Russell Defines Russell Charles Means (November 10, 1939 – October 22, 2012) was an American Oglala Sioux activist, writer, politician, singer, television and film actor, and member of the American Indian Movement. He has also appeared in Pathfinder, Thomas and the Magic Railroad, and Pocahontas. Means was born on November 10, 1939, in Fort Thompson, South Dakota, to Mary Alice (née Wilson) and Luther Means. He had two siblings: a sister, Delores; and a brother, Luther Jr. His parents divorced when he was young, and he moved with his mother and stepfather to Pine Ridge, which at that time was one of the poorest areas in America. They lived in a house without running water or electricity. Mean's stepfather abused alcohol and drugs, and once beat Means so badly that he caused him to miss almost a year of school. When Means finally returned to class, his classmates refused to talk to him because they thought he was a ghost. After graduating from high school, Means worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs for a few years before joining the United States Army. There, he met other activists including Dennis Banks and George Mitchell who were involved in the Vietnam War protests. In 1968, Means was sent to serve a sentence at Leavenworth Penitentiary for assaulting a police officer during a demonstration. While incarcerated, he learned about illegal activities being conducted by the FBI against American Indians.