‘Young Rider’ Embraces Ethnic
Responsibility”
By Stacy Smith
Gannett
April 16,
1991
Talking to
“The Young Riders” co-star Gregg Rainwater, it’s easy to understand how he
wound up in the ranks of teen heartthrobs.
Handsomely
chiseled dark features, coupled with a remarkably gentle voice and an
infectious laugh, no doubt helped land the 24-year-old actor on an US Magazine
“10 Sexiest Bachelors” list and earn him a following of ardent young female
admirers.
There is
also plenty in his background to make for the sort of breezy, breathless fan
magazine stories typically written about hot, young TV actors of his ilk. Gregg was so determined to get into showbiz
at an early age that he not only appeared in community
theater and performed in plays in his
Sings, too
He’s a
good singer (he toured
But there
are other dimensions to Rainwater.
Certain statements he makes penetrate the
Not long
ago, he says, during a chat with an aunt, he learned of the trials of his
Native American grandfather, who left Arkansas as a young man, and headed north
during the Depression, looking for factory work and freedom from the prejudice
he had known. He spent the rest of his
life ignoring – or at least not talking about – his Indian heritage, until, as an old man near death, he turned back to the spirituality of
his youth and found comfort in voicing chants of his tribe.
“Whether
he was chanting for peace or for forgiveness for leaving, I don’t know,” says
Gregg quietly. He was a young boy when
his grandfather died.
“I wish I
could have talked to him more, could have asked what he’d gone through … I wish
he’d been open about his heritage, but at least I’m grateful he was on his way
back to it, and that he did seem to find peace.”
Rainwater
recounts the story as one example of knowledge he has gained since taking on
his role as the half-Kiowa, half-white character Buck Cross in “Young Riders”
two years ago. Researching his roots and
studying Native American history has become part of Rainwater’s life as he
strives for authenticity in his video alter-ego. The experience, he notes, has been an
education for him not only about Native Americans in general but about his own
Cherokee and Osage heritage.
“When I
talk to people – people in the press, people who are fans of the show – I sense
they expect me to say profound things about Native American issues,” he
acknowledges. “I don’t mind, because I
do think that that’s part of the responsibility of my role, but it’s a
responsibility that I may not be ready to take on. I’m informed, I’m interested, I’m learning –
but I’m not an expert.
Still, I
think as a concerned human being it’s important for me to share whatever
knowledge I have. I hope the things I
say are socially correct.” He shrugs. “At least they’re on the level.”
Rainwater
has learned enough that he sometimes serves as an unofficial technical adviser
on “The Young Riders,” which airs
For
instance: “On one show they had Buck doing Indian ceremonies to prove he was
worthy of being a brave. And the research
I did showed that one of the ceremonies was from the Lakota, one was from the
Iroquois, another from the Southwest… I said, ‘You know, these are not only
different tribes, they’re different cultures.’
It’s like doing a film about Norwegians and including Flamenco dancing. These tribes are as diverse as the European
nationalities are.
“So
sometimes they’ll be things like that and then the script will change,” he
says.
Truthful view
Overall he
has high praise for the “Riders” writers and producers. Pointing to the success of Kevin Costner’s
big-screen “Dances With Wolves,” he notes, “I think
the American public – and
“One thing
I like about our series is that it shows the Indian side and the white side
both, and that everybody’s human, has weaknesses and misjudgments. Just through lack of information and
prejudice, anyone can react in negative ways.”
The impact
of doing certain episodes – like the recent “Riders” installment that had Buck
at the center of a dispute between
Of special
concern to him from the beginning was the way his character would be used in
the series. “I didn’t want him to be
viewed as only ‘the Indian,’” he says.
“He comes from two worlds, white and Indian, but to me that’s secondary
to Buck as a human. He’s gone through a
lot just surviving in his world and I want that to be as important as his
heritage.”
Rainwater
is at least as sensitive about labeling in his own life. He resists being referred to as a “Native
American performer.”
“I
wouldn’t consider myself that any more than I would an Irish performer or a
Filipino performer. All of that’s in my
blood,” he says. “Why
not just ‘American actor’ or ‘actor’ – or human being?”
Indeed, he
notes, sometimes he gets worn out with both his character and the “Young
Riders” schedule – 14-16 hour days, six days a week, close to eight months at a
time in the dust and grit of outdoor
Still, he
makes it clear he’s proud of the response he’s received to his portrayal of
Buck from the Native American community.
“It’s been
really positive overall,” he says. “I
think when you’re portraying a character of special interest and your portrayal
is welcomed by the groups involved, that’s probably the biggest pat on the back
you could get.”