Copyright © 1999 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

"Iron Eyes" Cody, died Monday, Januray 4th of natural causes in his home in Los Angeles, California. Cody's actual age is not known but based on his credits may have been around 1907. The role he is most know for is the 'Crying Indian' of the 'Keep America Beautiful' ads, were he was shown shedding a single tear while viewing littered landscape, although his acting credits go back to the silent movie era.

Roger Powers, president of the California advertising agency in 1997 who discoverd Cody, said "What we found ...it was a stroke of luck...was a man who lived it and believed in it." Powers said, Mr. Cody also made three other public serice announcements and spent 25 years visiting schools and making public appearances on behalf of the 'Keep American Beautiful' movement.

Cody claimed and was thought to have been of Cherokee and Cree heritage but his Indian heritage is being disputed. Some say he was an Italian-American and only played an Indian on screen.

Cody went with his father, Thomas Long Plume, who performed in circuses and Wild West shows. His first appearance on film was as an extra in the 1919 silent film titled, "Back to God's Country" and appeared in more than 80 more films as an American Indian.

Iron Eyes Cody's, wife died in 1978 and is survived by a son; three grandchildren; and a niece.

Cody's roles were often listed simply as Indian or Indian Chief and he also served as a technical adviser on films concerning American Indians. Some credits include; "Whistlin' Dan" 1932, "Custer's Last Stand" 1936, "Ride, Ranger, Ride" 1937, "Riders of the Whistling Skull" 1937, "Son of Paleface" 1952, "Code of the Redman" 1942, "Sitting Bull" 1954, "The Great Sioux Massacre" 1965, "Nevada Smith" 1966, "A Man Called Horse" 1970, "Grayeagle" 1977, "Ernest Goes to Camp" 1987, guest appearances in episodes of "Gunsmoke", "Rawhide" and "Bonanza". In a 1998 television ad concerning littering, Iron Eyes Cody's image appears on a poster, as commuters boarding a city bus are carelessly tossing waste to the street.