Misty Upham

1.1. Birth and Upbringing

Misty Anne Upham was born on July 6, 1982, in Kalispell, Montana, as the fourth of four siblings. She was raised in Auburn, Washington, and was a proud member of the Blackfeet Nation. At the age of 13, Upham began her acting career by joining a local amateur theater group called 'Red Eagle Soaring'. Her talent quickly emerged, and by 14, she was already writing and directing short plays. During her high school years, she continued to hone her craft by participating in theater groups based in Seattle, firmly setting her path towards an acting career.

1.2. Personal Difficulties and Trauma

Throughout her life, Misty Upham reportedly experienced significant trauma. She was sexually abused, assaulted, and gang-raped, first as a child and later as an emerging actress in Hollywood. Her family stated that one of these incidents involved an executive at The Weinstein Company at the 2013 Golden Globe Awards. Both Upham and her family members reported that she suffered from depression and the severe after effects of these traumas. Her father, Charles Upham, later alleged that his daughter was raped by a member of Weinstein's production team at the Golden Globes ceremony, and that other members of Weinstein's team not only witnessed the rape but cheered the perpetrator.

2.1. Film Debut and Early Roles

Upham made her film debut in 2002 with Skins, a film that also featured Graham Greene. Following this, she appeared in other early films such as Skinwalkers (2002), Dreamkeeper (2003), Edge of America (2003), and Expiration Date (2006).

2.2. Breakthrough and Major Films

Upham gained significant attention for her performance in the 2008 drama film Frozen River, where she co-starred with Melissa Leo. In the film, she portrayed Lila Littlewolf, a Mohawk woman. Her performance was widely praised, and the film itself received high acclaim at festivals like Sundance Film Festival and the Independent Spirit Awards. Upham was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female for her role.

She continued to take on significant roles, including a major supporting part in Arnaud Desplechin's 2013 film Jimmy P: Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian, which was selected in competition for the Palme d'Or at the 66th Cannes Film Festival. In 2013, she also appeared in August: Osage County, playing the role of Johnna Monevata, a maid serving a self-centered family. For her work in this film, Upham, along with the rest of the cast, received an Hollywood Film Festival Ensemble of the Year award and a Capri Ensemble Cast Award, and was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture. She also played Liz in the 2014 film Cake. Additionally, she had an uncredited role as Minnie in Quentin Tarantino's 2012 film Django Unchained.

2.3. Television Appearances

Upham also made appearances in several television series. In 2002, she was featured in two episodes of the British television series Auf Wiedersehen, Pet. In 2010, she appeared in two episodes of HBO's acclaimed series Big Love, playing the character of Leila Stilwell.

3.1. Disappearance and Search Efforts

On October 5, 2014, Misty Upham left her sister's apartment on the Muckleshoot Reservation in Auburn, Washington, on foot. Her family reported her missing shortly thereafter, expressing concern for her well-being and citing her past mental health struggles, including instances where she had hinted at suicide. Despite the family's distress, a spokesman for the Auburn Police Department initially stated that police had not opened an investigation and were not treating Upham as a missing person. The police indicated that family members had contacted them on several occasions in the past year to report Upham missing, but she had always been located and determined to be safe within a few days in each previous case.

3.2. Discovery of Body and Cause of Death

Misty Upham's body was discovered on October 16, 2014, by a small search party organized by her family and other members of the Muckleshoot Tribe. Her body was found at the bottom of a cliff in a wooded area, a short distance from where the family had previously searched. Members of the search party believed her death was an accident, suggesting she fell off the cliff in the dark and that her life could have been saved if there had been a prompt and thorough search by authorities.

On December 3, 2014, the King County Medical Examiner released a report stating that Misty Upham had died of blunt-force injuries to her head and torso on October 5, 2014, the day she disappeared. However, the medical examiner concluded that "the manner of her death - whether by foul play, suicide or accident - could not be determined."

3.3. Family Concerns and Criticism of Police Response

Upham's family strongly criticized the Auburn Police Department's handling of the case, alleging a lack of action and cooperation. They claimed that Commander Stocker of the Auburn Police Department decided that Misty did not meet the criteria for the Washington State Endangered Missing Persons Plan. The family stated that Commander Stocker made inaccurate statements to the press, claiming Upham had packed her belongings and left her apartment, which the family asserted was false. They also alleged that Commander Stocker harbored animosity towards Misty due to a previous encounter. The family's statement highlighted that the Native American community formed a search party and found her after several days of searching, without assistance from the Auburn Police Department, directly contradicting initial police reports.

3.4. Allegations of Sexual Assault

In October 2017, in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse allegations, Misty Upham's father, Charles Upham, publicly alleged that his daughter had been raped by a member of Weinstein's production team at the 2013 Golden Globes ceremony. He further claimed that other members of Weinstein's team had not only witnessed the rape but had cheered the perpetrator. This allegation added another layer of tragedy and controversy to the circumstances surrounding Upham's life and death.

3.5. Documentary and MMIW Context

The circumstances of Misty Upham's disappearance and death, particularly the family's struggle to get official support for the search, drew attention to the broader issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW). In late October 2016, the upcoming release of a documentary titled 11 Days - The Search for Misty Upham [http://11days-documentary.magix.net/ 11 Days - The Search for Misty Upham] was announced. This independent film investigates her disappearance and death, focusing on the search efforts led by her family in the reported absence of police support. The documentary is scheduled to be featured at Native American film festivals, notably within the wider context of the ongoing MMIW crisis, highlighting the systemic issues faced by Indigenous communities in such cases.

4.1. Misty Upham Award

In 2021, The Yale Indigenous Performing Arts Program established "The Misty Upham Award for Young Native Actors" to honor Upham's legacy and her aspiration to uplift more young Native actors. This annual award recognizes a Native actor under the age of 25, providing them with an award, a 500 USD cash prize, and opportunities for performance. The award celebrates Upham's talent, artistry, and career, which broke barriers for many, emphasizing the importance of remembering and celebrating this part of her legacy. Each year, young actors submit performances of monologues from Native plays to compete for this prestigious award.

5.1. Film

5.2. Television