Graham Greene, a trailblazing Indigenous actor best known for ‘Dances
with Wolves’, dies at 73
[September 03, 2025]
By MARIA SHERMAN
NEW YORK (AP) — Graham Greene, a trailblazing Indigenous actor whose
long and successful career on the big and small screen included an Oscar
nomination for his portrayal of Kicking Bird in “Dances with Wolves,”
has died. He was 73.
Greene died Monday in Stratford, Ontario, after a long battle with an
unspecified illness. Variety first reported the news on Monday night. A
representative for Greene did not immediately respond to an Associated
Press request for comment.
Born in June 1952 in Ohsweken, Ontario, on Canada’s Six Nations Reserve,
Greene worked as a draftsman, high steelworker, welder and carpenter
before becoming an actor in the 1970s, beginning with the 1979 Canadian
drama series “The Great Detective” and 1983 film “Running Brave.”
He is best known for his landmark role as Kicking Bird in the 1990 film
“Dances with Wolves." Greene's 1991 Oscar nomination was one of 12 the
movie earned. It won seven, including the top prize of best picture and
best director for Kevin Costner. Greene also starred as Arlen Bitterbuck
in the 1999 Tom Hanks project, “The Green Mile.”
Greene had a storied career, also appearing in 1994's “Maverick,” 1995's
“Die Hard with a Vengeance,” 2012's “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn –
Part 2” and 2017's “Wind River.” He also acted in many critically
acclaimed television programs, including “Reservation Dogs,”“1883,”“The
Last of Us” and “Tulsa King.”
In 2000, Greene's “Listen to the Storyteller" won a Grammy for best
spoken word album for children. He also starred as elder Chief Rains
Fall in the massively popular 2018 video game “Red Dead Redemption 2.”
He was also nominated for an Independent Spirit award for the 2002 film
“Skins,” which documented life on the Lakota Sioux reservation.
Greene broke barriers for Native actors, demonstrating through his
singular talent that Indigenous stories should and must be told by them.
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Graham Greene attends a screening of "Antlers" at Regal Essex
Crossing on Monday, Oct. 25, 2021, in New York. (Photo by Charles
Sykes/Invision/AP, File)
 Tributes poured in. “Graham Greene
was one of the best to ever do it. He lived on the screen in an
absolutely unparalleled way. He made everything he was in better.
Funnier. Deeper. Memorable,” “Killers of the Flower Moon” star Lily
Gladstone wrote on Instagram. “It’s hard to find any suitable words
to express what his work meant, but his impact is unparalleled and
expansive. I wish I could have met him. I probably would have
thanked him.”
Costner posted on Instagram a scene from “Dances
with Wolves” in which his and Greene's characters are learning to
communicate with one another. “He was a master at work and a
wonderful human being,” Costner said of Greene's work on the film.
“I’m grateful to have been witness to this part of his lasting
legacy.”
D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai, who played Indigenous teenager Bear Smallhill
on “Reservation Dogs,” also expressed his appreciation. The FX
comedy-drama smashed caricatures and stereotypes of Native
Americans, who since the earliest days of film and TV have often
played supporting roles or been portrayed as bloodthirsty killers
standing in the way of white, westward expansion.
“You showed us it can be done and how to leave your mark. Trail
blazing for every young native actor just dreaming,” Woon-A-Tai
posted on Instagram. “Thank you for seeing something in me and
sharing your knowledge throughout our friendship. Teaching me
everything I know about this industry and more. I could never repay
you. I’m grateful to have worked with you, gotten to know you, and
call you Uncle.”
Greene is survived by his wife, Hilary Blackmore, and his daughter
Lilly Lazare-Greene.
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