Toronto, Canada — The world mourns the loss of Graham Greene, the celebrated Canadian actor whose powerful performance in Dances with Wolves catapulted Indigenous representation into Hollywood’s mainstream. Greene passed away peacefully in a Toronto hospital on September 1 at the age of 73, after a prolonged illness, confirmed by his agent.
Born on June 22, 1952, on the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario, Greene’s early life was far removed from the glamour of film. Before the stage called him, he endured years of hard labor, working as a steelworker, welder, draftsman, and audio technician. These humble beginnings forged in him a rare discipline and humility, essential qualities that shaped his distinguished acting career. A serendipitous suggestion to try theatre in the 1970s changed the trajectory of his life as he began acting on Canadian and English stages with quiet determination.
Greene’s breakthrough came in 1990 when the iconic director and star Kevin Costner chose him for the role of Kicking Bird, the Lakota holy man in the epic Western Dances with Wolves. His performance was hailed for its deep humanity and quiet strength, earning Greene an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, making him one of the first Indigenous actors to receive such esteemed recognition.
The film, a critical darling, won seven Oscars, including Best Picture. Greene’s role broke Hollywood’s pattern of stereotypical Indigenous portrayals, setting a new standard for authenticity and respect.
Following this landmark success, Greene’s career thrived across film, television, and theatre. He appeared in major films like Thunderheart (1992), Maverick (1994), Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995), The Green Mile (1999), The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009), Wind River (2017), and Molly’s Game (2017). His TV credits included beloved series such as Northern Exposure, Longmire, Defiance, Riverdale, American Gods, and more recently, The Last of Us and Reservation Dogs. Each role showcased his versatility—whether as spiritual guides or hardened survivors—always instilling his characters with depth and dignity.
In 2015, Greene’s groundbreaking work was honored with the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, Canada’s highest performing arts honor. Receiving the award with his characteristic humility, he confessed thinking the invitation was a prank, yet his contributions made him undeniably worthy.
Despite widespread fame, Greene remained grounded in his origins, proudly vocal about his Oneida heritage and Canadian identity. “I was born in Canada and I’m here to stay,” he once declared, steadfastly refusing calls to relocate to Hollywood.
At a recent private farewell in Stratford, Ontario, Greene’s family shared a poignant memorial video capturing highlights from his illustrious career and intimate home footage never before seen by the public. The emotional tribute left guests in tears, testament to the profound impact of Greene’s life and legacy.
Fellow actor and close friend Tom Jackson reminisced: “Of all the theatre actors I’ve known, Graham was the best. He was a man in the moment, always present, always real. It was an honor to share the stage and the screen with him.”
Greene leaves behind his beloved wife, Hillary Blackmore, daughter Lily Lazerie Greene, and son Tarlo Greene. Beyond his extensive filmography, Graham Greene leaves an enduring legacy of breaking barriers, telling truth, and placing Indigenous voices at the heart of storytelling.