Crying Indian | Retro Junk Commercial

OK, Cody was born of 2 Italian immigrants. But Hollywood of '40s/50's preferred Italians over Native Americans.(Ex: The Lone Ranger's cast listings. Most 'Indians' were anything but.) But, give him his due: after being often cast as Native American he didn't cash in on it. Instead, he accepted the lifestyle & became a strong advocate for Native American rights. His wife was Native American from the tribe with whom he lived & raised his kids.

His claiming to be Native American would've been valid in the days before tribes lost most of their rights. Back then those who married a tribe member could become a member of that tribe. They fought their [former] white brothers when attacked & according to the few records kept, some were'relocated' during our gov't stealing land which'd been some tribe's for over 8,000 years!(Sorry,'Injun', no deed was recorded.)

Don't judge 'Iron Eyes' by today's standards but by his life's work for Native Americans & our environment.

it is ok to be Italian and Native American i am,
Don't ever forget and Italian sailed the ocean blue in 1492. and landed with the Native Americans of course they got along and had children and of course they are half breed Italian's and Native Americans don't be stupid about history. learn from it. do your own family research and find out what you are you might be shocked to learn

Both johna1973 and mvp2007 are correct. It is the same Indian, and the person is of Italian descent. His name was Espera di Corti, known professionally as "Iron Eyes Cody":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Eyes_Cody

This one is a classic. I wish todays world was more like the 70's time frame.

I saw this in the 70's and again on i love the 70's on vh1. they said he was Irish not native american... It always made me feel sad about giving them sickness infested blankets... No until I saw that i love the 70's i didn't think he wasn't native american...

I think this is the same Indian dude from "Ernest Goes To Camp"

I can't help but think of Wayne's World when I see this.

That is for real.... This was their land before it was stolen. You people need to show some respect to the TRUE Americans.....

I met this guy once, at a resturant in Upland, CA called Benji's in about the early 90's.

This commercial used to scare the bejeezus out of me when I was little. I swear the Indian jumped out of the TV at me once.

diskoboy, he's been dead since 1999.

I remember seeing this commercial constantly, when I was a kid. A true classic. Didn't the guy who played the indian die just recently?

i rememeber this commerical..it always made me so sad to see the indian crying because of how americans pollute now.

This is a true classic that stands the test of time. He would be wailing his lungs out if saw the condition of the environment now. People buy water to drink.

Famous actor as well. I saw this promo in my filming class in high school. Was ment to teach us what can be done with a very small budget. But the meaning stuck with me more then the lessons.

They spoofed it in "Wayne's World 2" toward the end.Someone threw garbage at the Indian and they showed the zoom in of the tear.Then,Wayne and Garth showed up and said,"Hey,don't cry.We'll help you clean up." Then,the Indian smiled.

DUDE THIS COMMERCIAL MAKES ME SAD FOR INDIANS BUT C MON THEY HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE CANGES IT CANT BE THE SAME FOREVER AND TOM CLOUD KICKER UP THERE WATS WITH YOUR AVATAR?

This must be the single most influential Public Service Announcement ever made; as well as being held up as THE standard by which all other Public Service Announcements are measured.

I seem to recall a remake of this PSA, sort of. I believe there was one where people were cleaning up litter, and the ad ended with the native american smiling with a tear in his eye.

I remember this commerical in the early 90's. But it was diffrent did they make a remake of this commerical?

What a sad PSA, some people really don't know how good they have it!

Hehe...I know Native Americans are peaceful, but I almost wish he would have done what Bette Midler did on the Simpsons: some guy threw a beer can out the window, and she jumped the car and caused him to crash off the side of the cliff! LOL

I Remember this Commercial and i have this to say seeing how i am 16th Cherokee and very proud to be.....If we had all paid attention to this commercial we might not be in the shape we are in.The Natives gave back to the earth they did not waste like we do. They used everything that the earth provided. But the one comment on here about this not being a real Native American....That's a Native thing a White man would not understand.........

This was out before my time, but they would play it on Nick at Nite every now and then back in the early to mid 90's, especially really late at night/early in the morning. The first time I was watching it, it made me really sad, but then it just freaked me out every time I saw it thereafter. If I stayed up late and this commercial came on while I was alone, I would hide under a blanket, close my eyes tightly and plug my ears until it was over. Yes, I was a wimp, I know. I think the music creeped me out most, but I don't know.

I remember when they parodied this on an episode of The Simpsons and on Futurama. I also remember a 90's or 2000's PSA that showed a trashed bus stop and a picture of a man's face with a tear in the corner of his eye. I also remember seeing this PSA on VH1's I Love the 70's, and one said the tear in the Native American's eye was a drop of glycerin.

I've always wondered we he cried only on one eye...but it's a real awesome ad..pretty sad though.

This commerical always freaks me out for some reason!

Man, that Native really littered up a storm!

Trivia - the guy wasn't really Native American.

OH man I remember this, in fact just after my mother and i mentioned this ad in a gag, it was submited....great timing, I was 4 when i first saw this ad and i was sad hahahahaha

His name is Iron Eyes Cody.

Crying Indian (1970)