Volume 45 - No. 39
September 24, 2015
By Frederick Gomez
In May of 2000, Cowboys & Indians Magazine landed a prize fish to interview, in the person of acclaimed American actor and film director, Tommy Lee Jones. Nothing would prepare the popular magazine, or its vast readership, for the bombshell that the legendary actor was about to drop during the course of the interview. The element of surprise is always a plus for any interviewer, and on this particular day, interviewer, Eric O’Keefe, would catch the “unexpected” and, in the process, score a huge bonus for Cowboys & Indians Magazine that would become a world exclusive. But first, it is most interesting that the Oscar-winning actor, one of Hollywood’s highest paid, and one of the most indemand actors on the planet, would be nursing any kind of secret. After all, Tommy Lee Jones had sauntered down that well-travelled road paved by the world press and, therefore, had already been interviewed, inside and out, by the world’s most powerful media giants. So, what stone could possibly have been left unturned? What other delicious tidbits of information on Tommy Lee Jones could possibly have been over-looked by the so-called experts in the television, newspaper, and tabloid industry?
Surely, nothing was left uncovered. Hmm, or so they all thought. The celebrity son of Texas, who is more cowboy than actor, and who has been working cattle, and roundups, and overall ranching in real life, for over two decades on his own west Texas ranch, is a well-known fact. No surprise here. That he has real “Lonesome Dove” running in his veins, and is more Good Ol’ Boy, than slick-movie star, is common knowledge among his worldwide fans.
But crafty, ‘Lone Star Jones,’ whose cowpoke roots extend far back to his grandpappy, still had an ace or two up his sleeve. And he waited for just the right moment in his faceto-face, three-day-interview for The Paper - 760.747.7119
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Cowboys & Indians Magazine, when he suddenly stopped the interviewer dead in his tracks, like the perfect ambush down a long, dusty road. Yup, Tommy Lee Jones loaded his answer with black powder, calmly twirled the chamber of his revolver, then he fired this verbal volley which stunned the world: “I feel pretty lucky. Those who know my name. Not bad for a little Indian boy. Not bad.”
Unexpected. Unforeseen. The remark by the celebrated actor forced the interviewer to, ostensibly, recover and follow-
Left to right, top row, Tommy Lee Jones, Angellina Jolie, Johnny Cash Bottom row: Cher, Wayne Newton, Elvis Presley
up on the surprise attack by inquiring more of Tommy Lee Jones’ Native American ancestry on his grandmother’s side. He was quickly asked what tribe she belonged to? Tommy Lee Jones’ clarification was both short and direct: “It’s not a tribe. It’s a nation – the Cherokee Nation.”
That was over fifteen years ago. Upon reflection, it should be no surprise that the first Americans have imprinted their bloodlines on a continent now largely populated by a
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variety of non-Native American inhabitants. Naturally, from the first pilgrims, to the earliest pioneers and settlers, Native Americans co-mingled with those all around them down through the centuries.
In the case of famed actor, Tommy Lee Jones, his claim was a valid one. However, similar scenarios among the rich and famous did not always play out the way it was intended. In other words, many famous individuals staked their claim to having Native American roots only to find out