Graham Greene, Oscar-Nominated ‘Dances With Wolves’ Actor, Dies at 73

Graham Greene, Oscar-Nominated ‘Dances With Wolves’ Actor, Dies at 73

Graham Greene, an Oscar-nominated actor from "Dances With Wolves," passed away at age 73.

 

Graham Greene, the acclaimed Canadian First Nations actor best known for his Oscar-nominated role in Dances With Wolves, has died at the age of 73. His agent confirmed that Greene passed away on September 1, 2025, at a hospital in Toronto after a long illness.

 

Born on June 22, 1952, in Ohsweken on the Six Nations Reserve, Greene’s journey to Hollywood was far from ordinary. Before stepping into acting, he worked a variety of jobs before finding his place on stage in Canadian and English theater productions during the 1970s. His television debut came in 1979 with The Great Detective, and his first film role followed in Running Brave (1983).

 

Kevin Costner's casting of Greene as Kicking Bird in the Academy Award-winning Western Dances With Wolves in 1990 marked his big break. Greene was nominated for Best Supporting Actor among the film's twelve Oscar nominations.

His performance not only brought him international recognition but also opened doors for Indigenous actors across Hollywood.

 

Graham Greene has a remarkable career in both film and television over the years. Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995), The Green Mile (1999), The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009), Wind River (2017), Molly's Game (2017), and Maverick (1994) are among his film credits. Additionally, he starred in Thunderheart (1992), Transamerica (2005), and most recently, Taylor Sheridan's Paramount+ series Tulsa King and 1883.

 

His television work was equally impactful, with roles in Northern Exposure, Lonesome Dove: The Series, Defiance, Longmire, American Gods, and Marvel’s Echo. One of his final appearances was in FX’s award-winning series Reservation Dogs, where he continued to highlight Indigenous representation in media.

 

Greene’s contributions were recognized with numerous honors, including a Grammy Award, Gemini Award, Canadian Screen Award, and a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame. Earlier in 2025, he was presented with the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award, one of Canada’s highest cultural distinctions.

 

In a statement, Greene's representative Michael Greene stated, "He was a great man of morals, ethics, and character and will be eternally missed." Greene is "finally free."

 

Graham Greene is survived by his wife of 35 years, Hilary Blackmore, their daughter Lilly Lazare-Greene, and grandson Tarlo. His final film, Ice Fall, starring Joel Kinnaman, is set for release posthumously.