Reply #3: iron eyes cody...? oh- you mean espera dicorti-

[dysfunctional press]

http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mindiantear.html

...According to an article in the April 8 Los Angeles New Times, the entire persona was exacty that--merely a persona. "Iron Eyes" Cody was actually Espera DiCorti, born of two Italian immigrants in Gueydan, Louisiana. DiCorti had loved playing Indians as a child and always said he was going to be an actor one day. After a move to Texas, he shortened his name to Cody and headed off for Los Angeles to make his fortune. According to Mae Abshire Duhon, his only living sibling, "The next thing we heard was that he had turned Indian."

The story is verified by a 1996 article in the New Orleans Times-Picayune that also established Cody's Italian-American roots. Apparently, it was a not-so-closely guarded secret around the Gueydan community where he grew up. None of the wire sevices picked up the article, so it remained a local historical curiosity rather than becoming a nationwide story. In fact, because of the local notoriety, folks in Gueydan seemed more interested in supporting the fictional legacy of "Iron Eyes" Cody.

In Hollywood, appearance is always more important than reality. Even the tear than ran down his cheek wasn't real; it was glycerine.