Lillian Margaret St. Cyr (1884 - 1974)

Born 13 Feb 1884 in Winnebago, Thurston, Nebraska, United States

Ancestors

Wife of James Young (Johnson) Deer — married 9 Apr 1906 in Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Died 13 Mar 1974 at age 90 in New York City, New York, United States

Lillian was Ho-Chunk.

Biography

Screen Persona

“Her carreer shaped the genre of silent westerns. Her film persona was so popular by 1912 that competing motion picture companies introduced their own “Red Wing” characters. However much she portrayed a stereotypical Indian princess, on-sceen Red Wing played women imbued with not only loyalty and love but also incredible strength and courage. A fitting persona for President Teddy Roosevelt’s era, Red Wing was a bareback-riding, gun-toting, sprightly western gal who, yes, sometimes died tragically — like a proper Indian princess — at the end of her films. However, before the curtain closed Red Wing usually broke several taboos and always saved the day. Clearly, Red Wing’s evolution as a stock film character owes its mass appeal to her namesake’s effervescent and the heroic spirit.” (Waggoner, Introduction)

Death and Burial

Although she died in New York City, her body was shipped home to be buried in Saint Augustine Mission Cemetery, Winnebago, Thurston County, Nebraska, USA. (Find a Grave)

Sources

• Linda M. Waggoner, Starring Red Wing!: The Incredible Career of Lilian M. St. Cyr, the First Native American Film Star (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 2019).
• Find a Grave: Memorial ID: 12096622.