IT’S FAMILY BLOOD LINEAGE

It all started back in 2015. While living in Alberta and not doing so well, Joe Buffalo was contacted by an old friend, Liam Mitchell who made local skate videos. At the time, Liam was filming a music video for A Tribe Called Red and thought Joe would make a perfect fit in the video performing skateboarding stunts. 

Through this opportunity, Buffalo met short film director Kevan Funk who was interested in Joe’s look and storytelling abilities. Their short time together was somewhat of an audition without him even knowing and before you knew it, he swiftly flew Joe to Prince George B.C for 8 days to play the role of ‘Eric’ in the film Hello Destroyer which went on to win notable awards and nominations, one of which ended up getting Buffalo nominated for a Leo in his first film. 

After Joe’s appearance in Hello Destroyer, he was getting approached for other various roles in film which can be viewed here. Joe’s most prolific and notable film is the groundbreaking Joe Buffalo, a tribute to skating and a stark history lesson that many Canadians have either forgotten about or remained ignorant of,  short documentary which has gone on to win several awards and nominations. 

With legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk as executive producer, and writer/director, Amar Chebib - this was one of the most impactful short documentaries that North America needed to see.

“It was a whole new world I had to learn by sobering up, reaching out, getting training and actually doing the work. Of course, I can shoot from the hip, but to be able to harness that skill and unleash it, that’s when you can truly call yourself an actor. I’m still new at this, so it’s all pretty intimidating but I’m learning”

Acting runs in the family’s blood. Joe’s namesake comes from his great grandfather, late Joe Buffalo, who acted in The Sheriff Of Fractured Jaw in 1958 with Jayne Mansfield. His great-grand-uncle, notable in film and television and a multi Gemini award winner, was the late actor Gordon Tootoosis. “Acting chose me, so I’m gonna channel my energy, hard work, and focus into this and see what can come of it all.”