Saginaw Grant, ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Veep’ Actor, Dead at 85

Saginaw Grant, who starred in Breaking Bad, Disney’s The Lone Ranger film, and Harts of the West, has died. The news was confirmed via a post made to his Facebook page earlier this week. He was 85.

“It’s with heavy hearts we announce a warrior has been called home,” a post made to Grant’s profile read. “Saginaw Morgan Grant, the hereditary chief and medicine man of the Sac & Fox tribe, traveled the world speaking of his traditions, his experiences, his sobriety and his faith as both a Native American and a Christian.”

After serving as a Marine in Korea, Grant appeared on a slew of TV and film projects in the late 1980s. From 1993-1994, he starred as Auggie in Harts of the West, a Beau-Bridges-led series. Grant also appeared in My Name is Earl, American Horror Story, Shameless, Veep, and “Ozymandias,” the near-finale episode of Breaking Bad.

“Saginaw was always happiest at pow wow sharing the love, energy and tradition of his people,” the Facebook post continued. “Watching the children grow in the traditions of their ancestors and to share in the spirits of dance to the beat of the drum brought him both joy and peace. He was a jewelry maker and artist. He joins his nephew and sister Stella Wilson who passed earlier this year from Covid and his sons who preceded him in the last few years.”

Along with his television appearances, Saginaw also starred in a number of movies like Disney’s The Lone Ranger, Netflix’s The Ridiculous 6, The World’s Fastest Indian, and most recently, Valley of the Gods.

Lani Carmichael, Grant’s publicist and longtime friend, also confirmed the news to The Associated Press. She revealed that the actor passed in his sleep of natural causes on Wednesday (July 28) while at a private care facility in Hollywood, California.

“He loved both Oklahoma and L.A.,” Carmichael said. “He made his home here as an actor, but he never forgot his roots in Oklahoma. He remained a fan of the Sooner Nation.”