There have always been Hollywood pioneers who have refused to keep in the background. Throughout most of the industry’s early days, minority actors were relegated to stereotypes or wiped from the scene—but some pushed beyond the walls, rewriting the rules on what it was to be a star. These performers didn’t only entertain; they pushed Hollywood to look beyond race and culture, creating a legacy that continues to inspire today. Here’s a 12-countdown of 12 trailblazers who revolutionized the industry.
12. Jay Silverheels (Six Nations Mohawk)
Long before Hollywood was discussing diversity, Jay Silverheels was a name on everyone’s lips as Tonto in The Lone Ranger. A one-time lacrosse star, he had appeared in close to 100 movies and television shows, emerging as one of the first Native actors to reach widespread popularity. Off-screen, Silverheels co-founded the Indian Actors Workshop to assist others in making it into the business.
11. Anna May Wong (Chinese American)
Anna May Wong was Hollywood’s initial Chinese American star, appearing in over 60 films, among them Shanghai Express. She publicly derided the industry’s racist stereotyping, questioning, for example, why Chinese characters were always the villains. Wong’s career was both pioneering and rebellious, and her influence still rings true with Asian American actors today.
10. Will Rogers (Cherokee)
Actor, rodeo rider, and comedian, Will Rogers was a top star of the early 20th century. Born in the Cherokee Nation, he acted in more than 70 films, effortlessly transitioning from silent films to talkies, all the while becoming America’s most popular entertainer. Rogers was more than an actor—he was a cultural phenomenon whose humor and integrity epitomized an age.
9. Dolores Del Rio (Mexican)
Dolores Del Rio impressed audiences as a Mexican lady who was one of the first to find fame as a Hollywood star. From silent films in the 1920s to sound films in the ’30s, she emerged as a glamorous leading lady with stardom at a time when Latin performers were typically overlooked. Her elegance and global fame paved the way for generations of Latinx performers.
8. Chief Dan George (Tsleil-Waututh Nation)
Chief Dan George provided a career-best performance at the age of 71 for Little Bighorn, for which he received an Academy Award nomination. His portrayal of Old Lodge Skins was full of humor, warmth, and sage advice—something very far from the stereotypical parts that Native characters were normally relegated to. His later body of work showed that there was no barrier of age or heritage when it came to good storytelling.
7. James Shigeta (Japanese American)
Charismatic and talented, James Shigeta was the suave leading man Hollywood didn’t even know it needed. He starred in The Crimson Kimono, Flower Drum Song, and Bridge to the Sun, and brought stature and nuance to roles that were not often given to Asian American actors. Despite studio bias, Shigeta carved out a career that showed audiences—and producers—leading men come in every complexion.
6. Graham Greene (Oneida)
Graham Greene was nominated for an Oscar for Dances with Wolves, but that was only the start. His filmography spans from Thunderheart to Reservation Dogs, with humor, humanity, and authority being brought to bear in each instance. The versatility of Greene has made him one of the most award-winning Native performers to be found in Hollywood’s film roles.
5. Rita Moreno (Puerto Rican)
Few careers have blazed as brightly as Rita Moreno’s. She became the first Latina to receive an Oscar for West Side Story and went on to achieve the EGOT status, which is an uncommon honor. Along the way, she criticized Hollywood colorism and stereotyping and spoke openly of the obstacles she faced. Moreno’s acting ability, strength, and reinvention have maintained her at the pinnacle for decades.
4. Ben Johnson (Cherokee)
Ben Johnson’s Hollywood journey began as a stuntman but evolved to become an Oscar-winning actor. Praise was given to him for his realism on screen, and he performed with giants John Wayne and Steve McQueen before being given an Academy Award for The Last Picture Show. Johnson proved that a Cherokee cowboy could emerge from behind the cameras to the fore.
3. Sabu Dastagir (Indian)
Discovered to be a child performer in India, Sabu was a box office phenomenon in films like Elephant Boy and The Thief of Bagdad. He brought Indian culture to the Western world in a way very few did, becoming the first-ever Indian-American actor to be awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His life may have been brief, but it left a permanent mark on the world of films.
2. Wes Studi (Cherokee)
No one is better at bringing Native narratives of strength and integrity to the screen than Wes Studi. From The Last of the Mohicans to Hostiles, he’s provided fans with unforgettable, intensely rich characters. Studi was honored with an honorary Oscar, the first ever given to a Native American actor.
1. Lily Gladstone (Piegan Blackfeet, Nez Perce)
Lily Gladstone is the face of Hollywood’s new era of Indigenous dominance. Her performance in Killers of the Flower Moon brought Native voices and languages into the spotlight of global cinema. Critics applauded her as the emotional pulse of the film, and she is already inspiring the next generation of Native actors to aim for the stars.
From the early film legends to the current crop of rising stars, these 12 actors not only left an impression in Hollywood—they left Hollywood reeling. They each brought their culture and community with them onto the big screen, sharing the world with the reality that talent and story know no borders. Due to them, the face of the cinema is more vibrant, brasher, and diverse than ever.