Graham Greene, the esteemed Canadian First Nations actor known for his role in the Oscar-winning film Dances With Wolves, passed away on September 1, 2023, in a hospital in Toronto after a prolonged illness. He was 73. Greene’s agent, Michael Greene, expressed profound sadness in a statement, saying, “He was a great man of morals, ethics and character and will be eternally missed.” He also referenced Greene’s longtime agent, Susan Smith, who died in 2013, stating, “You are finally free. Susan Smith is meeting you at the gates of heaven.”
Born on June 22, 1952, in Ohsweken on the Six Nations Reserve, Greene initially worked various odd jobs before pursuing a career in acting. He began his journey on stage, performing in Canadian and English theatre productions during the 1970s. Greene made his television debut in 1979 with an episode of the Canadian drama series The Great Detective, followed by his film debut in the 1983 movie Running Brave.
Rise to Prominence
Greene’s breakthrough moment came in 1990 when he was cast as Kicking Bird (Ziŋtká Nagwáka) in Kevin Costner‘s Dances With Wolves. The film garnered 12 Academy Award nominations, including a nomination for Greene in the Supporting Actor category. Ultimately, it won seven Oscars, including Best Picture, and launched Greene’s illustrious Hollywood career.
Following his success in Dances With Wolves, Greene appeared in several notable films, such as Maverick (1994) alongside Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster, Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995) starring Bruce Willis, as well as The Green Mile (1999) with Tom Hanks, and The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009) featuring Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. He also starred in Transamerica (2005) with Felicity Huffman and in Wind River (2017) directed by Taylor Sheridan, alongside Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen.
A Lasting Legacy
Greene’s contributions to television were significant as well, with regular roles in series such as Wolf Lake, Defiance, and Marvel’s Echo. He also had recurring roles in acclaimed shows like Northern Exposure, Lonesome Dove: The Series, Being Erica, Longmire, Goliath, and American Gods. Beyond his Oscar nomination, his accolades include a Grammy Award, Gemini Award, and a Canadian Screen Award, as well as nominations from the Independent Spirit Awards.
Greene also received a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame and was honored earlier this year with the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award in Canada. One of his final roles was in the critically acclaimed series Reservation Dogs, which continues his legacy of paving the way for Indigenous talent in Hollywood.
Greene’s final film, Ice Fall, a thriller starring Joel Kinnaman, is set to be released posthumously. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Hilary Blackmore, daughter Lilly Lazare-Greene, and grandson Tarlo.
