Graham Greene, Dances with Wolves Star, Passes Away at 73

Graham Greene, the Canadian First Nations actor known for his Oscar-nominated role in Dances with Wolves, has died at 73. 

His agent has confirmed Greene died in a hospital in Toronto, on September 1, 2025, following a long illness. His agent said in a statement Greene is a man of “ morals, ethics, and character,” and is now “ finally free.”

The Early Years of Graham Greene

Greene was born in Ohsweken, Ontario, on the Six Nations Reserve, on June 22, 1952. Before becoming an actor, he worked in many trades, such as steelworker and sound technician for rock bands.

Greene began performing on stage in the 1970s, after which he moved to television. Greene's first screen appearance was in The Great Detective, a Canadian series in 1979. A few years later, Greene's first film role was as legendary Olympic runner Billy Mills in Running Brave (1983).

How Dances with Wolves Made Him a Star

Greene’s big break came in 1990, when Kevin Costner cast him as Kicking Bird, a Lakota medicine man in Dances With Wolves.

The film was a critical and commercial success and won seven Academy Awards. Greene's performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, making him one of the few Indigenous actors to be recognized in Hollywood as such. Greene's role in Dances With Wolves helped change the production of Native characters on screen as well as opportunities for other actors in the industry.

The Performances We Remember

After the achievements of Dances with Wolves, Greene worked in all kinds of movies and television. Greene went on to act in the films Thunderheart, Maverick, Die Hard with a Vengeance, The Green Mile, and The Twilight Saga: New Moon.

On television, Greene appeared in Northern Exposure, Longmire, Reservation Dogs, Tulsa King, and The Last of Us. Greene was known to select roles of Indigenous characters that were complex, funny, and genuine rather than stereotypical.

Awards and Recognition

Throughout the years, Greene won numerous accolades for his work. He won a Grammy Award in 2000 for Best Spoken Word Album for Children, and in 2021 he received a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame. And just this year, he received the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, the highest award in the arts in Canada.

Tributes and Personal Life

Following the announcement of his death, tributes flowed in. Actor Lou Diamond Phillips called Greene "one of the wittiest, warmest people" he had ever met. Greene was widely recognized in the industry for his professionalism, and for opening doors for Indigenous actors in Hollywood.

Heartbroken. Terribly saddened to hear of the passing of Graham Greene at only 73.
From Wolf Lake to Longmire, we had a beautiful friendship.
An Actor’s Actor. One of the wittiest, wiliest, warmest people I’ve ever known. Iconic and Legendary. RIP, My Brother. pic.twitter.com/lJA0dKEoxz

— Lou Diamond Phillips (@LouDPhillips) September 1, 2025

Greene is survived by his wife of thirty five years Hilary Blackmore; daughter Lilly Lazare-Greene; and grandson Tarlo.

Remembering His Legacy

Graham Greene Net Worth in 2025: From Theater to Hollywood

Graham Greene has left us with a legacy of work that has changed the way Indigenous stories and characters are told in film and television. His performances had strength, humor, and humanity, and he was a respected actor of his generation.

It is a tremendous loss for the film world, but Graham Greene's influence will continue to live on as an inspiration in the hearts of audiences and future performers.

Source(Image / Thumbnail): variety.com