Actor Graham Greene, Star of Dances With Wolves receiving Lifetime Achievement Awards, June 13, 2025.
Canadian actor Graham Greene, whose performances brought Indigenous voices to global screens, has died at 73. His management confirmed he passed away Monday in Stratford, Ontario, after a long illness.
Born in Ohsweken, Ontario, and a member of the Six Nations Reserve, Greene built a career spanning film, television, and theatre. From the late 1970s, he worked steadily, breaking barriers in an industry that often sidelined Indigenous talent.
Breakthrough with Dances With Wolves
Greene rose to international fame in 1990 with his role as “Kicking Bird” in Kevin Costner’s Dances With Wolves. The performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, cementing his place in cinema history.
His versatility became evident across decades of work, from blockbusters to independent films. He appeared in Die Hard: With a Vengeance, The Green Mile alongside Tom Hanks, and the western comedy Maverick. On television, he featured in series including Wolf Lake, Longmire, and more recently, Reservation Dogs.
A Mentor and Inspiration
Greene’s influence extended well beyond his screen credits. Actor and director Kaniehtiio Horn remembered discovering him as a child when her family rented Clearcut in the early 1990s.
“He was playing this playful, badass character,” Horn said. “It was cathartic for Indigenous audiences, especially after the Oka Crisis. He was someone we could cheer for.”
Years later, Horn worked alongside Greene on Defiance and Reservation Dogs. Their collaboration deepened when she cast him in her directorial debut, Seeds, a role that earned him a Canadian Screen Award in 2023.
“By then, we had a niece-uncle rapport,” Horn shared. “Getting him to improvise was surreal, but he made it easy. He wanted me to succeed. He would tell me he was proud of me.”
Horn described his passing as the loss of “one of the old guard,” comparing him to fellow Indigenous screen icons Gary Farmer and Wes Studi. She praised Greene for refusing to be boxed into stereotypes.
“As much as they wanted to typecast him, he never let that happen,” she said. “Even when cast in traditional roles, he stood out and made them unforgettable.”
Admired by Peers
Greene’s impact was felt across the industry. Actor Lou Diamond Phillips, who co-starred with him in Wolf Lake, shared a heartfelt tribute.
“From Wolf Lake to Longmire, we had a beautiful friendship,” Phillips wrote. “He was witty, warm, and an actor’s actor. Iconic and legendary.”
Recognition and Legacy
Greene’s contributions were recognized at the highest levels. He received the Order of Canada in 2015 and, this June, was honoured with the Governor General’s Award for lifetime artistic achievement.
His agent, Michael Greene, called him “a great man of moral ethics and character” who will be “eternally missed.”
Greene also left his mark on the stage, performing in classics such as Of Mice and Men and The Merchant of Venice at Stratford Festival, as well as Tomson Highway’s Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing.
From Hollywood sets to Canadian theatres, Graham Greene built a legacy defined by talent, resilience, and integrity. He is remembered not only as a groundbreaking Indigenous performer but as one of Canada’s most gifted actors.
