Geraldine Keams
Biography
Geraldine Keams is an American actress and a member of the Navajo Nation. She was born on August 19, 1951, in Flagstaff, Arizona. Throughout her professional career, she has been recognized for her work in various television series, where she frequently portrays motherly characters. In addition to her screen work, Keams has established herself as a successful stage actress and storyteller. Her professional contributions extend to children's theater, where she participates in plays centered on Indian legends. With a career spanning several decades, she remains an active figure in the performing arts, maintaining a diverse portfolio that includes television guest appearances, film roles, and live stage performances.
Career overview
Geraldine Keams made her professional acting debut in 1976, appearing as the character Little Moonlight in the Clint Eastwood western film The Outlaw Josey Wales. This role marked the beginning of a screen career that has included 22 known credits. Over the years, Keams has appeared in a variety of television projects, often being cast in maternal roles. Among her television work, she is noted for a guest appearance on the series Dharma and Greg, where she portrayed a sweat-lodge medicine woman. Her work is characterized by a consistent presence in television series, contributing to her reputation as a reliable character actor.
Beyond her film and television work, Keams has dedicated a portion of her career to the stage. She is recognized as a storyteller and performer in children's productions that focus on Indian legends. This work highlights her commitment to cultural storytelling and live performance. By balancing screen acting with her stage endeavors, Keams has maintained a multifaceted career that spans different mediums of entertainment. Her body of work reflects a long-standing commitment to the craft of acting, from her early film debut in the 1970s to her more recent contributions to theater and television.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Geraldine Keams.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- NCIS: Origins (2024) as Mrs. Téngalkat
- Echo (2024) as Caroline
- Dark Winds (2022) as Grandma Alice
- Reservation Dogs (2021) as Elora Danan's Grandma
- Rutherford Falls (2021) as Rayanne
- Cinema Red: Natives & Horror (2019) as Herself
- Faster (2010) as Preacher's Wife
- Pickin' and Grinnin' (2010) as Hopi Woman
- Big Love (2006) as Dolores
- Buffalo Dreams (2005) as Abuela Rose
- A Thousand Roads (2005)
- Edge of America (2003) as Mother Tsosie
- Skinwalkers (2002) as Gina
- The Slaughter Rule (2002) as Gretchen Two Dogs
- Angels Don't Sleep Here (2002) as Arlene Grey Eagle
- Hell Hath No Fury: The Making of The Outlaw Josey Wales (1999) as Self
- Pocahontas (1995) Thanks
- Shadowhunter (1993) as Doctor
- Northern Exposure (1990) as Great Aunt
- The Car (1977) as Donna
- The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) as Little Moonlight
- Ghostkiller as Aunt Rosie Still-Wind