Tokala Black Elk – born on June 6, 1984, is 40 years old. Black Elk is an American movie and television actor best known for the roles he played in productions such as 1883 (2021), Yellowstone (2018), and Grey’s Anatomy (2005). His acting career started in 2002 and so far, the actor has recorded appearances in 20 productions with a few projects yet to be released. Away from acting, Tokala is a teacher of Lakota Language at the Oglala Lakota College.
- Name: Tokala Black Elk
- Date of birth: June 6, 1984
- Tokala Black Elk’s Age: 40 years old
- Place of birth: Pine Ridge, South Dakota in the United States
- Nationality: American
- Marital status: Married
- Height: 6 feet 1 inch
- Occupation: actor
- Years active: 2002 to date
- Net worth: $150k
Tokala Black Elk’s early life and background information
Tokala Black Elk was born on the 6th of June 1984 in Pine Ridge, South Dakota in the United States. An American by nationality, Tokala’s ethnic background is listed as Native American. He can also be identified as Gerald Tokala Clifford or Tokala Clifford.
To date, the American actor has not said anything about the identities of his parents, and nothing is known about their personal and professional lives. It is equally not known whether he has siblings or grew up as an only child. Another grey area is the actor’s academic history, however, he is said to be well-educated.
He made his acting debut in 2002
Tokala Black Elk was 22 when he began his acting career in 2002 as Blac Lodge Boy in the movie, Sins. His second onscreen appearance was witnessed on the set of another movie, Dreamkeeper as Red Deer. He was featured as JR in the short video, Reservation Warparties in 2004 and the year 2005 marked his television debut when he showed up in one episode of Into the West mini TV series as Black Coyote.
In 2007, the American actor scored two movie roles, playing Nathaniel Stonefeather in Imprin and Little Wolf in Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. 2008 was when he appeared in Rez Bomb as Chilik and joined the cast of the short movie, Search for the World’s Best Indian Taco, he was featured as Deedra’s Brother.
In 2014, Tokala Black Elk graced the set of Swelter as Mezcal, he was the Rafe Taltree we saw in the 2015 movie, Not on My Mountain, and appeared as K’inich Yax K’uk’ Mo in MYTH (2016). He played Sam Littlefeather in 2017’s Wind River, and in 2018, the actor scored his best-known role in four episodes of the series, Yellowstone, depicting the character of Sam Stands Alone.
Two roles came Tokala Black Elk’s way in 2019 – he played Bear in The Bygone and Navajo Newscaster in Valley of the Gods. Tokala also appeared in two productions in 2020 – A Dark Foe as Young Cradle and in the video game, Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition as Uncle Warbonnet.
In 2021, the American actor appeared in an episode of the hit TV series, Grey’s Anatomy, essaying the role of Shawn, and in the movie, 13 Minutes as Steve. He was last seen as part of the cast of the series, in 1883, playing Lakota Warrior in one episode.
Tokala Black Elk’s movies and TV shows
TV series
- 1883 as Lakota Warrior 2022
- Grey’s Anatomy as Shawn – 2021
- Yellowstone as Sam Stands Alone – 2018
- Into the West as Black Coyote (as Tokala Clifford) – 2005
Movies
- 13 Minutes as – 2021 Steve
- Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition as Uncle Warbonnet (voice) – 2020
- A Dark Foe as Young Cradle – 2020
- Valley of the Gods as Navajo Newscaster – 2019
- The Bygone as Bear – 2019
- Wind River as Sam Littlefeather (as Tokala Clifford) – 2017
- MYTH as K’inich Yax K’uk’ Mo (as Tokala Clifford) – 2016
- Not on My Mountain as Rafe Taltree – 2015
- Swelter as Mezcal (as Tokala Clifford) – 2014
- Search for the World’s Best Indian Taco as Deedra’s Brother (as Tokala Clifford) – 2010
- Rez Bomb as Chilik (as Tokala Clifford) – 2008
- Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee as Little Wolf (as Tokala Clifford) – 2007
- Imprint as Nathaniel Stonefeather (as Gerald Tokala Clifford) – 2007
- Reservation Warparties as JR (as Gerald Tokala Clifford) – 2004
- DreamKeeper as Red Deer (as Tokala Clifford) – 2003
- Skins as Black Lodge Boy (as Gerald Tokala Clifford) 2002
He has a teaching job
Apart from his roles in movies and television series, Tokala Black Elk is engaged as an academic staff of the Oglala Lakota College. He teaches Lakota Language to the undergraduate students of the academic institution.
The actor has accumulated a net worth estimated at $150k which he accrued from his endeavors as a movie and TV actor and as an academic staff of the Oglala Lakota College.
Tokala Black Elk’s relationship status
The actor is the type to keep the details of his personal life under lock and key. However, a recent scrutiny of his Instagram handle reveals that he has been married for several years. On the 27th of February 2018, the actor shared a throwback image of himself and his wife when they graced the Wind River’ Red Carpet.
To date, he never revealed the details of their wedding but the couple appear to be living in marital bliss. Also, no mention has been made of any children.