Cast & creator
Billy Merasty
Best known for Murdoch Mysteries, American Experience, Relic Hunter
Billy Merasty is an actor, playwright, Cree translator, and language keeper. He was born to Viola and Pierre Merasty in 1960 in Brochet, Manitoba. His grandfather was Joe Highway, a famous caribou hunter and champion dogsled racer. He moved to Toronto at age eighteen in search for his uncle René Highway, who was at the time working for the Toronto Dance Theatre. At age twenty-three Billy launched his acting career after graduating from the Native Theatre School for aspiring Indigenous artists. He then went on to work for the renowned Indigenous performing arts company Native Earth Performing Arts. Billy has worked as a film, television, and stage actor for decades and notably played the first Indigenous gay character on television on the CBC series, Liberty Street, in the role of Nathan. Billy received the Order of Manitoba (Order of the Buffalo Hunt) in recognition for his many years as an Indigenous role model in 2010.
26
film credits
17
television credits
43
1988–2024 · acting roles
6.2
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (43)
Showing 43 of 43 credits
Murdoch Mysteries
Gravekeeper Gary Cardinal
2008
American Experience
Warrior
1988
Relic Hunter
Inuit Hunter
1999
Heritage Minutes
John Norton
1991
It Chapter Two
Shokopiwah Man
2019
This Is Wonderland
Brian Perot (as William Merasty)
2004
Cardinal
Billy Ralph Northwind
2017
SkyMed
Glen
2022
Diggstown
Chief Thomas
2019
Wonderfalls
Jerry
2004
The New World
Kiskiak
2005
Acting Good
Roger Laughingstick
2022
No Price Too High
1995
Liberty Street
Nathan Jones
1995
Moby Dick
Tashtego
2011
The Big White
Cam
2005
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Young Man Afraid
2007
Indian Summer: The Oka Crisis
John Cree
2006
Exotica
Man at Opera
1994
Casino Jack
Bartender
2010Snake Treaty
1989
Stellar
Auntie 1
2022
Stardom
2000
Honey Moccasin
Zachary John
1998
Battle of the Brave
Owashak
2004Mixed Blessings
Mark
2007
Northern Lights
Jacob
2009
War of 1812
John Norton
1999
Les Légendes du Grand Nord
Mawaki
1995
Moose TV
2007
Pocahontas: The Legend
Kocoum
1995
The Virginian
Lee Talltrees
2000The Shaman's Source
Mathew Hare
1990
Falls Around Her
Draven
2018
Justice Denied
Donald Marshall, Jr.
1989
The Incredible 25th Year of Mitzi Bearclaw
William Bearclaw
2019
Heritage Minutes: Queenston Heights
John Norton
2013
The Confessional
Moose
1995
Elijah
Elijah Harper
2008
The Broken Cord
Frank Cree
1992
Café Daughter
Amos Horseknife
2023
Aberdeen
Alfred
2024
X-Rated
Nathan Jones
1994