Moses J. Brings Plenty (born 4 September 1969) is an Oglala Lakota television, film, and stage actor, as well as a traditional drummer and singer. He is best known for his portrayal as "Mo" in the Paramount Network series Yellowstone.[1]

Background

Moses Brings Plenty was born on the Pine Ridge Reservation, in South Dakota.[1] He is a direct descendant of Brings Plenty, an Oglala Lakota warrior who fought in the Battle of Little Big Horn.[2] His wife is Sara Ann Haney-Brings Plenty. His nephew Cole Brings Plenty portrays Pete Plenty Clouds in two episodes of 1923.[3][4]

Acting career

As an actor, he has played bit parts in Hidalgo, Thunderheart, and Pirates of the Caribbean.[5] He also played Quanah Parker in the History Channel documentary Comanche Warrior, which was filmed on the Wild Horse Sanctuary in the southern Black Hills, and Crazy Horse on The History Channel's Investigating History documentary "Who Killed Crazy Horse" and the BBC documentary series The Wild West. He acted in Rez Bomb, considered to be the first movie with a universal storyline set on a reservation. Rez Bomb has been part of the international film festival circuit instead of playing strictly to Native American film festivals, which is a major breakthrough for Native cinema.[6]

In addition to doing theater work in Nebraska, he also portrayed an Apache warrior in the 2011 science fiction western film Cowboys & Aliens[5] and a character named Shep Wauneka in Jurassic World Dominion in 2022.[7]

Brings Plenty is concerned about providing accurate representations of Native peoples in mass media. He says, "Young people told me they don’t see our people on TV. Then it hit me, they are right. Where are our indigenous people, people who are proud of who they are?"[1] Brings Plenty also works behind the scenes on Yellowstone and its spin-off prequels 1883 and 1923 as Taylor Sheridan's American Indian Affairs Coordinator to make sure that each show appropriately represents Native culture.[8][9]

Music, dance, and modeling career

Brings Plenty has modeled for Ed Hardy and John Yaeger.[5]

Moses Brings Plenty played drums for the band Brulé, who combines traditional Native American drums and flute with contemporary musical instruments.[10]

He performs with and drums for the Many Moccasins Dance Troupe,[11] based in Winnebago, Nebraska that combines modern Native American dance with powwow dances.[5]

He has performed for charity events such as Project Lighthouse, who provides warm clothing and bedding to northern Indian reservations.[12]

Moses has appeared in several episodes of 2018's Yellowstone series, as well as 2023's Lawmen: Bass Reeves, on Paramount Network.

Television

Moses Brings Plenty was one of the experts who tested and displayed the weapons and tactics used by Oglala Lakota war leader Crazy Horse in an episode of the third season of Spike TV's Deadliest Warrior. He appeared in the sixth episode of the fourth season of AMC's Hell on Wheels. He also appeared in all seven episodes of the 2020 historical drama miniseries, The Good Lord Bird.[13]

Brings Plenty plays Mo in the Paramount series Yellowstone. His role has grown through each season, finally becoming a series regular in season five. He is also the show's Native affairs coordinator, working with tribes to ensure that the Native languages and cultures are represented correctly.[14]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Melmer, David. "Moses Brings Plenty." Archived 2011-04-28 at the Wayback Machine Native Legacy Magazine. Summer 2008 (retrieved 7 November 2010)
  2. ↑ Elliott, Michael A. (2008). Custerology: The Enduring Legacy of the Indian Wars and George Armstrong Custer. University of Chicago Press. p. 57.
  3. ↑ "'Yellowstone': That's Mo Brings Plenty's Nephew, Cole, As Pete Plenty Clouds in '1923' Episode 7". Outsider. February 19, 2023.
  4. ↑ Jenkins, Carolyn (February 26, 2023). "1923's Pete Plenty Clouds Is Played By A Big Yellowstone Star's Nephew". Looper.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Hatcher, Jenn. "Moses with Moccasins." KNOP TV: News 2. (retrieved 7 November 2010)
  6. ↑ "‘Rez Bomb’ DVD release February 8." Indian Country Today. 22 January 2010 (retrieved 7 November 2010)
  7. ↑ Boisvert, Lauren (April 16, 2022). "'Yellowstone': Eagle-Eyed Fans Spot Mo Brings Plenty in 'Jurassic World: Dominion' Trailer". Outsider.
  8. ↑ Bedard, Mike (January 30, 2023). "1923's Storyline Had Mo Brings Plenty Weeping Behind The Scenes". Looper.
  9. ↑ Venable, Nick (February 28, 2023). "Yellowstone Star Mo Brings Plenty Talks Importance Of Serving As American Indian Affairs Coordinator For Taylor Sheridan's Westerns". CinemaBlend.
  10. ↑ Groman, Gary. "Brule' a unique special Branson entertainment experience." Archived 2010-03-24 at the Wayback Machine Branson Courier. 14 July 2009 (retrieved 7 November 2010)
  11. ↑ Guzman, Chabella. "Dance troupe brings old and new to performance." Star-Herald. 26 October 2010 (7 November 2010)
  12. ↑ Floriano, Rachel. "Project Lighthouse brings warmth to those on the reservation." Examiner. 26 March 2010 (retrieved 7 November 2010)
  13. ↑ "'The Good Lord Bird': IMDb". IMDb.
  14. ↑ Jackie, Strause (June 22, 2023). "'Yellowstones Mo Brings Plenty on Accurate Representation: "If I Can't Get Support of That Tribe, I'm Failing at My Job"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 29 November 2023.
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