Graham Greene Dies at 73: Oscar-Nominated Actor's Legacy, Life & Career

Graham Greene, the Canadian First Nations actor best known for his role as Kicking Bird in Dances with Wolves, has died at 73. He passed on Monday, September 1, 2025, in a Toronto hospital after a long illness.

Greene’s career stretched more than four decades. From stage work in Ontario to Hollywood blockbusters, he became one of the most visible Indigenous actors in film and television, pushing open doors that had long been closed.

A Career Rooted in Character

His longtime agent Michael Greene (no relation) shared a statement with ABC News and Deadline:

“He was a man of morals, ethics, and character. He loved his people, and he loved his work. We’ll miss him forever.”

The tribute also referenced Susan Smith, Greene’s former agent who died in 2013: “You are finally free. Susan Smith is meeting you at the gates of heaven.”

It was a fitting nod to the way Greene carried himself: steady, principled, and deeply tied to his heritage.

Breakthrough with Dances with Wolves

Kevin Costner’s 1990 Western was Greene’s leap into global recognition. Playing Kicking Bird, a thoughtful Sioux holy man, he earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

That movie was a juggernaut 12 Oscar nominations, seven wins and Greene’s role stood out for its quiet power. In a 2017 Reader’s Digest Canada interview, he even recalled making sure the horse he rode in the film was returned to its original young owner. That detail says as much about Greene as the performance itself.

Beyond the Plains

Greene’s film credits were wide-ranging. He went from comedy (Maverick with Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster) to action (Die Hard with a Vengeance with Bruce Willis) to Stephen King drama (The Green Mile opposite Tom Hanks).

Younger audiences discovered him through The Twilight Saga: New Moon and Breaking Dawn Part 2. Later, he turned up in Taylor Sheridan’s Wind River and Aaron Sorkin’s Molly’s Game.

One constant: no matter how big the cast list Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson Greene brought a steady gravity to his roles.

Small Screen Presence

Greene wasn’t just a film actor. His television career began with The Great Detective in 1979 and grew into dozens of credits: Northern Exposure, Longmire, American Gods, Defiance, Goliath.

Most recently, he worked with Sheridan again on 1883 and Tulsa King. But it was his recurring role in FX’s Reservation Dogs that cemented his legacy with a new generation of Indigenous storytellers. That series wasn’t just entertainment it was representation Greene had helped make possible.

From Ohsweken to Hollywood

Born June 22, 1952, in Ohsweken on the Six Nations Reserve, Greene’s road to acting wasn’t linear. He worked as a carpenter, draftsman, welder, roadie, even an audio tech.

He once joked about stumbling into acting: “They keep me in the shade, give me food and water… this is the life of a dog.”

His stage work in Canada and England during the 1970s eventually led to Running Brave in 1983, and the rest followed.

Recognition and Awards

Greene earned more than his Oscar nod. He won a Grammy in 2000 for Listen to the Storyteller, received Gemini and Canadian Screen Awards, and picked up an Independent Spirit nomination.

Canada honored him with a star on its Walk of Fame in 2021 and the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award.

Legacy

Greene’s real achievement went beyond credits and trophies. He showed that Indigenous actors could carry major Hollywood roles without stereotype or compromise.

He made space. And countless performers from Reservation Dogs creator Sterlin Harjo to the cast of Echo on Disney+walked through the doors he helped unlock.

Family and Final Work

Greene leaves behind his wife of 35 years, Hilary Blackmore; his daughter, Lilly Lazare-Greene; and his grandson, Tarlo.

His last completed project, the thriller Ice Fall with Joel Kinnaman, will be released posthumously.