Why Edward From The Power Of The Dog Looks So Familiar

"The Power of the Dog" is one of the most lauded films of 2021, with 7 Golden Globe nominations. Jane Campion's Western has captivated critics and viewers with its thought-provoking ending and astonishing acting. Like the cast of Campion's 1993 masterpiece "The Piano," "The Power of the Dog" features both eminent, accomplished actors and talented young performers from across the world.

Benedict Cumberbatch vanishes into his powerhouse performance as cantankerous rancher Phil Burbank. Phil co-owns his property with his brother George, played by Jesse Plemons, who climbed to fame on TV in "Friday Night Lights" and "Breaking Bad." Phil is displeased when George marries widowed innkeeper Rose Gordon, portrayed by Kirsten Dunst. The gifted former child star still wows audiences with her Emmy-nominated appearance in "Fargo" and Golden-Globe-nominated role in "The Power of the Dog." Kodi Smit-McPhee plays Rose's son Peter, who forms a unique and complicated connection with Phil.

The supporting players in "The Power of the Dog" are as impressive as the leads. They include screen veteran Keith Carradine and underrated, prolific performer Adam Beach as Native American trader Edward Nappo. In a brief but memorable scene, Rose offers Edward and his son hides she thinks Phil does not want. They gift her beautiful gloves in gratitude.

It is understandable why Edward from "The Power of the Dog" looks so familiar. With over 100 acting credits per IMDb over an approximately 30-year career, here is where you've probably seen Beach before.

Adam Beach landed various minor roles throughout the early and mid-'90s. In 1998, he appeared as main character Victor Joseph in the acclaimed indie film "Smoke Signals." Then in just a few years, Beach went from playing the lead in an independent film to costarring with Nicolas Cage in the 2002 MGM feature "Windtalkers." The John Woo-helmed war drama highlights the pivotal contributions of the Navajo code talkers during World War II. Adam Beach plays code talker Ben Yahzee, who forms a bond with Marine Joe Enders (Nicolas Cage) after Enders is ordered to guard Yahzee from harm.

In the last few decades, Beach has become one of Hollywood's most renowned Native American actors. He is also an ardent advocate for Native Americans' rights and authentic representation on screen. In a profound, poignant letter published by Deadline, Beach asserts that while his "Hollywood dreams became a reality" by being cast in "Windtalkers," his esteem for his fellow Native Americans outweighs fame and career success. He was willing to give up his breakout role if the Navajo Nation did not permit him to take it. The Navajo Nation agreed to Beach's casting in "Windtalkers" as long as "an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation" was hired "to play the other Code Talker," which resulted in Roger Willie portraying Charlie Whitehorse.

"Windtalkers" is not the only World War II feature Adam Beach was in during the 2000s. In 2006, he acted in Clint Eastwood's "Flags of Our Fathers," which tells the true story of the Marines who raised the American flag during the Battle of Iwo Jima. This event was immortalized in one of the most celebrated photographs in human history. One of the flag raisers in the inspiring image was Ira Hayes, whom Beach portrays in "Flags of Our Father" (via USA Today). The movie was well-received by critics and helped Beach's star rise higher in Hollywood.

Hayes is one of Beach's most recognizable and respected roles, which he got under less-than-ideal circumstances. Beach revealed in an interview with Variety that he was "under the flu for three days" when Eastwood contacted him about "Flags of Our Fathers." While struggling through sniffles, Beach recorded and submitted an audition tape that landed him the admirable acting gig. He said that Eastwood's war film "was a dream come true" because it allowed him to depict Native Americans "as human, and not stereotypical." Beach also told Variety he wanted his appearance in "Flags of Our Fathers" to inspire realistic representation of Native Americans on both the small and silver screen.

A year after the release of "Flags of Our Fathers," Adam Beach played another important Native American historical figure. In HBO's 2007 film "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee," Beach portrays Sioux physician Charles Eastman, who advocated for Native Americans at a time when they were expected to abandon their authentic identities (via South Dakota Public Broadcasting). Beach earned considerable acclaim for his role in the highly regarded television movie and received a Golden Globe nomination for his performance.

While he did a phenomenal job of playing Eastman, Adam Beach told Farai Chideya of NPR that his past experiences made it difficult to "capture the strength in Charles." Chideya asked Beach why films like "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" are imperative for him. He replied by declaring he is passionate about altering "the perception and image that Hollywood has created in the past" of Native Americans that "reflects the opposite" of who they really are.

The same year "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" premiered on HBO, Adam Beach went from playing a doctor in the 1800s to a police officer in the aughts. For over 20 episodes from 2007 to 2008, he portrayed Detective Chester Lake in "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." Beach debuted as Lake in the Season 8 episode "Outsider," in which he teams up with Odafin "Fin" Tutuola (Ice-T) to solve a case. Chester becomes Fin's partner when he joins the Manhattan Special Victims Unit in the eighth season finale "Screwed." Beach made his last appearance on the long-running police procedural in the Season 9 finale "Cold," which ends with Detective Lake being apprehended for murder.

Adam Beach departed "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" on good terms. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he said he "very much enjoyed" his time on the popular crime series and was "looking forward to new adventures." "Law & Order" showrunner Dick Wolf had nothing but nice things to say about the "Windtalkers" star. The veteran producer called Beach a "superb actor" that he looks "forward to working with" down the road. The two met while filming "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee," which Wolf produced.

While recognized for playing a lot of good guys throughout his career, Adam Beach shifted gears in 2016 to bring a supervillain to the silver screen. He portrays Slipknot in David Ayer's DC Extended Universe film "Suicide Squad." Slipknot is one of the many convicts Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) recruits for Task Force X, and he is known for his extraordinary rope-handling abilities. In Midway City, Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney) convinces Slipknot to break free from the Suicide Squad. While Slipknot scales buildings to escape, Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman) detonates the bomb in the rope slinger's neck as punishment for his desertion.

In an interview with Rama's Screen, Beach described Slipknot as "a guy who's just pissed off to be" a part of Task Force X and "as worse as the Joker and Deadshot and Harley Quinn." The actor enjoyed learning how to use Slipknot's signature ropes and even showed what he learned to his 7-year-old daughter. Beach laughed while saying, "she can trap my fists and spin me around and I can't move."