Graham Greene, the acclaimed First Nations actor known for his iconic role as Kicking Bird in Dances with Wolves, passed away on September 1, 2025, at a Toronto hospital following a long illness. He was 73. Greene earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for the 1990 Kevin Costner–directed Western, which swept seven Oscars, including Best Picture.
A native of the Six Nations reserve, Greene broke stereotypes with deep, multidimensional portrayals of Indigenous characters across a prolific career spanning film and television. Highlights include Maverick, Die Hard with a Vengeance, The Green Mile, Wind River, and roles in celebrated TV shows like Reservation Dogs, The Last of Us, Tulsa King, and 1883.
His talent extended beyond acting—Greene earned a Grammy for Best Spoken-Word Album for Children, and in 2025, he received Canada’s prestigious Governor General’s Performing Arts Award. Known for his humility and strong moral compass, his agents described him as a man of unwavering ethics—one who “opened doors for Indigenous talent in Hollywood.”
Greene is survived by his wife Hilary Blackmore, their daughter Lilly Lazare-Greene, and grandson Tarlo. His final appearance will be seen posthumously in the upcoming film Ice Fall.
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