• Published: Sep 02 2025 05:54 PM
  • Last Updated: Sep 02 2025 06:19 PM

Explore Graham Greene’s journey from Indigenous theater to Hollywood fame, his iconic roles, career highlights, income sources, and lasting legacy.


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Canadian actor Graham Greene, who is recognized for his constructive performance in Dances with Wolves and a history of theater, film, and television work, is still one of the most distinguished Indigenous voices within Hollywood. He has worked in a wide variety of mainstream projects as well as independent ones for decades that continue to inspire audiences and young actors across the world.

Who Is Graham Greene?

Graham Greene was a First Nations Canadian actor. He had over a 40 year career in film and television. He rose to fame as Kicking Bird in Dances With Wolves (1990), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award.

 He has also appeared in films such as The Green Mile, Die Hard With a Vengeance, and Wind River, and, in the past few years, starred in hit series like Tulsa King and Marvel’s Echo. Graham Greene’s life and works showed his, talent and ethic and contributed to the telling of Indigenous stories to the whole world.

Graham Greene

Graham Greene Biography

Category

Details

Full Name

Graham Greene

Date of Birth

June 22, 1952

Date of Death

September 1, 2025

Age at Death

73 years old

Birthplace

Six Nations Reserve, Ontario, Canada

Nationality

Canadian

Ethnicity

First Nations (Oneida)

Profession

Actor

Education

Attended The Centre for Indigenous Theatre, Toronto

Early Career

Worked as audio technician for Canadian rock bands; various trades

Acting Debut

Late 1970s theater; TV debut in 1979 (The Great Detective)

Breakthrough Role

Kicking Bird in Dances With Wolves (1990)

Notable Works

Dances With Wolves, The Green Mile, Die Hard With a Vengeance, Thunderheart, Maverick, Twilight Saga: New Moon, Wind River, Longmire, Tulsa King, Echo

Major Recognition

Oscar Nominee (1991), Grammy, Gemini, Canadian Screen Award, Member of the Order of Canada (2015), Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award (2024)

Industry Span

40+ years (1979–2025)

Spouse

Hilary Blackmore (married December 20, 1990)

Children

Lucy Greene and Francis Hugh Greene (with Hilary Blackmore); another child from previous relationship with Carol Lazare

Grandchildren

Grandson Tarlo

Residence

Lived primarily in Canada, with periods in the U.S.

Height

Approximately 5 ft 10 in

Hobbies & Interests

Writing, golf, boat building; lived with a “small army of cats”

Net Worth (2025 est.)

Around $1 million

Legacy

A pioneering Indigenous actor who broke stereotypes and inspired generations of First Nations talent

Graham Greene Net Worth in 2025: Latest Estimate

At the time of his death, in September 2025, Graham Greene’s net worth was roughly $1 million. There are sources that estimate it to be closer to $2 million dollars, but most credible sources listed his worth on a net worth scale of $1 million dollars.

This amount illustrates the consistent salary an actor could earn for a succession of productive, meaningful, roles, instead of huge paychecks in blockbuster films, makes it clear that this actor is committed to meaningful and important stories, not fame or money.

Income Sources in 2025

Graham Greene made most of his money through acting, but he had various sources of revenue which included the following:

  • Film Roles – He acted in many major films such as Dances With Wolves and The Green Mile that contributed to his income.
  • Television – He acted in many television series, such as Longmire, Defiance, Tulsa King, and Echo.
  • Residuals – His extensive film career created plenty of rerun and streaming residuals.
  • Theatre – During his early career, he contributed to Canada theatre plays.
  • Voice – He caters to various kinds of assignment or contract, which sometimes included some narration or voice acting.

Graham Greene

Timeline of Net Worth Growth

The path of Graham Greene's financial career demonstrates the constancy and solidness of his acting career. His net worth consistently grew throughout his career from theatre to international cinema.

  • 1980s – Made less than a living wage doing Canadian stage and television shows.
  • 1990s – Reached a turning point with Dances With Wolves which brought better pay checks and recognition worldwide.
  • 2000s – A mixed bag of Hollywood blockbusters and independent films helped stabilize things somewhat.
  • 2010s – Overall industry shifts with streaming platforms, which generally paid per episode of recurring television work, helped maintain earnings.
  • 2020s – Net worth of about 1 million by 2025, with a few promising projects, like, Tulsa King and Echo.

