While at university he was a member of the experimental Broom Street Theater Group. He also toured Europe as a member of the La MaMa Experimental Theater Group, which was based in New York City.
He was a graduate of West De Pere High School, class of 1969. He also attended the University of WI-Madison where he majored in speech and drama. He left college and moved to Hollywood, to pursue his dream as a stand up comedian.
He had four children with his wife, Lenora: daughter, Dine' Nizhoni; daughter, Nasbah; daughter, Nanabah; and son, Nabahe.
He died from lymphoma on the early morning of December 30, 2013, at the Anna John Nursing Home in Oneida, WI. His death followed a yearlong battle against cancer.
In 2008, he was awarded an honorary doctorate by Sinte Gleska University.
He received the 2009 Ivy Bethune Tri-Union Diversity Award from the Screen Actors Guild, and Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Award in 2012.
On July 6, 2022, he was honored with a Google Doodle.