Zahn McClarnon is No. 1 on the ‘Dark Winds’ call sheet, where he deserves to be

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I really started to notice Zahn McClarnon when I realized he was playing similar, but distinct, roles as police officers in both “Dark Winds” and “Reservation Dogs.” I’d seen him in other things before, but it wasn’t until then that I truly recognized him as a performer, rather than just the characters he played. He was portraying variations of a familiar type – a stoic, Indigenous version of Gary Cooper in the more serious “Dark Winds,” and a more comedic, Don Knotts-like figure in “Reservation Dogs.” It wasn’t just good acting; it felt like something truly special.

At 59, actor Zahn McClarnon has steadily moved from smaller roles to becoming a central figure in shows like “Westworld,” “Longmire,” and “The Red Road.” Now, with “Dark Winds,” which began in 2022 and overlapped with his work on “Reservation Dogs,” he’s finally a lead actor. (The fourth season finale airs Sunday.) While he doesn’t see himself as a traditional leading man, he possesses all the necessary qualities – good looks, grace, and approachability – and as police Lieutenant Joe Leaphorn in “Dark Winds,” he embodies the quiet strength of a classic Western lawman. (“It’s all in the cowboy boots,” he jokes.) Reserved and private, yet open with his thoughts, McClarnon brings a gentle kindness and dignity to every character he plays, even complex and troubled ones like Hanzee Dent from season two of “Fargo.”

Robert McClarnon mentioned, with a hint of pride during a recent Zoom conversation, that his character, Seventeen, had killed seventeen people in the show. Despite this, he still described the character as a hero. He was speaking from Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he was finishing preparations for the fifth season of “Dark Winds,” which was scheduled to begin filming the following day. He added that the past couple of weeks had been very busy.

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Here are some of Zahn McClarnon’s notable roles: as Joe Leaphorn in Season 4 of “Dark Winds” (photo by Michael Moriatis/AMC); as Big alongside Richard Ray Whitman as Old Man Fixico in “Reservation Dogs” (photo by Shane Brown/FX); and as Hanzee Dent in Season 2 of “Fargo” (photo by Chris Large/FX).

Michael McClarnon had a childhood marked by frequent moves, shaped by his diverse heritage. His mother was Lakota from the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota, and his father was from Denver, Colorado, working for the National Park Service. He spent much of his youth in Browning, Montana, close to the Blackfeet Reservation where his grandparents lived. Growing up in this border town in the 1970s – and even today – meant facing racism and a constant struggle to define his identity. Because he was of mixed ethnicity, he didn’t fully feel accepted by any one group, often being asked about his background and assumed to be something he wasn’t. This internal conflict – the question of where he truly belonged – was a defining part of his upbringing.

The family settled in Omaha, Nebraska, and McClarnon finished high school there. He felt drawn to the arts, though he wasn’t sure how to pursue them. He was particularly inspired by Carl Anderson, who played Judas in the film ‘Jesus Christ Superstar.’ “Seeing Anderson sing and express himself so powerfully on film—it felt like seeing into his soul—made me want to do the same,” McClarnon explained. “I just didn’t know how. I tried learning the trumpet and guitar when I was younger, but I lost interest quickly. I lacked discipline and was always looking for a way to express myself creatively.”

Voices

Commentary: Funny, sad, smart and human: ‘Reservation Dogs’ was an ode to individualism and communal life

With the final episode of “Reservation Dogs” airing on Wednesday, television critics Robert Lloyd and Lorraine Ali from the L.A. Times are reflecting on the show’s impact and what made it so special.

He joined the high school drama club mostly to spend time with his friends, thinking it would be an easy class. But it wasn’t a great experience – he was very shy and struggled with public speaking, something he still deals with today. His drama teacher, Mrs. Peggy Stommes, encouraged him to try out for plays and participate in exercises, but he often resisted because he was so self-conscious and preoccupied with his own thoughts.

After graduating high school, McClarnon relocated to Phoenix, where he lived with an aunt and briefly attended a trade school focused on refrigeration and electrical work – the kind often advertised on television. He quickly realized he didn’t want to be an electrician, so he started taking trips to Los Angeles with friends and eventually decided to stay. He remembers first visiting in 1985 or 1986, drawn to the city’s vibrant music scene centered around places like Sunset Boulevard, Gazzari’s, the Rainbow, and the Roxy. He spent a couple of years enjoying life and exploring his youth in the city.

After returning to Omaha in his early twenties, he felt lost and unsure of what to do next. On a spontaneous decision, he auditioned for a community theater production of “Jesus Christ Superstar” in Council Bluffs, Iowa – a musical he loved. He explained, laughing, that he wasn’t a singer, but he was cast as one of the apostles, essentially a background performer. He simply loved the album and the show and wanted to give it a try.

He described it as a life-changing experience. He felt a strong sense of belonging and having a daily purpose, especially with the commitment of rehearsals. But it was performing live that truly captivated him – he felt a real spark and enjoyed the energy of the experience. The enthusiastic applause and appreciation from the audience were incredibly rewarding and motivating for him.

