During the late 1990s he had major roles in Black Robe (as Chomina), Free Willy and its sequels (as Randolph Johnson). He went on to star as Chief Powhatan in Terrence Malick's 2005 film The New World, alongside Colin Farrell, Q'orianka Kilcher, and Christian Bale.
In 2012, he performed the title role in an all-aboriginal production of William Shakespeare 's King Lear at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, alongside a cast that also included Billy Merasty as Gloucester, Tantoo Cardinal as Regan, Jani Lauzon in a dual role as Cordelia and the Fool, and Craig Lauzon as Kent.
He was married to actress Joan Karasevich and was the father of three daughters. He enjoyed working out, playing with his grandchildren, and reading crime fiction. A skilled amateur chef, August cooked frequently for his family and friends and had been a guest chef at celebrity cook-offs benefiting various organizations. August was a lifelong athlete, a champion diver and boxer in his youth who participated in celebrity charity sporting events. August taught acting seminars at the Centre for Indigenous Theatre and at York University, both in Toronto. He conducted motivational workshops in schools and for cultural and community organizations across North America.
