From Longmire to Dark Winds, actor Zahn McClarnon has made a name for himself through a number of dynamic film and television roles.
Zahn McClarnon (Lakota) has proved throughout his career that talent, like cream, tends to rise to the top. From his early TV days playing stereotypical Indigenous roles to leading man on AMC’s Dark Winds, McClarnon’s determination has placed him among the most recognizable actors in Hollywood today.
Along with compelling performances in films like Bone Tomahawk, McClarnon has done some of his best work on television, including the jaded Indigenous police chief Mathias in Longmire and dynamic Joe Leaphorn in Dark Winds.
Let’s take a look at some of Zahn McClarnon’s best roles.
In one of his earliest TV roles, Zahn McClarnon starred alongside Hollywood vets Jane Seymour and Joe Lando in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. Photo: CBS.
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993–1997)
After getting his foot into the door in Hollywood in the early 90s through guest spots on shows like Baywatch and Murphy Brown, McClarnon jumpstarted his television acting career with a recurring appearance on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman as Walks on Cloud, the son of Cloud Dancing, played by Larry Sellers. Although the show suffered from some Native American stereotypes and McClarnon’s role wasn’t especially dynamic, he was able to star alongside veteran actors like Jane Seymour, who played the titular Dr. Quinn.
Zahn McClarnon returns to his Hollywood roots as Toshaway, a Comanche tribal chief, in The Son. Photo: Van Redin/AMC.
The Son (2017–2019)
Fast-forward 20 years and McClarnon was cast in a television adaption of Philipp Meyer's novel The Son. McClarnon plays Toshaway, a Comanche tribal chief who takes in the young main character, Eli, as a son after capturing him. Although he plays an Indigenous character, the part is anything but stereotypical. Toshaway is a principled man who cares about his people and looks beyond skin color. The role allowed McClarnon to search the emotional depths of his character and portray a truly dynamic traditional Native American character on screen.
Hell on the Border is a retelling of real life Western personas like Sam Sixkiller (played by McClarnon) and Bass Reeves. Photo: Sweet Unknown Studios.
Hell on the Border (2019)
In a retelling of the classic Bass Reeves story, Hell on the Border follows former slave Bass Reeves as he becomes the first black deputy U.S. Marshal west of the Mississippi River in the late 1800s. Starring David Gyasi as Reeves as well as supporting performances by Ron Perlman and Frank Grillo, the film stars McClarnon as Sam Sixkiller, a real life Native American leader during the years following the American Civil War.
Zahn McClarnon gave a dynamic performance as Ghost Nation elder Akecheta in Westworld. Photo: HBO.
Westworld (2018 and 2022)
In what many critics have viewed as McClarnon’s career-best dramatic work, he was able to connect his Lakota heritage to the rich portrait of his mysterious character, Akecheta, in Westworld. Although he appears in only eight episodes, McClarnon's acting chops are on full display in a Season 2 showcase, “Kiksuya."
Zahn McClarnon became a solidified star as Chief Mathias of the Cheyenne Reservation's tribal police in Longmire. Photo: John Golden Britt/Netflix.
Longmire (2012–2017)
McClarnon earned his biggest TV role to date as Cheyenne police chief Mathias in the popular contemporary western crime drama Longmire, which premiered on the A&E network and was then picked up by Netflix. The show ran for five seasons, and McClarnon stood out in important scenes that displayed his emotional depth as an actor, including many with titular character Walt Longmire, the laconic and likable Wyoming sheriff played by C&I cover star Robert Taylor. Longmire has taken on cult status among its ravenous fans, giving McClarnon enduring appeal among television audiences.
Zahn McClarnon stars alongside Hollywood veteran Kurt Russell in Bone Tomahawk. Photo: RLJ Entertainment.
Bone Tomahawk (2015)
McClarnon stars in gritty western horror film Bone Tomahawk alongside C&I cover star Kurt Russell. Portraying a college professor of Native American studies in a small Western town, McClarnon aids Sheriff Hunt (played by Russell) in uncovering secrets about the film's "cave dweller" villains.
Dark Winds stars Zahn McClarnon (Lakota) and Jessica Matten (Red River Métis and Cree) as Navajo Nation police officers in the 1970s. Photo: AMC.
Dark Winds (2022–present)
McClarnon seems to do some of his best acting work as a tough Indigenous lawman, and Dark Winds is no exception. Set in the 1970s, Dark Winds is based on Tony Hillerman’s Leaphorn & Chee novel series and has given McClarnon his big break on the small screen playing the lead role of Navajo tribal police lieutenant Joe Leaphorn. With two solid seasons now airing and Season 3 coming in March 2025, we’re looking forward to much more from McClarnon in this compelling series and whatever comes next for this breakout star.
Zahn McClarnon graced the cover of the August/September 2022 issue of C&I magazine.
From humble beginnings as a supporting actor to mainstream Hollywood leading man, McClarnon is proof that true talent rises the top. Given his string of complex roles in the last decade — The Son, Longmire, and now Dark Winds — we are eager to see what McClarnon puts out next. For now, however, watch him in the first two seasons of Dark Winds on AMC+ or Netflix. And tune in to the Season 3 premiere on March 9, 2025.
Click here to read our feature story about Zahn McClarnon.
