Sonny Chorre
American actor and professional wrestler
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Joseph Vance "Sonny" Chorre Jr. (November 14, 1914 – June 14, 1987), better known by his ring name Suni War Cloud, was a professional wrestler and actor in the United States.[2]
November 14, 1914[1]
Chief Suni War Cloud
Chief War Cloud
Chief Crazy Horse
Sitting Bull
Steven Crazy Horse
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Joseph Vance Chorre Jr. November 14, 1914[1] |
| Died | June 14, 1987 (aged 72) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Gertrude Chorre (mother) | |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Suni War Cloud Chief Suni War Cloud Chief War Cloud Chief Crazy Horse Sitting Bull Steven Crazy Horse |
| Billed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Billed weight | 231 lb (105 kg) |
| Trained by | Mike Mazurki[1] |
| Debut | 1947[1] |
| Retired | 1969[1] |
His mother was actress Gertrude Chorre, a Luiseño.[3] He appeared in films with her. He attended Sherman Indian High School in Riverside. An athlete, he ran marathons.
His sister Marie Chorte also acted. Jim Thorpe managed him. Chorre performed a rain dance before wrestling bouts.[4]
Many of his film roles were uncredited.
Personal life
Chorre married his first wife, Scottish-born actress Lillian Douglas (1928–2023), in c. 1950 and settled in Buffalo, New York. They had two sons, Gary Stewart Chorre (b. 1951) and Ronald James Chorre (1952–2022),[5][6] before divorcing in November 1954.[7] He remarried in 1961 to Anna Bell Spears (1935–1989), a U.S. Army nurse during the Korean War, and remained together until his death.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | Wolf Riders | Young Bear | Uncredited | |
| 1936 | Rose Marie | Dancer in Totem Tom Tom | Uncredited | |
| Ramona | Indian | Uncredited | ||
| Ride, Ranger, Ride | Comanche Warrior | Uncredited | ||
| The Plainsman | Indian #2 with Painted Horse | Uncredited | ||
| 1937 | Ebb Tide | Attwater's Guard | Uncredited | |
| 1938 | Her Jungle Love | Guard | Uncredited | |
| Flaming Frontiers | Indian | Uncredited | ||
| Hawk of the Wilderness | White Eagle | Uncredited | ||
| 1939 | Union Pacific | Indian | Uncredited | |
| Man of Conquest | Cherokee Tribesman | Uncredited | ||
| 1940 | The Notorious Elinor Lee | Indian Prizefighter knocked out by Benny Blue | Uncredited | |
| Buck Benny Rides Again | Indian | Uncredited Also stunt performer |
||
| North West Mounted Police | Indian | Uncredited | ||
| Hudson's Bay | Indian | Uncredited | ||
| 1941 | Western Union | Indian | Uncredited | |
| 1942 | Son of Fury: The Story of Benjamin Blake | Native | Uncredited Also stunt performer |
|
| 1947 | Joe Palooka in the Knockout | Cardona | Uncredited | |
| 1948 | The Dude Goes West | Indian Brave | Uncredited | |
| The Paleface | Uncredited | |||
| 1949 | Red Canyon | Indian | Uncredited | |
| Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch | Angelo Cardona | Credited as Suni Chorre | ||
| 1950 | The Traveling Saleswoman | Indian | Uncredited | |
| 1951 | Jim Thorpe - All-American | Wally Denny | Credited as Suni Warcloud | |
| 1957 | Hot Summer Night | Rosey | Uncredited | |
| Tip on a Dead Jockey | Chauffeur | Uncredited |
Championships and accomplishments
- Arizona Athletic Association
- Salt Lake Wrestling Club
- NWA World Tag Team Championship (Idaho & Utah version) - with Chief Kit Fox
- Tri-State Sports
- World Wrestling Council
