An actor and jazz musician with strong ties to Red Pheasant First Nation has passed away.
Don Francks died this past weekend at age 84.
His varied career in music and entertainment spanned several decades in Canada and the United States and ranged across the stage, screen, radio and TV.
Francks was known for various Hollywood roles that included a lead role on Jericho and roles on The Wild Wild West, The Man from U.N.C.L.E, Mannix and Mission: Impossible. In more recent years he had a regular role as Walter on La Femme Nikita.
He was also an active jazz musician who performed live and appeared on numerous CBC specials. His recordings included Jackie Gleason Says No One In This World is like Don Francks, Lost... and Alone and the motion picture soundtrack to Finian's Rainbow, a movie he also appeared in.
Born in British Columbia, Francks moved to Red Pheasant First Nation with his wife, Lili Francks, and lived there during the 1970s.
There, he was adopted as Cree and given the name "Iron Buffalo.”
He soon returned to performing as narrator of the CBC series This Land, and had an active career in voiceover work as well. He was also an environmental activist, particularly with Greenpeace, and motorcycle enthusiast.
Francks' death was confirmed on his website, which stated "Iron Buffalo finished his earthwalk on 3 April 2016, at the age of 84 years young. What a ride."
