First Nations trailblazer Graham Greene, Oscar-nominated for ‘Dances With Wolves,’ dies at 73

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Graham Greene, an award-winning actor known for advocating for Indigenous roles in Hollywood, passed away on Monday at the age of 73 in Toronto, following a prolonged illness. This information is reported by Deadline and other sources.

Hailing from Ohsweken, on the Six Nations Reserve, Greene experienced a surge in his film career when he was chosen by Kevin Costner to portray Kicking Bird (Ziŋtká Nagwáka) in the 1990 film “Dances With Wolves.” This critically acclaimed movie went on to win the Academy Award for Best Picture, and Greene received an Oscar nomination for his compelling performance as best supporting actor.

Throughout his time on the big and small screens, starting from the 1979 Canadian mystery series “The Great Detective,” Greene has appeared in over 180 films and television productions. It was in 1983’s “Running Brave” that he made his debut on the silver screen.

He subsequently played leading roles in various well-known films such as “Maverick,” “The Green Mile,” “Die Hard with a Vengeance,” and “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2.” Additionally, he acted in “Tulsa King,” “Riverdale,” and took on the role of Maximus in the final season of the critically acclaimed series “Reservation Dogs,” which turned out to be some of his last performances.

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In a more straightforward and conversational style, the statement could be rephrased as follows: Although Graham Greene, a comedic and macho Canadian actor, gained fame with “Dances With Wolves,” his unique talents for comedy and masculinity were not fully utilized in that particular movie.

When he passed away, there were eight pending projects lined up for him, one of which was the suspenseful movie “Ice Fall,” directed by Stefan Ruzowitzky. This film, starring Joel Kinnaman and Danny Huston, had already been filmed, and its release was set for October.

The man was exceptionally virtuous, with strong moral principles and a noble character, and his absence will be felt forevermore,” said Michael Greene (not related) in a statement shared with multiple outlets such as Deadline and TMZ. Addressing the actor’s former agent who passed away in 2013, he continued, “Now you have found peace. Susan Smith awaits you at the gates of heaven.

Beyond his accomplishments as an actor, Greene achieved a Grammy in 2000 for the best spoken word album for children, “Listen to the Storyteller”. He is a multi-award winner, having been honored with Gemini and Canadian Screen Awards, nominated for Independent Spirit Awards, inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame (in 2021), and this year, he was bestowed the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award in his home country.

In 1991, Greene shared with The Times that “Dances With Wolves” was undeniably his most significant project. It has brought about notable shifts in his life – he’s now more recognized by the media, and unknown writers are sending him scripts. While this newfound attention can be overwhelming (he’s being bombarded), overall, it’s a positive development that he shouldn’t grumble about.

Greene leaves behind his longtime partner, Hilary Blackmore, who was married to him for 35 years; his daughter Lilly Lazare-Greene; and a grandchild named Tarlo.

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2025-09-02 05:31