Actor, author, Native American Advocate.
In the early 1920s Long performed as a Native American in a Wild West Show. During his time with the Wild West Show, Long became immersed in the Native American culture and even learned to speak Cherokee fluently. This led him to write an autobiography titled "Long Lance." Long wrote that he was the son of a Blackfoot Chief, and was raised in Montana. He also wrote that he had been wounded eight times and promoted to captain, while serving with the Canadian Expeditionary Forces during World War 1. The book became a national best seller, and was used, at the time, as a reference by anthropologists. His fame as a war hero, journalist, and author led to his induction into the Explorer's Club, a contract with the B.F. Goodrich Company to endorse their sport shoes in magazine ads and requests to give lectures on Native American Culture. Screenland Magazine would proclaim Long as the first "real 100% "American Indian actor." In 1929, while Long was filming his first and only movie, "The Silent Enemy," doubts in Hollywood about his Native-American heritage began to circulate. The studio, where Long's movie was being filmed, became concerned about their new star. Therefore, they conducted an investigation into his background. It was revealed that Long was not a Native American, but the son of a part African-American school janitor in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Though Long had served with the Canadian Expeditionary Forces during World War 1, he was never wounded nor a captain. With his claims as a Native-American and a war hero refuted Long's reputation and career quickly collapsed. Suffering from alcoholism and depression, Long committed suicide at the home of silent film actress/socialite Anita Baldwin. Ms. Baldwin had hired Long to be her bodyguard. After his death, Long was the subject of two documentaries, "Reel Injun: On The Trail of the Hollywood Indian" and "Chief Buffalo Child Long Lance: The Glorious Impersonator."