
Billy Merasty
Biography
Billy Merasty is an actor, playwright, Cree translator, and language keeper. He was born to Viola and Pierre Merasty in 1960 in Brochet, Manitoba. His grandfather was Joe Highway, a famous caribou hunter and champion dogsled racer. He moved to Toronto at age eighteen in search for his uncle René Highway, who was at the time working for the Toronto Dance Theatre. At age twenty-three Billy launched his acting career after graduating from the Native Theatre School for aspiring Indigenous artists. He then went on to work for the renowned Indigenous performing arts company Native Earth Performing Arts. Billy has worked as a film, television, and stage actor for decades and notably played the first Indigenous gay character on television on the CBC series, Liberty Street, in the role of Nathan. Billy received the Order of Manitoba (Order of the Buffalo Hunt) in recognition for his many years as an Indigenous role model in 2010.
TV Shows(15)

Acting Good
Roger Laughingstick

SkyMed
Glen

Diggstown
Chief Thomas

Cardinal
Billy Ralph Northwind

Moby Dick
Tashtego

Murdoch Mysteries
Gravekeeper Gary Cardinal

Moose TV
Mixed Blessings
Mark

Indian Summer: The Oka Crisis
John Cree

Wonderfalls
Jerry

This Is Wonderland
Brian Perot (as William Merasty)

Relic Hunter
Inuit Hunter

Liberty Street
Nathan Jones

No Price Too High

American Experience
Warrior