Misty Upham

Native American actress Misty Upham wowed audiences and critics alike as a young mother thrust by financial despair into the dangerous world of illegal immigrant smuggling in "Frozen River" (2008). The tense independent drama was the high point of her relatively brief career, which up until that point was largely comprised of supporting roles in Native American-themed television movies like "Skinwalkers" (PBS, 2002) and the occasional independent feature by director Chris Eyre. But her nuanced performance in "Frozen River" helped to thrust her into the spotlight and paved the way for what appeared to be a promising career in features. Sadly, Upham died under mysterious circumstances before that promise could be fulfilled, her body found at the bottom of a 150-foot ravine nearly two weeks after she disappeared on October 5, 2014.