Graham Greene Net Worth Growth (1990–2025)

Year

Estimated Net Worth

Key Highlights

1990

$200,000

Dances With Wolves success raised his profile

1995

$400,000

Major role in Die Hard With a Vengeance

2000

$600,000

Continued success with Hollywood & Canadian projects

2005

$700,000

Regular supporting roles maintained steady income

2010

$800,000

Earnings from TV series and residuals grew

2015

$850,000

Streaming platforms added new income streams

2020

$900,000

Films like Wind River + TV appearances

2025

$1,000,000

Final years included Tulsa King and Echo

Graham Greene Early Life and Education

Graham Greene was born on the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario, Canada, into a closely-connected community. He worked in several areas from stagehand to sound engineer, before becoming an actor. He, and many others, then went to The Centre for Indigenous Theatre in Toronto to gain experience in acting. 

There were aspects to his culture and background that influenced his work, and he became recognized as one of the more strong voices of Indigenous people in the film industry.

Graham Greene Career Journey

Graham Greene's life can be subdivided into three major phases:

  • Foundation (1970s-1980s) - Early phase work in Canada, working on his craft.
  • Breakthrough (1990s) - Dances with Wolves catapulted him to worldwide superstardom and fostered Indigenous pride.
  • Veteran Actor (2000s- 2025) - Greene appeared in mainstream films while also working on projects that had meaning, thus earning the respect of his peers as a Hollywood veteran.

Graham Greene Salary per Movie

Exact numbers vary but estimates show: 

  • 1990s Blockbuster Films - Likely paid $100,000 to $300,000 per major role.
  • Supporting Roles in 2000s–2020s - Likely paid $50,000 to $150,000 per appearance.
  • TV Series/Streaming - Pay per episode usually ran from $15,000–$40,000.

Greene was not a huge earner in Hollywood, but his consistent work kept it together financially.

Assets: Cars & Business Ventures

Unlike many performers, Greene lived a pretty simple lifestyle.

  • Cars Time – No reported luxury and collection; just practicality or attending to necessities. 
  • Business Ventures – No widely reported; acting was his only ambition.
  • Lifestyle – Lived modestly, always family and heritage ahead of wealth.

Graham Greene Awards and Achievements

Greene gained prominence over his career internationally and nationally because:

  • Academy Award Nominations (1991) - Best Supporting Actor for Dances With Wolves.
  • Gemini Award - For excellence in Canadian TV.
  • Countless Awards - Various awards from the cultural and Indigenous communities of Canada for his contributions to the arts.

Graham Greene

Graham Greene House and Lifestyle

Greene was private when it came to his personal life. Multiple reports indicate he lived in Canada with his wife Hilary Blackmore, where they tried to maintain a secluded lifestyle. He wanted to avoid the spotlight as much as he could when he was not acting and was known for placing his cultural roots above the Hollywood allure.

Comparing to Other Actors

When measured against peers in Hollywood who accumulated tens of millions of dollars, Greene's financial number doesn’t seem significant. It is important to remember that Greene's legacy was never about wealth. Greene was about the following:

  • Breaking down barriers for Indigenous actors.
  • Embodying a range of roles across film, television, and the stage.
  • Gaining respect as a cultural figure and not just a Hollywood actor.

Graham Greene Family

Graham Greene married Hilary Blackmore on December 20, 1990. Together they had two children:

  • Lucy Greene 
  • Francis Hugh Greene 

Greene also has a daughter Lilly Lazare-Greene, and a grandson, Tarlo. This is confirmed by other reputable sources, including People magazine and ABC News.

Hilary Blackmore born in Saskatchewan is a former actress and stage manager. She was working on production for Dances with Wolves before their marriage, and met Graham Greene there. Even with her important presence in the business, she preferred, and allowed Greene, to be the family representative while she maintained a somewhat low profile.

The couple lived in a house outside of Toronto, where they lived with what Greene called a "small army of cats", which reflects Greene's love of animals and a tranquil life away from the limelight of fame.

Graham Greene

Graham Greene Cause of Death

Graham Greene died on September 1, 2025, at 73 and had been ill for quite some time, his representatives said. Those in the film industry and fans remember him as a great actor and someone who made First Nations actors visible.

Graham Greene death

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

Graham Greene’s Lasting Legacy

Graham Greene’s death marks the end of an era, but his body of work will continue to inspire generations. From his Oscar-nominated role in Dances With Wolves to recent streaming successes, he proved that talent, persistence, and cultural pride can leave a legacy far greater than wealth.

Source(Image / Thumbnail): www.celebritynetworth.com

FAQ

His net worth in 2025 was estimated at around $1 million.

He passed away on September 1, 2025, at age 73, after a long illness.

He was nominated for an Academy Award and won several Canadian awards, including a Gemini Award.

He was born on the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario, Canada.

Yes, he was married to Hilary Blackmore.

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