1. Charlie Hill was one of the first Native American stand-up comedians to appear on major television shows such as The Richard Pryor Show, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Show with David Letterman, Roseanne, and Moesha.
14 Facts About Charlie Hill
1. 2.
Charlie Hill was a member of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, with heritage from the Mohawk and Cree Nations, and belonged to the Turtle Clan.
3.
Charlie Hill wrote for the television series Roseanne and co-produced and hosted a Showtime special called The American Indian Comedy Slam: Goin Native No Reservations Needed.
4.
Charlie Hill was the first Native stand-up comedian ever to perform on national television, making his network debut on The Richard Pryor Show in 1977.
5.
Charlie Hill then went on to become the first Native comedian to perform on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson among many other national late-night talk shows.
6.
Charlie Hill performed across North America for hundreds of Tribal communities and Nations throughout his career.
7.
Charlie Hill was involved in the Broom Street Theatre Group in Madison, WI.
8.
Charlie Hill appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and made multiple appearances on Late Night with David Letterman.
9.
Charlie Hill appeared on the Mike Douglas Show and The Merv Griffin Show several times.
10.
Charlie Hill appeared on many television shows, and hosted an evening of Native American comedians on a Showtime special.
11.
Charlie Hill was the subject of the PBS documentary On and Off The Res' with Charlie Hill, directed by Sandra Osawa.
12.
Charlie Hill was interviewed about American Indian Movement activist Dennis Banks in the documentary A Good Day to Die.
13.
Charlie Hill starred in the 1984 film Harold of Orange, written by Gerald Vizenor.
14.
Charlie Hill died on December 30,2013, in Oneida, Wisconsin, of Non-Hodgkins lymphoma.