Martin Sensmeier Biography
Not many high-profile actors call Alaska home, but for The Magnificent Seven's Martin Sensmeier, The Last Frontier is where his roots lie.
Martin, who is of Tlingit, Koyukon-Athabascan and Irish descent, was raised in Southeast Alaska and reared to learn and practice the traditions of his Tribes. He was working by the age of 12, and at 14, was already working in construction. He went to welding school after high school, was certified by the time he was 18, and began working on an oil rig at the age of 21.
The money he earned on the oil rig gave him the financial cushion he needed when he relocated to Los Angeles in 2007 to follow his dream of becoming an actor. Though his savings and with additional income earned through some modeling gigs, Martin was able to afford acting classes and Southern California living expenses.
In 2014, he won his first onscreen part in the short film K'ina Kil: The Slaver's Son and followed that up with work on three episodes of the fantasy drama Salem, also in 2014.
Two years later, he won a part in his first film. Martin played the lead role of Wolf in the thriller Lilin's Brood - a straight-to-DVD project.
Martin made his feature film debut in Antoine Fuqua's The Magnificent Seven. Very loosely based on the 1960 Oscar-nominated classic, the 2016 film starred Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt and Ethan Hawke. Martin played Red Harvest in the movie, a young native who joins up with the team of of misfit fighters. The Magnificent Seven was selected as the opening film at TIFF 2016 and during the festival, Martin spoke to Tribute about the powerful connection he cultivated with the horse he rode in the Western, named Bruco.
Martin took a minor role in the HBO series Westworld in 2016. The show is headlined by Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood and James Marsden. He also appeared in the 2016 sci-fi thriller False Memory Syndrome.
The actor's most recent project is the thriller Wind River, which co-stars Elizabeth Olsen, Jeremy Renner and Jon Bernthal.
Martin, who has said that he's always been a daydreamer, is thankful for his parents' undying, unconditional support throughout his career.
Filmography:
Wind River (2017)False Memory Syndrome (2016)
The Magnificent Seven (2016)
Lilin's Brood (2016)