Misty Upham

Misty Anne Upham (July 6, 1982 – October 5, 2014) was an American actress. She attracted critical acclaim for her performance in the 2008 film Frozen River, for which she was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female. She also appeared in Jimmy P: Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian and August: Osage County.

Early life Misty Anne Upham was born on July 6, 1982, in Kalispell, Montana, and raised in Auburn, Washington. A Native American, she was a member of the Blackfeet Nation. She was reportedly sexually abused, assaulted, and gang-raped, first as a child and then later in life as an up-and-coming actress in Hollywood by an executive at The Weinstein Company. Both Upham and family members reported that she suffered from depression and the severe after effects of these traumas. A spokesperson for the Auburn Police Department told CNN that police had not opened an investigation and were not regarding Upham as a missing person at that time. He confirmed that family members had contacted police on several occasions in the past year to report Upham missing but that she had been located and determined to be safe within a few days in each previous case.

On October 16, 2014, Misty Upham's body was found by a small search party organized by her family and other members of the Muckleshoot Tribe. Her body was found at the bottom of a cliff in a wooded area, just a short distance from where the family had previously searched. Members of the search party believe her death was an accident; that she fell off the cliff in the dark and that her life could have been saved had there been a prompt and thorough search. The medical examiner stated that "the manner of her death – whether by foul play, suicide or accident – could not be determined."

In late October 2016, the release of a documentary short on Upham was announced. The film, 11 Days - The Search for Misty Upham, investigates her disappearance and death, and the search for her led by her family in what they report was the absence of police support. It was screened at Native American film festivals, notably in the broader context of the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

On October 15, 2017, in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse allegations, Upham's father, Charles Upham, went public with allegations that his daughter was raped by a member of Weinstein's production team at the same Golden Globes ceremony where she was honored, and that other members of Weinstein's team had not only witnessed the rape but had cheered the rapist.

Filmography Year Title Role Director Notes 2002 Skins Mrs. Blue Cloud Chris Eyre Auf Wiedersehen, Pet Dawn Paul Seed TV series (2 episodes) Skinwalkers Nina Chris Eyre TV movie 2003 Dreamkeeper Chief's Daughter Steve Barron TV movie Edge of America Shirleen Chris Eyre TV movie 2006 Expiration Date Charlie's Mother Rick Stevenson 2008 Frozen River Lila Littlewolf Courtney Hunt American Indian Film Festival for Best Supporting ActressAlliance of Women Film Journalists for Best NewcomerNominated–Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting FemaleNominated–Central Ohio Film Critics Association for Best Supporting ActressNominated–Utah Film Critics Association for Best Supporting Actress 2010 The Dry Land Gloria Ryan Piers Williams Big Love Leila Stilwell Adam DavidsonDavid Petrarca TV series (2 episodes) 2011 Mascots Karen Scott Aaron Hartmann Short 2012 Django Unchained Minnie Quentin Tarantino Every Other Second Nurse Kelly Harrison Sanborn Short 2013 Jimmy P: Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian Jane Arnaud Desplechin August: Osage County Johnna Monevata John Wells Hollywood Film Festival - Ensemble of the YearCapri Ensemble Cast AwardNominated–Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureNominated–Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast Without Fire May Eliza McNitt Short 2014 Cake Liz Daniel Barnz 2015 Within Tina Walsh Phil Claydon Released Posthumously