LAPUSH — In the “Twilight” movie, Solomon Trimble, playing Sam Uley, is a man of few words, but his presence cannot be missed.
After all, he utters one of the most critical lines of the movie: “The Cullens don’t come here.”
The actor, a Mescalero Apache and Lakota Native American, will be the special guest of the Quileute during Quileute Days.
“For lack of a better word, I feel honored,” Trimble said.
“I spent so much time trying to learn all I could about their lifestyles and histories, I can’t wait to meet everyone and say thank you for all the support.”
After a cultural arts performance Saturday from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., he will be signing autographs and taking pictures with fans.
“We are thrilled to have Solomon as the Quileute featured guest,” said Jackie Jacobs, tribal publicist.
“This young man has been drug-, alcohol- and tobacco-free his whole life.
“He is an inspiration to all youth, Native and non-Native alike.”
His line is the first clue to heroine Bella Swan that something is amiss with her vampire love Edward Cullen, who is forbidden to step foot on the Quileute reservation because of a long-standing pact between the vampires and werewolves.
The fictional books have caused much debate among fans about which group is the hottest — vampires or werewolves.
At the “Twilight” premiere, Trimble signed autographs for scores of fans who held signs like “Quileute Boys are Hot” or “Imprint on Me” — referring to the practice in the book of werewolves immediately recognizing their soulmates and “imprinting” irrevocably on them.
“As for werewolves, I guess they like it?” Trimble said.
“As for me, I think it’s great that I now have a greater audience for my future films and any other medium I participate in.”
Trimble will not reprise his role in the sequel, “New Moon.” When he was not cast, blogs and Web petitions started circulating, asking for him to return to the saga.
Although he doesn’t get much face time in the book New Moon, Uley is a critical character in the saga.
He becomes the alpha dog of the wolf pack when Quileute teens begin transforming into werewolves.
During his scenes in the movie, Trimble said it was important to show Sam’s traditional values.
“It was important to show his loyalty to his beliefs and what he loves, or as much as I could convey in the two lines that made it into the film,” Trimble said.
Trimble, who has a degree in math and minor in philosophy, said that in lieu of a role in “New Moon,” he’ll be going back for a graduate degree in math.
He said he had hoped to be part of “New Moon” and was disappointed when he wasn’t afforded the opportunity.
“I spent about 20 times what I made in ‘Twilight’ preparing for ‘New Moon,'” he said.
He said he has moved on from the “Twilight” saga, but that doesn’t mean he is giving up acting.
“I am continuing on with schooling because I am the first in my family to graduate from college.
“It’s a more a motion of respect toward my family because they sacrificed more for me than I can imagine to ensure I got an education. Going on to grad school is a way to pay them back and not give up on myself.”
He said he would have gone back to school even if he had stayed on in the “Twilight” series.
Trimble, who started his performing career as a Native American grass dancer at the age of 3, said that he hopes to be a “jack of all trades” of sorts.
“I think in the end I’m planning on becoming a writer/professor/actor of some kind,” he said.
“I believe those that only do one thing with their life only ever accomplish one thing with their life.
“I want to do it all.”
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
He said he is happy with the people who were selected for the new roles.
“I’m sure they’ll do awesome with this series and as actors in future films,” he said.
“And as for being replaced, I do not want anything negative said on my behalf. This isn’t the first role I’ve lost, and as an actor, it won’t be the last.”
