Billy Merasty was born in 1960 in Brochet, Manitoba, Canada, as the ninth of fourteen children to Viola Marie Merasty and Pierre Merasty. His family has a rich cultural heritage, with his grandfather, Joe Highway, being a renowned caribou hunter and champion dogsled racer.
Billy's family connections are equally impressive, as he is the nephew of celebrated playwright Tomson Highway and dancer/choreographer/actor/director René Highway. In fact, it was his uncle René who inspired Billy to move to Toronto, Ontario at the age of eighteen, where he sought him out at the Toronto Dance Theatre.
After completing his education at the Native Theatre School for aspiring First Nations artists, Billy launched his acting career at the age of twenty-three. He went on to work with the Native Earth Performing Arts for many years, honing his craft and gaining valuable experience.
As an actor, Billy has worked extensively in both film and theatre, showcasing his impressive range and versatility. In addition to his acting work, he has also written one play, Fireweed, which was produced in 1992. His second play, Godly's Divinia, is currently in development.
Billy's contributions to the Aboriginal community have been recognized with the Order of Manitoba (Order of the Buffalo Hunt) in 2010, an honor bestowed upon him for his many years of service as an Aboriginal role model in Manitoba.
