Acting · Brochet, Manitoba, Canada · Born January 1, 1960
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.
MovieAberdeen
2024
as Alfred
MovieCafé Daughter
2023
as Amos Horseknife
TVActing Good
2022
as Roger Laughingstick
MovieStellar
2022
as Auntie 1
TVSkyMed
2022
as Glen
MovieThe Incredible 25th Year of Mitzi Bearclaw
2019
as William Bearclaw
MovieIt Chapter Two
2019
as Shokopiwah Man
TVDiggstown
2019
as Chief Thomas
MovieFalls Around Her
2018
as Draven
TVCardinal
2017
as Billy Ralph Northwind
MovieHeritage Minutes: Queenston Heights
2013
as John Norton
TVMoby Dick
2011
as Tashtego
MovieCasino Jack
2010
as Bartender
MovieNorthern Lights
2009
as Jacob
MovieElijah
2008
as Elijah Harper
TVMurdoch Mysteries
2008
as Gravekeeper Gary Cardinal
Mixed Blessings
2007
as Mark
TVMoose TV
2007
MovieBury My Heart at Wounded Knee
2007
as Young Man Afraid
TVIndian Summer: The Oka Crisis
2006
as John Cree
MovieThe New World
2005
as Kiskiak
MovieThe Big White
2005
as Cam
MovieBattle of the Brave
2004
as Owashak
TVWonderfalls
2004
as Jerry
TVThis Is Wonderland
2004
as Brian Perot (as William Merasty)
MovieStardom
2000
MovieThe Virginian
2000
as Lee Talltrees
TVRelic Hunter
1999
as Inuit Hunter
MovieHoney Moccasin
1998
as Zachary John
MovieThe Confessional
1995
as Moose
MoviePocahontas: The Legend
1995
as Kocoum
MovieLes Légendes du Grand Nord
1995
as Mawaki
TVLiberty Street
1995
as Nathan Jones
TVNo Price Too High
1995
MovieExotica
1994
as Man at Opera
MovieX-Rated
1994
as Nathan Jones
MovieThe Broken Cord
1992
as Frank Cree
The Shaman's Source
1990
as Mathew Hare
MovieJustice Denied
1989
as Donald Marshall, Jr.
Snake Treaty
1989
TVAmerican Experience
1988
as Warrior
