Don Francks or Iron Buffalo (born February 28, 1932 in Vancouver, British Columbia) is a legendary Canadian actor, vocalist and jazz musician. His birth name is Donald Harvey Francks. He is a drummer, poet, native nations champion, motorcyclist, author and peace activist. He is interested in Tibet and supports Greenpeace.
He was in vaudeville, worked as a foundryman, and did some summer stock before moving to Toronto. Don Francks worked in Hollywood and lived in Encino, California. After a time, he moved with his family to the Red Pheasant Indian Reserve, near North Battleford, Saskatchewan. He is an honorary Cree, who is also known as Iron Buffalo. Since 1974 he lives in Toronto with his wife Lili (Red Eagle), a member of the Plains Cree First Nation and a former dancer. Don Francks is the father of actress Cree Summer and actor Rainbow Sun.
He appeared many times at George's Spaghetti House, a Toronto jazz club that was the equivalent of New York's Birdland. He was also known to sit in on drums at the Colonial Tavern and other Toronto afterhours clubs and jazz venues.
Don Francks has appeared in the La Femme Nikita television series. His earlier work in television included such favourites as Mission: Impossible, Wild Wild West, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Little Men, Traders and countless episodic television appearances, and his film appearances have included Johnny Mnemonic through Finian's Rainbow with Fred Astaire and Petula Clark.
Finian's Rainbow (1968)
