Variety Creative Leadership Award Honoree Ray Halbritter Aims to Improve Native American Visibility in Hollywood and Beyond
Zoe Hewitt If life were a superhero movie, one of the major characters would be Ray Halbritter. That’s because the Oneida Indian Nation member has traveled a true superhero journey, using his connections and power not only to raise the visibility and elevate the prosperity of Native Americans, but to change the very culture of the country.
If that sounds like a heavy lift, consider Halbritter’s background, which contains elements of tragedy and triumph. He grew up in New York and New Jersey.
Later, living on Native land and employed as an ironworker, he watched, heard and smelled as his aunt and uncle perished in a calamitous trailer home fire because city workers refused to set foot there.
It’s a part of his story that a screenwriter could have used to justify Halbritter’s role as either villain or hero. But this isn’t an origin story for Thanos or Bane.