I remember when I first met with John Jackson, a talent agent here in Omaha. He’s actually an actor himself, having spent time in Los Angeles. I was so excited to tell him I wanted to pursue acting, but it quickly became clear I wasn’t prepared. He immediately asked for a headshot, and I didn’t have one. Then he asked for a resume, and I hadn’t had any professional acting experience yet! It was a bit of a rough start, to say the least.

Things started to improve when McClarnon landed some local commercial work. He finally felt like he had a purpose and was doing something he loved. With the release of “Dances With Wolves,” he wondered if Hollywood might finally offer opportunities for Native American actors, so he decided to return to Los Angeles to see if he could make it happen.

Awards

While taking a break from filming the fourth season, the actor discussed how acting on the popular AMC drama, which focuses on the Navajo Tribal Police, sometimes makes it hard to separate what’s real from what’s part of the show.

Jackson put him in touch with an agent, and once again, McClarnon showed up without a resume or photo. He said they almost turned him away, but let him audition. They initially wanted to cast him in younger roles – characters under 18. He landed a few interviews, likely because of his distinctive appearance. There weren’t many Native American actors in Hollywood at the time, so he started getting call-backs quickly. The agency then introduced him to opportunities for adult roles, and a casting director named P.J. Jordan was very impressed with his audition.

McClarnon paused for a few moments. “I apologize,” he said. “It still gets emotional for me when I talk about the people who helped me get my start.”

I’ve always been impressed by Zahn McClarnon’s dedication. Early in his career, he connected with the American Indian Registry for the Performing Arts – a fantastic resource where casting directors actively sought out Native actors. He spent the 90s and early 2000s steadily building a career, landing memorable guest roles on shows everyone watched like “Baywatch,” “Walker, Texas Ranger,” and even “Castle.” But what really strikes me is that he didn’t just take those roles; he was seriously honing his craft. He told me he used the time between jobs to study acting with different teachers, and he genuinely fell in love with the process – with becoming someone else, learning lines, and completely immersing himself in characters, even non-Native ones. It was about the discipline and the joy of transforming himself, of stepping outside of being just ‘Zahn’ and becoming someone new.

Between 2012 and 2017, Zahn McClarnon played a recurring role as Lt. Mathias, a police officer on the western drama “Longmire.” He later returned to playing a law enforcement officer in both “Reservation Dogs” and “Dark Winds.” Originally, Sterlin Harjo, the co-creator and showrunner of “Reservation Dogs,” had considered him for the role of Uncle Brownie (which ultimately went to Gary Farmer). However, the roles were switched, and McClarnon ended up playing Big, a somewhat clumsy but well-meaning police officer who is fascinated by conspiracies and Bigfoot.

I was worried about making the dual roles of Big and Joe Leaphorn believable for the audience, but I think it worked out well. The biggest challenge was balancing the comedic and dramatic elements. Having the freedom to improvise and be expressive, like I did on ‘Reservation Dogs,’ was really helpful. My portrayal of Big was inspired by people I knew growing up, while Joe was more closely based on the character from Tony Hillerman’s books, which gave me a solid starting point. Ultimately, I think all three characters – Mathias, Big, and Joe – share similar core values, particularly when it comes to their culture. People teased me about being in a police uniform again, but each character is very different from the others.

I mentioned to McClarnon that what I love most about “Dark Winds” is how it shows the characters’ everyday lives, beyond just the suspenseful plot.

Honestly, it means a lot to me that people are connecting with that aspect of the show. I think the really powerful thing is seeing Native characters just… being people. For me, the core of it all is the relationship between Joe and Emma – that feels real. And it’s happening at a fantastic time for Native representation. We’re finally getting to tell our stories, challenge those old stereotypes, and just show a normal, funny, and vibrant culture. It’s huge for young Native kids to see themselves reflected on screen in a way that isn’t stereotypical, and hopefully inspires them to go after what they want. It could even encourage more involvement in important areas like politics and environmental issues. I don’t think about it as some huge responsibility, but it is deeply meaningful to me.

Television

George R. Joe, a cultural advisor for the AMC crime drama ‘Dark Winds,’ shares the difficult history and ongoing issues that influenced his work on the show.

How is it, I asked, becoming a leading man in your mid-50s?

He admitted he’d never thought of himself as a leading man or a star. He expressed gratitude for his current position, especially given the challenges facing the entertainment industry today, and emphasized how seriously he takes his work and his commitment to doing his best.

I believe I would have approached any career the same way, thanks to the values my father taught me. It’s hard to talk about him, but… he started as a garbage truck driver with the National Park Service and worked his way up to a significant role in the government over four decades. That really inspired me. Deep down, I wanted to make him proud by pursuing a career in the arts. He was a creative person at heart.

He expressed relief that this experience happened later in life, saying he wasn’t sure he would have coped as well earlier on. He feels he’s grown as a person and is currently in a good place, both personally and emotionally, with a strong sense of self-worth.

Looking ahead, I’m an actor eager to try new things. I’m not getting any younger, and I feel like time is running out.

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2026-04-02 13:32