Comanche Chief

The Comanche Chief is the leader of the Apaches and the main antagonist of Disney's 1963 film Savage Sam, the sequel to Old Yeller.

He was portrayed by the late Dean Fredericks.

Role
When Travis joins Bud's 17-year-old daughter, Lisbeth, in a search for Arliss, all three are captured by a band of Apaches led by a Comanche chief.

The boys' Uncle Beck Coates witnesses the scene and manages to wound the Indian leader, but Beck's horse is shot by one of the braves, allowing the Comanche and his followers to escape with the captives. Beck alerts the U.S. Cavalry, but the Indians split into three groups and ride for the hills; in the confusion, Travis escapes but is knocked unconscious and left to die. Beck and his posse of five find Travis and his dog, set out in pursuit of the other captives, and eventually find the Indians in a valley fighting over Lisbeth.

Although posse member Pack Underwood, bent on revenge for the massacre of his family, fires a shot that alerts the Indians to their planned ambush. During the battle, the Comanche chief tries to shoot Beck, but is shot by Beck instead.

Trivia

 * In the novel by Fred Gipson, the Indians who captured Travis, Arliss and Lisbeth aren't Apaches led by a Comanche. Instead, they're just a combined tribe.