Nanabah Hill is a well-recognized daughter, and her father, Charlie Hill, holds the distinction of being the inaugural Native American Stand-Up comedian to grace National Television. Charlie made history as one of the first entertainers to boldly confront and challenge Native stereotypes on prominent talk show platforms in the U.S.
Nanabah Hill’s Family
Nanabah Hill is the well-known daughter of the renowned actor and writer, Charlie Hill, and his spouse, Lenora Hatathlie. Born on July 6, 1951, in Detroit, Michigan, Charlie Hill, also known as Charles Allan Hill, had Cree and Mohawk roots. Relocating with his family to the Oneida reservation in 1962, he graduated from West De Pere High School in 1969 and pursued a major in speech and drama at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. In the early 1970s, he was part of Hanay Geiogomah’s Native American Theatre Ensemble.
Charlie actively participated in the Broom Street Theatre Group in Madison, WI. Following college, he moved to New York City to study acting and later to Los Angeles, aspiring to establish himself as a professional stand-up comedian. In 1980, Charlie married Lenora Hatathlie, and they had four children together: daughters Dine’ Nizhoni, Nasbah, Nanabah, and son Nabahe. Charlie Hill passed away at the age of 62 on December 30, 2013, succumbing to lymphoma after a yearlong battle against cancer. The end came at the Anna John Nursing Home in Oneida, WI.
Nanabah Hill’s Net Worth
Despite being the daughter of a well-known personality, Nanabah Hill has maintained a private life, with no available information on her occupation, education, or net worth. Her father, Charlie Hill, gained fame as a stand-up comedian, establishing himself as a notable figure in the comedy industry. Renowned for his entertaining and humorous performances, Charlie became a household name. His distinctive style and wit contributed to amassing a significant fortune, estimated at $3 million at the time of his passing.
Charlie made his debut network appearance on ‘The Richard Pryor Show’ in 1977. The Native-American actor and comedian played a role in the 1984 film ‘Harold of Orange,’ written by Gerald Vizenor. He achieved a milestone by being the first comedian to feature on ‘The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.’ Additionally, he made multiple appearances on ‘The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’ and ‘Late Night with David Letterman.’ Charlie was selected to host the ‘First Americans in the Arts’ awards show in Hollywood on three occasions. As a stand-up comedian, he entertained audiences internationally and was a regular performer at ‘The Comedy Store’ in Hollywood. Charlie participated in an interview about the American Indian Movement conducted by activist Dennis Banks for the documentary “A Good Day to Die.”
In 2008, Charlie was honored with an honorary doctorate from Sinte Gleska University. He was presented with the 2009 Ivy Bethune Tri-Union Diversity Award by the Screen Actors Guild and the Jennifer Easton Community Spirit Award in 2012. His life and work were the focus of the PBS documentary “On and Off The Res’ with Charlie Hill,” directed by Sandra Osawa.