Oscar-nominated actor Graham Greene, who made history with his powerful performance in Dances with Wolves, has died at the age of 73.
The Canadian First Nations star passed away on September 1 in a Toronto hospital after a long illness, his agent confirmed.
He was an extraordinary man of character, ethics and morals and will be sorely missed,” said his agent Michael Greene in a statement. He added that he is now reunited with his long-time agent Susan Smith, who passed away in 2013.
Born on June 22, 1952, in Ohsweken on the Six Nations Reserve, Greene held various jobs prior to taking up acting in the 1970s. He started out on stage in Canada and England, prior to appearing on TV and film. His first screen appearance was in 1979 with an episode of The Great Detective, prior to his first feature film appearance in Running Brave (1983).
Greene’s big break came when Kevin Costner hired him to play Kicking Bird in Dances with Wolves (1990). The Western hit both critical and commercial gold, with 12 Academy Award nominations. Greene was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor award, a first for Indigenous recognition in Hollywood.
After his breakout, Greene established a remarkable career in film and television. Among his credits are Thunderheart (1992), Maverick (1994), Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995), The Green Mile (1999), Transamerica (2005), and Wind River (2017). He has also worked in blockbusters such as The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009) and Molly’s Game (2017).
Greene had principal roles on TV in Wolf Lake, Defiance, American Gods, Goliath, and most recently, Echo. Taylor Sheridan consistently hired him for work, among other productions, on 1883 and Tulsa King. His last TV credit was on the highly rated show Reservation Dogs, which continued to honor Indigenous voices.
Greene’s accomplishments were rewarded with various awards, including a Grammy, Gemini, Canadian Screen Award, and a star on Canada Walk of Fame. Last spring, he received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for his contributions to Canadian culture.
He is survived by his wife of 35 years, Hilary Blackmore, daughter Lilly Lazare-Greene, and grandson Tarlo. Greene had one project that was still unreleased, Ice Fall, a thriller featuring Joel Kinnaman.
His death signals the end of a successful career, but Graham Greene’s legacy in Hollywood and Aboriginal depiction will be remembered for generations.
Jamie Wells has a knack for getting the inside scoop on Hollywood’s biggest stars and up-and-coming talent. With a sharp eye for industry trends and an ear for viral moments, Jamie covers everything from red-carpet events to behind-the-scenes drama in movies, TV, and celebrity culture.
