A Sicangu Lakota (Sioux) who spent most of his life on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota, Ted Thin Elk saw very few movies in his lifetime, and was 72 when he got his first role as "Grandpa Samuel Reaches" in the film Thunderheart (1992). Contrary to his bad boy reputation, Val Kilmer treated the septuagenarian first-time actor with deference and helped him with his scenes in front of the camera. When the camera wasn't rolling, the two could be found discussing Native American topics in general and Lakota ones in particular.Ted Thin Elk was accorded a "First Americans in the Arts" award in 1992, the first year the honor was awarded. He was a highly respected elder on the Rosebud Reservation and was a member of the Sicangu Treaty Council and the Grey Eagle Society.