Cody Lightning


Cody Lightning is a Cree actor and filmmaker from Edmonton, Treaty 6, Alberta, Canada. He is the son of film director and actress Georgina Lightning and brother of actors Crystle Lightning and William Lightning. He was a Young Artist Award nominee in 1999 for Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actor, for Smoke Signals, and won the American Indian Film Festival award for Best Actor in 2007 for Four Sheets to the Wind.
In 2023 he wrote, directed and starred in his directorial debut film Hey, Viktor!, a mockumentary in which a fictionalized version of himself struggles to reestablish his faded career as an actor by creating his own sequel to Smoke Signals. In 2024 he received two Canadian Screen Award nominations for his work on the film, for Best Lead Performance in a Comedy Film and Best Original Screenplay, at the 12th Canadian Screen Awards.

Selected filmography

YearFilmRoleNotes
1993GeronimoYoung DaklugieTV movie
1997The BraveFrankie
1998Smoke SignalsYoung Victor JosephNominated—Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film - Supporting Young Actor
1999Pepper AnnDave Episode: "Dances with Ignorance/Girl Power"
1999The Wild ThornberrysJim Episode: "Tamper Proof Seal"
2001ManicKenny
2003DreamkeeperSixth Brother
2003, 2004 or 2005Older than AmericaDwayne
2005BrickThe Lug
2007Four Sheets to the WindCufe SmallhillAmerican Indian Film Festival for Best Actor
2021Run Woman RunMike
2023Hey, Viktor!CodyAlso director, writer
2024EchoCousin Biscuits
2024Rez BallMicah Tso-
2025The LowdownWaylonUpcoming series