The Canadian arts community is mourning the loss of actor August Schellenberg.

He died in Texas of cancer at the age of 77.

The Montreal-born actor and his Winnipeg-born wife, actress Joan Karasevich, have lived in Texas for a number of years.

Schellenberg was park Mohawk and often portrayed aboriginal characters. He starred in all three Free Willy movies, and won an Emmy nomination for playing Chief Sitting Bull in the HBO film, Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee.

August Schellenberg played the title role in an all-First Nations cast of King Lear at the National Arts Centre last year. The NAC lowered its flags to half-mast in his memory.