August Schellenberg passed away quietly in his Dallas home Thursday evening after a long fought battle with lung cancer.
The actor's rep assured fans he passed away in the company of his loving family, says CBC News.
Although Schellenberg's repertoire of performances - ranging from theater to film to television - was extensive and impressive, one of his most iconic roles was that of Jesse's Native American mentor in cult classic Free Willy.
The actor's credits list was not only extensive but successful as well; in 2007 he was nominated for an Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie for his role as Chief Sitting Bull in "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee," says TMZ.
Although the actor was mainly cast in roles where he played the part of a Native American, Schellenberg was in fact Canadian, born into a family comprised of a myriad of nationalities: a Mohawk-English mother and a Swiss-German father, says CBC News.
Check out a clip of him in Free Willy below:
image: video snapshot