Espera "Oscar" DeCorti, later known as Iron Eyes Cody, was the offspring of two pioneering immigrants from Italy, whose ancestral roots dated back to Sicily. In 1924, DeCorti made the momentous decision to relocate to California, where he would undergo a transformation that would alter the course of his life. He opted to alter his surname from "DeCorti" to "Corti" and eventually to "Cody", adopting an alias that would become synonymous with his acting career.
As Iron Eyes Cody, he embarked on a journey that would span several decades, during which he presented himself as a Native American, an identity he would claim as his own despite being of Italian descent. His acting career flourished, and he became a respected figure in the film industry.
In 1936, Cody married Bertha Parker, a renowned archaeologist of Abenaki and Seneca descent, with whom he would go on to adopt two sons, Robert and Arthur. The boys, who were of Dakota and Maricopa descent, would become an integral part of Cody's life.
Throughout his life, Iron Eyes Cody dedicated himself to promoting Native American causes, a commitment that earned him widespread recognition and admiration. In 1995, he was honored by the Native American community in Hollywood as a "non-Native" individual for his tireless efforts in advancing the representation of Native Americans in film.
