Adam Ruebin Beach (born November 11 , 1972 in Ashern, Manitoba ) is a Golden Globe nominated Canadian actor of Saulteaux descent. He is best known for his roles as Marine Private First Class Ira Hayes in Flags of Our Fathers , Private Ben Yahzee in Windtalkers , Dr. Charles Eastman (Ohiyesa) in Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee and Chester Lake in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit . Early life Born in Ashern, Manitoba, Adam Beach grew up with his two brothers on the Dog Creek Indian Reserve. When he was eight, his mother, who was eight months pregnant, was killed by a drunk driver . Soon after the car crash, his father died in a boating accident. Beach and his brothers subsequently moved to Winnipeg to live with an aunt and uncle. "Adam Beach" Northern Stars (accessed March 14 , 2007 )