Billy Merasty
Billy Merasty is an actor, playwright, Cree translator, and language keeper. He was born to Viola and Pierre Merasty in 1960 in Brochet, Manitoba. His grandfather was Joe Highway, a famous caribou hunter and champion dogsled racer. He moved to Toronto at age eighteen in search for his uncle René Highway, who was at the time working for the Toronto Dance Theatre. At age twenty-three Billy launched his acting career after graduating from the Native Theatre School for aspiring Indigenous artists. He then went on to work for the renowned Indigenous performing arts company Native Earth Performing Arts. Billy has worked as a film, television, and stage actor for decades and notably played the first Indigenous gay character on television on the CBC series, Liberty Street, in the role of Nathan. Billy received the Order of Manitoba (Order of the Buffalo Hunt) in recognition for his many years as an Indigenous role model in 2010.
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Movies (26)
Aberdeen
2024 · Alfred
Café Daughter
2023 · Amos Horseknife
Stellar
2022 · Auntie 1
The Incredible 25th Year of Mitzi Bearclaw
2019 · William Bearclaw
IT: Capítulo 2
2019 · Shokopiwah Man
Falls Around Her
2018 · Draven
Heritage Minutes: Queenston Heights
2013 · John Norton
Casino Jack
2010 · Bartender
Northern Lights
2009 · Jacob
Elijah
2008 · Elijah Harper
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
2007 · Young Man Afraid
The New World
2005 · Kiskiak
The Big White
2005 · Cam
Battle of the Brave
2004 · Owashak
Stardom
2000
The Virginian
2000 · Lee Talltrees
Honey Moccasin
1998 · Zachary John
The Confessional
1995 · Moose
Pocahontas: The Legend
1995 · Kocoum
Les Légendes du Grand Nord
1995 · Mawaki
Exotica
1994 · Man at Opera
X-Rated
1994 · Nathan Jones
The Broken Cord
1992 · Frank Cree
The Shaman's Source
1990 · Mathew Hare
Justice Denied
1989 · Donald Marshall, Jr.
Snake Treaty
1989
TV shows (17)
Acting Good
2022 · Roger Laughingstick
SkyMed
2022 · Glen
Diggstown
2019 · Chief Thomas
Cardinal
2017 · Billy Ralph Northwind
Moby Dick
2011 · Tashtego
Murdoch Mysteries
2008 · Gravekeeper Gary Cardinal
Mixed Blessings
2007 · Mark
Moose TV
2007
Indian Summer: The Oka Crisis
2006 · John Cree
Wonderfalls
2004 · Jerry
This Is Wonderland
2004 · Brian Perot (as William Merasty)
Relic Hunter
1999 · Inuit Hunter
War of 1812
1999 · John Norton
Liberty Street
1995 · Nathan Jones
No Price Too High
1995
Heritage Minutes
1991 · John Norton
American Experience
1988 · Warrior