Mo Brings Plenty is an Oglala Lakota Nation member who has emerged as one of the most prominent Native American actors in Hollywood. Acclaimed for his work in such series and films like Yellowstone and The Revenant, Brings Plenty’s talent and unrelenting drive allowed him to snag a unique place in an industry primarily built upon white faces while still excluding Native voices. Beyond acting, Mo Brings Plenty is an outspoken advocate for Native representation in film and media, and a protector of Native culture and tradition.
Early Life and Relation to Heritage
Mo Brings Plenty was born in 1969 on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota to a very heritage-filled family with deep Lakota traditions. His name, Moses J. Brings Plenty, is of great cultural importance, and he takes great pride in his large, storied family history within the Lakota community. Raised on the reservation, deeply steeped in the culture, language, and spiritual life of his people, naturally nurtured a sense of identity and perspective about the world around him.
These early years on the reservation gave him a wider view of both the struggles and triumphs of Native American life, especially the ones that modern Indigenous communities are currently battling with. In fact, he has lived a commitment throughout his life to preserving and sharing his cultural heritage-a commitment which comes through both in his acting and his work as an advocate.
Acting Career: From Humble Beginnings to Mainstream Success
Mo Brings Plenty’s acting career is quite out of the box. He had never planned to be an actor, but an urge to tell Indigenous stories brought him into the entertainment arena. He started doing tiny roles in low-budget films that required Native American artists. Soon, his talent and screen appearance drew the attention of casting directors and filmmakers.
Brings Plenty gained widespread recognition for his work on the historical drama The Revenant, directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. In this highly acclaimed film, Brings Plenty had a small but powerful role among Hollywood stars like Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy. His portrayal of an Arikara warrior was one of realism and truthfulness in the film because of how deeply connected he is to his Native roots. The Revenant went on to win many awards, and Brings Plenty was himself highly valued for the skill and dedication he brought to the role.
After The Revenant, Brings Plenty’s career really took off, and he then landed a recurring role in the very popular television show Yellowstone. On Yellowstone, Brings Plenty plays the character Mo, Chief Thomas Rainwater’s main right-hand man. Mo Brings Plenty’s character throughout the series is a calm, wise, and deeply culturally connected man who often bridges the gap between his people’s traditional ways and contemporary times. His performance in the show has resonated with audiences, particularly Native viewers, who have appreciated an all-too-rare nuanced and authentic exploration of Indigenous life through mainstream media.
Native Representation
While acting has brought Mo Brings Plenty fame and success, he is just as dedicated to advocacy work that aims to improve Indigenous representation in media. For years, Native American characters in movies and on television were often portrayed with damaging stereotypes or by non-Native actors. Brings Plenty is one of a new crop of Native actors and filmmakers trying to change that narrative by telling original stories full of depth and culture.
In interviews, Brings Plenty has passionately spoken to the importance of Indigenous peoples being represented accurately and respectfully on entertainment, saying Native Americans are not artifacts but a present, breathing community with cultures that are diverse and ever-evolving. What is attempted here is to show the complexity of the Indigenous way of life in further breaking into one-dimensional characters that have long dominated Native peoples’ portrayal in Hollywood.
Brings Plenty also serves as a consultant for most of his projects to ensure the Native culture, language, and traditions are represented correctly. He has used his platform to shed light on today’s issues: land rights struggles by Native peoples, environmental protection, and protection of the Native languages and ceremonies.
Commitment to Tradition and Community
Aside from acting, Mo Brings Plenty is very much involved in the protection and preservation of the traditions and culture of the Lakota. He regularly takes part in ceremonies, horse culture, and events that keep his people’s heritage alive. He is an accomplished horseman who often brings knowledge of horses and horsemanship into his acting to further add realism to the roles he plays.
He also has been a very strong advocate for continued Native languages, as he is one of the few who actually realizes languages are parts of our cultural identity. With this in mind, he participates in several organizations that teach languages and preserve cultural aspects for the younger generations of Lakota.
More so, Brings Plenty has utilized his platform for advocacy to support causes that uplift Native communities. He is an environmentalist, particularly on protecting lands and waters against exploitation. He truly knows that to Indigenous peoples, land is not just a resource but a holy entity that should be preserved for future generations.
Legacy and Future Endeavors
Mo Brings Plenty’s career and activism have positioned him as an expert in the movement for greater Native American representation in Hollywood. As Mo Brings Plenty continues to break barriers, he keeps his rooted upbringing and commitment to his stories very close, making sure each one stands to honor his ancestors and shed light on realities about Indigenous life in this world today.
More than acting, he continues to mentor younger Native actors and filmmakers to take pride in their heritage while fighting for change in the entertainment industry. To Mo Brings Plenty, the future is not just about success but about creating space where the Native voice is heard, respected, and celebrated.
And with a string of projects forthcoming both in front of and behind the camera, this is far from over for Mo Brings Plenty as an actor, advocate, and protector of culture. His work, when all is said and done, stands in strong reminder of how meaningful representation, the grace of tradition, and an indomitable spirit can and still do define Native peoples.