Kim Winona (born Constance Elaine Mackey; October 10, 1930 – June 23, 1978), also credited as Connie Buck, was an American actress, mostly playing Native American roles in Western television programs.

Early life

Winona was born Constance Elaine Mackey in South Sioux City, Nebraska, the daughter of Elmer Marion Mackey and Elaine Grace Garvie Mackey Melior. She lived on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota, and in Spokane, Washington, as a girl. She was an enrolled member of the Santee Sioux people, and her mother was active in compiling records of Native American family trees.

Career

Winona worked as a secretary and model when she first lived in Los Angeles. On television she had a regular role as Morning Star in '' Brave Eagle'' (1955–1956), of which she explained that "The script writers have never made me say 'Ugh', 'Me catchum this', or 'Me wantum wampum.'" The show was praised for casting several Native American actors in regular roles, and for having a Chippewa technical advisor. While in this role, she was a guest marshal of the Hesperia Days parade in Hesperia, California. As Connie Buck, she also appeared in '' The Man Called X'' (1956), '' Bolt of Lightning'' (1957), '' Cheyenne'' (1958), '' The Rough Riders'' (1958), ''

26 Men ''26 Men'' is a syndicated American Western television series about the Arizona Rangers, a law-enforcement group limited to 26 active members. By March 1958, the program was carried on 158 stations in the United States. The program was also broad ...

'' (1957–1958), '' Northwest Passage'' (1959), ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central character ...

'' (1959), '' Black Saddle'' (1959), '' Bat Masterson'' (1960), and '' Rawhide'' (1959–1960). She had a role in the film '' Gun Fight'' (1961), and was hired to promote the film ''

Apache The Apache () are a group of culturally related Native American tribes in the Southwestern United States, which include the Chiricahua, Jicarilla, Lipan, Mescalero, Mimbreño, Ndendahe (Bedonkohe or Mogollon and Nednhi or Carrizaleño an ...

'' (1954), despite not appearing in it. She also painted and did sculpture.

Personal life

Winona married four times, and divorced three times. Her first husband was Harvey L. Buck; they married in 1949, in Spokane. Her third husband was John Gilbert Stewart; they married in 1972, in Los Angeles, and divorced in 1976. Her last husband was Charles Marcus "Chic" Sorenson; they married in 1977. She had two daughters, Migan (Mimi) Richmond and Michelle Stewart, a young adult and supernatural thriller writer under the pen name Michelle Morningstar. Kim Winona died in 1978, aged 47 years, in Los Angeles.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Winona, Kim 1930 births 1978 deaths People from South Sioux City, Nebraska Native American actresses