Gregg Rainwater didn't just show up on screen; he kinda commanded it with a look that felt both ancient and modern. If you grew up in the late '80s or early '90s, you definitely remember him. He was the soft-spoken, level-headed scout on The Young Riders, a show that basically turned the Pony Express into a high-stakes teen drama. But looking at Gregg Rainwater movies and tv shows reveals a career that went way deeper than just being a "teen heartthrob" on a Western.
Honestly, he’s one of those actors who bridged a gap. He played characters that actually had weight. He wasn't just "the Indian guy" in the background—he was Buck Cross. He brought a sense of real identity to a genre that, let’s be real, hadn't always been kind to Native American characters.
Why The Young Riders Still Hits Different
Let's talk about The Young Riders. It ran from 1989 to 1992 on ABC. It was huge. Gregg played Running Buck Cross, a half-Kiowa, half-White rider who was arguably the soul of the group. While characters like Cody (Stephen Baldwin) or Jimmy (Josh Brolin) were often hot-headed, Buck was the one tracking trails and keeping people alive.
He appeared in 67 episodes. That’s a lot of time in the saddle. What’s cool is that Rainwater didn’t just read the lines. He actually got involved in the scripts. He once mentioned in an interview that he served as a sort of unofficial technical adviser. Why? Because the writers would sometimes mix up Lakota ceremonies with Iroquois ones. Gregg stepped in and told them it was like putting Flamenco dancing in a movie about Norwegians.
He cared about the details. It shows.
The Street Fighter Connection
Then 1994 happened. If you were a kid in the '90s, the Street Fighter movie was a massive deal, even if the critics absolutely hated it. Rainwater took on the role of T. Hawk. It was a massive shift from the dusty plains of the 1860s to a high-octane, campy action flick.
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He looked the part, though. Huge muscles, the signature headgear—he basically leaped out of the arcade machine. It's a cult classic now. People still quote that movie, mostly for Raul Julia’s Bison, but Rainwater’s Sergeant T. Hawk was a staple of the "good guy" squad.
A Secret Legend in Voice Acting
A lot of people think Rainwater just disappeared after the mid-90s. Not true. He actually transitioned into one of the most respected voice actors in the business. If you watch Gargoyles—which is widely considered one of the smartest animated shows ever made—you’ve heard him.
He played Natsilane. He played Coyote the Trickster. He even played a young Peter Maza. Greg Weisman, the creator of the show, liked him so much he specifically wrote parts for him. That says something about his range. He’s not just a "look"; he’s a voice.
- Young Justice: He voiced Tye Longshadow.
- Justice League Unlimited: He was the voice of Long Shadow.
- Pocahontas II: He did additional voices and Nakoma's husband.
- Max Steel: He played Jake Nez.
It’s a massive list. He’s basically the go-to guy for adding gravitas to characters with indigenous roots in the DC and Disney universes. He brings a certain dignity to those roles that keeps them from feeling like caricatures.
The Art Director Pivot
Here is the curveball. Gregg Rainwater is an Emmy nominee. No, not for acting. For Art Direction.
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Around the mid-2000s, he started working behind the scenes. He’s worked on massive productions like America's Got Talent and Food Fighters. In 2010, he worked as the Art Director for the "Idol Gives Back" special on American Idol. He got a Primetime Emmy nomination for it.
It's a wild career pivot. Imagine going from being a Pony Express rider to a video game fighter to the guy designing the look of the biggest reality shows on the planet. He’s clearly a guy who needs to be creating something, whether it’s a character or a physical set.
Beyond the Screen: Heritage and Identity
Gregg was born in Flint, Michigan. He’s got a mix of Osage, Cherokee, Irish, and Filipino blood. He’s always been pretty vocal about not wanting to be boxed in. He once said he’d rather be seen as an "American actor" or just a "human being" rather than being labeled strictly by his heritage.
That’s a nuanced take. Especially back in the early '90s when the industry was even more obsessed with labels than it is now. He did the work. He did the research. He respected the cultures he represented on screen, but he didn't let them define his entire existence.
Notable Roles Summary
- The Young Riders (1989-1992): Buck Cross (67 episodes).
- Street Fighter (1994): T. Hawk.
- Walker, Texas Ranger (1994): David Little Eagle Johnson.
- Gargoyles (1995-1996): Natsilane / Coyote (Voice).
- Promised Land (1997): Arthur Yazzi.
- Young Justice (2012-2013): Tye Longshadow (Voice).
What Most People Get Wrong
Most fans think he retired because they don't see his face on Grey's Anatomy or some Netflix procedural. In reality, he just moved to the other side of the camera. The "missing" years in his filmography aren't gaps; they're just a different credit line. He’s been working steadily in the art departments of major network shows for nearly two decades.
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If you’re looking for him now, you’re more likely to find his name in the credits of a high-budget competition show than a movie trailer. And honestly? That's a pretty successful "second act" for any Hollywood star.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you want to dive back into his work, don't just stick to the live-action stuff. Go find the "Heritage" and "Cloud Fathers" episodes of Gargoyles. They are masterclasses in how to integrate Native American mythology into modern storytelling without it feeling cheesy. Also, check out the Young Justice episodes featuring Tye Longshadow—it’s some of his best modern voice work.
If you're a collector, his T. Hawk action figure from the '94 movie is still a weirdly popular item on the secondary market. Just stay away from the cheap knock-offs. Stick to the original Hasbro line if you want the real deal.
I can help you track down which streaming platforms currently host the full run of The Young Riders or provide a list of the specific Gargoyles episodes he worked on if you're looking for a weekend binge.