Eastern Shoshone tribe member making his career in Hollywood

Actors Cody Jones and Tim Allen 

By Alejandra Silva
Staff Writer

He never dreamed of being an actor but at 7 p.m. Friday, Cody Jones, an enrolled Eastern Shoshone tribe member from the Wind River Indian Reservation, will be guest starring on the comedy show “Last Man Standing” on ABC. 
“I never dreamed I’d be on the ABC network,” Jones said. 
He pulled out a photo of him with Tim Allen and said he has asked himself many times, “Is this really happening?” 
In the episode “Buffalo Bill Day,” Allen plays Mike Baxter, an employee at a sporting goods store called Outdoor Man. To promote a big sale, an entertainment skit based on a Wild West Show plays outside the store. Jones plays an American Indian hired by the store to help attract customers.
“Walking out to a live audience, taking a bow and having people get to see you — the cast was so welcoming to me,” Jones said. “For my career so far, it’s been the greatest experience I’ve had.”
Jones said many people, including actor Hector Elizondo who plays Ed Alzate, Tim Allen’s boss, commended him on his manners, and the way he handled himself on stage. 
“I’d like to say that goes back to family and the influences, good or bad, I’ve (had) over the years,” Jones said.
“To be accepted by those guys who are very established in their business, in their career, in that industry, there’s not a compliment any greater,” Jones said. 

From stuntman to actor
Jones grew up on a ranch in Wyoming and later lived in Montana and Texas, where he graduated from high school. He became an avid horseback rider and said he imagined running a ranch for his adult life. But his future aspirations changed with the encouragement of a relative who was a stuntman. 
His riding knowledge provided him the opportunity to perform stunt work in 2003 on the History Channel’s documentary “Carson and Cody: The Hunter Heroes.” He said he enjoyed it so much he went on to tour with the Wild West Show, which consisted of risky performances on horses with others posing as different characters who acted out plots and re-enacted historical events. 
A few years later he performed dangerous stunts in Steven Spielberg’s mini series “Into the West.” There he worked alongside other notable actors like Tom Berenger, Gary Busey and Keri Russell. 
The 6-foot, 3-inch tall actor with long, straight hair said the stunts he has performed have included jumping from high spots and fighting one on one with other stuntmen. 

Jones on the set of Cowboys and Aliens

Another role model and close friend is American Indian actor Steeve Reevis, who encouraged Jones to pursue more stunt work and acting and move to Hollywood. He said his friends and family were surprised when he told them about the upcoming move. Reevis’s wife insisted Jones also pursue modeling. Once in California, Jones was offered a spot on a calendar featuring American Indian men. He appeared in the calendar again this year. 
“The point of that calendar is to get Native guys exposure from anywhere in Indian Country,” he said. 
He considered doing stunt work again, but friends suggested he start acting, and Reevis told him that the life of a stuntman is shorter than that of an actor because as a stunt person grows older, younger people are hired to do stunt work. 
Jones soon began to take acting classes and audition for roles. He did more stunt work and acting debuts in movies and TV series in 2009 and 2010, including “Dawn of Conviction,” “Hired Gun,” “True Grit” and “Deadliest Warriors.” In 2011, he performed stunts for the movie “Cowboys and Aliens” and played the role of a high school student in the film “Wuss,” which is coming out on video on demand in April and received the Critics’ Choice Television Award. 
Jones thanked the actors who have helped him advance his career. 
“I’m thankful to people who have helped me out along the way, going back to my family,” he said. “Everyone’s had an influence one way or another.”

Acting roles
In a time when Western films were popular, so was the demand for American Indian roles, but very few actual American Indian people played the parts. 
“They don’t make as many Westerns (anymore),” he said. He added that a portrayal of the modern American Indian is often not present in films. 
“Why don’t we see that portrayed since it’s really happening?” he said. “Unfortunately, a lot of people still today don’t think of Indians, unless they’re thinking of 1800s Indians.” 
With the help of his agent and acting coach, Jones said he hopes to land different roles in films and TV shows. “Everything I do right now is Native roles and Native related,” he said.
He listed a number of American Indian actors from the ‘80s and ‘90s who have paved the way for initial exposure.
He said he is glad he is playing a American Indian role on the show “Last Man Standing.” 
“I’m representing Indian Country, and there are younger people watching, then there’s the older generation,” he said. “One of my goals is to be able to help pave the way to see more Natives in contemporary roles.” 
Jones said his friend Reevis has helped him stay humble while living in a city full of celebrities. 
“He’s definitely been a big influence for me — we identify with the same things in life,” Jones said. “It shows me that you can be grounded and be a good individual, and you’re still going to be blessed.” 
He accredited a lot of his success in many acting roles and stunt work to his determination. 
“Don’t give up on it and believe — that’s the big word, believe in yourself,” he said. “With a lot of good medicine, if you’re putting out good vibes and good energy, work hard to make it happen, anything’s possible.”
He encourages young people on the reservation to never be afraid of trying to new things. 
“At some point, you get to take a chance, test the waters, and I didn’t want to be 70 years old wondering what if I had gone out there,” Jones said.

Jones played a tough high student in the 2011 film Wuss

Jones said he tries to travel back home to Wyoming several times year, and he said he never misses a trip to the family’s ranch and visits friends and family. He said he continues to ride horses to improve his skills at the Indian Stunt Ranch owned by another close friend, Rod Rondaux. Constant support from his friends and family, including his mother Margie Small, he said, has helped make the journey better. Jones expressed looking forward to the opportunities headed his way. 
“Fortunately for me things are happening and I’m auditioning in front of some pretty big casting directors over and over again so they’re getting to see me, getting to know me,” Jones said. 
His uncle Harold O’Brien, a Riverton resident, applauded Jones for not letting fear keep him from taking advantage of many opportunities. 
“I would never think he would be doing something like this,” he said. “It shows that no matter where you come from or who you are, you can accomplish things.”
Jones said he is often invited to pow wows and enjoys taking part in other events celebrating Native culture.
In the future, Jones said he plans to work with colleagues and the Wyoming Film Office to shoot a series of short films in Wyoming. He said he feels the state’s beauty and history needs more exposure.

--Photos provided by Cody Jones