Harris, it was renamed the ''Ci ...

'', May 12, 2012. During his lifetime, Schellenberg taught acting seminars at Toronto's Centre for Indigenous Theatre and

York University York University (), also known as YorkU or simply YU), is a public university, public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is Canada's third-largest university, and it has approximately 53,500 students, 7,000 faculty and staff, ...

. He conducted motivational workshops in schools and for cultural and community organizations across North America. Schellenberg's younger brother played Dior in ''

Grey's Anatomy ''Grey's Anatomy'' is an American medical drama television series focusing on the personal and professional lives of surgical internship (medicine), interns, residency (medicine), residents, and attending physician, attendings at the fictional ...

'', season 5. Shortly after that, August died of lung cancer.

Death

Schellenberg died on August 15, 2013, in

after a long battle with

lung cancer Lung cancer, also known as lung carcinoma, is a malignant tumor that begins in the lung. Lung cancer is caused by genetic damage to the DNA of cells in the airways, often caused by cigarette smoking or inhaling damaging chemicals. Damaged ...

. He was interred at Sparkman-Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery.

Filmography

Film

* '' Rip-Off'' (1971) * ''A Fan's Notes'' (1972) * '' Between Friends'' (1973) * '' One Man'' (1977) - Ernie Carrick * '' Power Play'' (1978) - Minh * '' Drying Up the Streets'' (1978) - Nick * '' Bear Island'' (1979) - Marine Technician * '' The Coffin Affair'' (1980) - Wilbert Coffin * '' Death Hunt'' (1981) - Deak De Bleargue * '' Heavy Metal'' (1981) - Norl (segment "Den") / Taarak (segment "Taarna") (voice) * '' Kings and Desperate Men'' (1981) - Stanley Aldini * '' Latitude 55°'' (1982) - Josef Przysiezny * '' The Ruffian'' (1983) - Nelson Harting * '' Running Brave'' (1983) - Billy's Father * ''Cross Country'' (1983) - Glen Cosgrove * '' Covergirl'' (1984) - Joel Vacchio * ''Best Revenge'' (1984) - Captain of 'Recon Star' * '' The Painted Door'' (1984) * '' Confidential'' (1986) - Charles Ripley * ''Mark of Cain'' (1986) - Otto * ''Qui a tiré sur nos histoires d'amour'' (1986) - Fabien * ''Long Lance'' (1986) - (voice) * '' Divided Loyalties'' (1990) * '' Black Robe'' (1991) - Chomina * ''

'' (1993) - Randolph Johnson * ''

'' (1994) - Ned Dodd * '' Free Willy 2: The Adventure Home'' (1995) - Randolph Johnson * '' Free Willy 3: The Rescue'' (1997) - Randolph Johnson * ''Silence'' (1997) - Johnny * '' True Heart'' (1997) - Khonanesta * '' The Unsaid'' (2001) - Detective Hannah * '' Tremors 4: The Legend Begins'' (2004) - Tecopa * '' Going The Distance'' (2004) - Emile * '' The New World'' (2005) -

* '' Eight Below'' (2006) - Mindo * ''The Green Chain'' (2007) - The Executive - John Clements * '' Missionary Man'' (2007) - White Deer * ''45 R.P.M.'' (2008) - Peter George Moses * ''The Last Movie'' (2012) - Samuel Booker (final film role)

Television

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Schellenberg, August 1936 births 2013 deaths 20th-century Canadian male actors 21st-century Canadian male actors Anglophone Quebec people Best Supporting Actor Genie and Canadian Screen Award winners Burials at Sparkman-Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery Canadian expatriate male actors in the United States Canadian male film actors Canadian male Shakespearean actors Canadian male television actors Canadian male voice actors Canadian people of English descent Canadian people of Mohawk descent Canadian people of Swiss-German descent Deaths from lung cancer in Texas Male actors from Montreal National Theatre School of Canada alumni