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Iron Eyes Cody was born Espera DeCorti, the son of two first-generation immigrants from Italy. In 1924 he moved to California, changed his name - already shortened from "DeCorti" to "Corti" - to Cody, and started working as an actor, presenting himself as a Native American. He married an Indian woman, Bertha Parker, and together they adopted two Indian sons. Iron Eyes Cody lived and worked as an Indian for all his adult life; he labored for decades to promote Native American causes, and was honored by Hollywood's Native American community in 1995 for his efforts.
"Nearly all my life, it has been my policy to help those less fortunate than myself. My foremost endeavors have been with the help of the Great Spirit to dignify my People's image through humility and love of my country. It is my sincerest wish to reach the hearts of the people of the world by my Keep America Beautiful film of 'The Crying Indian' so they will be more aware of the dangers of pollution facing the world today. If I have done that, then I have done all I need to do!"
Iron Eyes Cody
Iron Eyes Cody was the man who played the Indian that sheds a single tear for a blighted American environment in "Keep America Beautiful" ads that ran from 1971 into the 1980s.
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Iron Eyes Cody
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Espera Oscar DeCorti
April 3, 1904 – January 4, 1999
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Cody's Native American heritage was challenged in 1996 by a New Orleans (Louisiana, USA) newspaper which reported that he was in fact of Italian ancestry, which he of course denied.
Father of Joseph Cody
Interred at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood California next to his wife, who died in 1978.
His daughter died in a childhood hunting accident.
Was actually of Italian descent.
Brother of J.W. Cody.
In 1995, the Hollywood Native American community honored Cody for his contributions to Native American life. They cared for the activities which he had carried out.[3]
In 1996, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reported his Sicilian heritage, but Cody denied it. He lived all his adult life as a Native American and supported their causes. Cody and his wife Bertha, who was Native American, adopted several children, all Native Americans.
Cody died in 1999. He was interred in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Hollywood, California. He was survived by his adopted son, Native American flautist Robert "Tree" Cody.
