Solomon Trimble

Actor: Solomon Trimble

Character: Sam Uley
Birthday: June 19th
City and State: St. John’s, Portland

Life Bio:

Solomon Trimble (Mescalero Apache, Lakota) was born in Wichita Kansas. Solomon has been a traditional Native American Grass Dancer since the age of 3. Between the ages of 3-13, Solomon was also a member of a Northwest Native American champion youth drum group “The Young Spirit Singers”. After the group disbanded, Solomon moved to New Mexico to be closer to his Grandfather and to attend the Native American Preparatory School. This was where Solomon found the love for poetry and math (though his grades did not reflect as great a love). Solomon’s family could not afford his tuition and travel expenses for him to complete high school in New Mexico, so he returned to Portland and was recruited by the Dance West Dance Guild, the then Dance West Dance Company. Solomon studied Jazz, Tap and Ballet, under Terry Brock and Julane Stites, and helped choreograph a marriage between ballet and Native American dance which gave him the opportunity to travel to Canada and Japan, with Dance West.

For his senior year, Solomon decided to finish high school while living on the Lummi Reservation in Bellingham, Washington, with his older Sister and to be closer to his now infamous younger brother. This was also where he became more familiar with northwest tribal customs and learned to play the guitar. Trimble returned to Portland upon graduation and continued his education at Portland Community College, pursuing guitar and voice as a music major, to become a rock star. His love for mathematics and music were equal. Solomon could not afford to be classically trained to continue towards a degree in music, so he graduated in 2005, with an Associates of Science in Mathematics and graduated this spring 2008 from Portland State University with a Bachelors in Mathematics, and a Philosophy Minor. Solomon was a member of United Indian Students in Higher Education and the American Indian Science and Engineering Society; and is now acting as alum for both. For the past three years he has been a K through12 student teacher. Before accepting his role as Sam Uley, Trimble was considering attending graduate school for a masters in school administration or Lewis & Clarke Law School. He still hopes to become an attorney focused on Native American Issues. Trimble spends his free time connecting with Elders in his city, learning traditional songs of all tribes and participating in Native American ceremonies as invited in his area. He also tutors Native American youth in math, and culture to facilitate transitions from reservation life to the city.

Fun Facts:

– Twilight will be his cinematic debut

– Was offered the role of Sam Uley when he accompanied his brother to an audition for a minor role

– Metallica Fan

– He is learning to speak Quiluete for the film, and plans to teach the future wolf pack actors’.

– He can’t juggle and speak Spanish while chewing gum.

– He says he wants to learn to fly better. No plane, no kite, no assistance whatsoever, just raw arm flapping.

– Performed in the theater since the age of 6

– Acted as a cultural consultant for a few films by Oregon Public Broadcasting in association with PBS

Stephenie’s comments:

"It was pretty amazing. I looked up and did a double take. "Aren’t you…Sam?" I asked. Solomon laughed and agreed that he was. He had a couple of technical werewolf questions for me (ex. "Can werewolves phase underwater?" Answer: Yes) and I tried to control my enthusing. Solomon was super friendly and interesting, and though he looks awesome on film, he’s even more incredible in person. His features are just so stunning!"

And here’s a treat: How Solomon reacted to meeting Steph!

“…I think I looked to long into her eyes, I literally kneeled down to hide the fact that my knees were knocking. I was afraid she would snuff me and be upset that I crashed her book signing for the Host, I felt like such a jerk because I didn’t read it yet. I had already disrupted the event by taking pictures with fans in the isles and outside, and in line, and on our way to see her. Then when she recognized me, I had to hold my breath to fight my blush. I felt like hugging her and saying ‘thank you for creating the world I now have the chance to paint’ but I froze there like an idiot bumbling over my questions. There were so many people waiting I didn’t want to be rude so that the encounter was over before it began. I didn’t even ask my most important questions! I was awesomely star/author struck. I have a thing for smart women…”

The two questions Solomon wants to ask Stephenie:

"1. If Sam only thinks in Quiluete, can he keep secrets from those in the pack that aren’t fluent in Quiluete ? (I thought the books might have implied that only Sam and Jacob speak Quiluete fluently.)

2. What was everything Sam ever promised to Leah, and how do those promises differ to the ones he now gives Emily?"

Film Credits:

Twilight

Appeared as an extra in Elephant

Youtube clips:

Reelz Channel Clip

Honey Rose – A Poem by Solomon Trimble

The Wolf Pack

Non-Twilight Links:

PSU POW WOW ’06-’07

Grass Dance

Fan sites: