Actor and activist Chaske Spencer was born of the Lakota Sioux tribe, and raised on Indian Reservations in Montana and Idaho. When he was young, he dreamt of becoming a photographer, and before long, he found himself in front of the camera instead. Chaske moved to New York City and in between bartending and waiting tables, he was cast in his very first off off-Broadway play, "Dracula," playing the title role. From there he did a number of New York Theatre pieces, performed at THE PUBLIC THEATRE in NYC and THE ROUNDABOUT and was fortunate enough to be discovered by television/film casting director Rene Haynes. Rene cast him in his first feature film "Skins," as well as the lead in "Dreamkeeper," and Steven Spielberg’s "Into the West." Now, he has been starring in his most buzz-worthy role to date, Sam Uley the alpha male leader of the werewolves, in the popular The Twilight Saga film series New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn Parts 1 and 2.

Chaske signed on to play the lead role of “Virgil First Raise” in the feature film adaption of the book "Winter in the Blood" (by James Welch). Alex and Andrew Smith will be directing, and filming begins this winter. Additionally, Chaske stars in an upcoming independent film called "Shouting Secrets." He plays “Wesley Bishnik,” in a wonderful ensemble cast which includes fellow "Twilight" star Gil Brimingham and "The New World"’s Q’Orianka Kilcher. Partnered with his manager Josselyne Herman and veteran producer Ted Kurdyla, his production company Urban Dream is also in development on a feature film called "The Block," a psychological thriller which will star Chaske. In 2011, he intends to start shooting the television series "All My Relations," a contemporary Native project that has been developed for television with a role created specifically for him.

With experience both on stage and on screen, in front and behind the camera, Chaske’s credibility as a quality actor stands strong. He is passionate about making a difference with all people in the area of reducing poverty and creating sustainable communities. In fact, he is engaged in several projects to that end through the non-profit United Global Shift and his personal project Shift the Power to the People. This past summer, he hosted the “Be the Shift” launch event, where fellow cast members from the "Twilight Saga" film series and other supporting celebrities came to help raise awareness and support for the snowstorm disaster victims from South Dakota’s Lakota Sioux tribe. Spencer, who is a Native American from the Lakota Sioux tribe in Idaho and Montana, was compelled to help after hearing of the disaster. In less than a day, Spencer produced a PSA through his production company Urban Dream Productions, enlisting the assistance of his celebrity friends to raise awareness and support to those who have been without power and water for weeks. The PSA urged individuals to “shift the power to the people” and help to empower everyone to create sustainable, lasting change in their communities and countries. In less than a month thousands of letters went to Congress as a result of the viral PSA campaign. The event gave attendees the chance to voice the shifts they would like to see in their own communities and launched the Be the Shift movement.

Clearly, Chaske has been using his celebrity for good. In addition to developing his charity, he spends his free time, which there is not much of, traveling to various universities and reservations inspiring young people to stay away from alcohol and drugs, based on his own life experience.