“Dances With Wolves” Actor Graham Greene Passes Away at 73

Hollywood and fans worldwide are mourning the loss of Graham Greene, the acclaimed Canadian actor whose performance in Dances With Wolves left an indelible mark on cinema history. Greene passed away peacefully on September 1 in Stratford, Ontario. He was 73.

“It is with deep sadness we announce the peaceful passing of award-winning, legendary Canadian actor Graham Greene,” his longtime manager, Gerry Jordan, confirmed in a statement to CBC News.

A Groundbreaking Career

Greene rose to international fame with his portrayal of the wise Sioux leader Kicking Bird in Kevin Costner’s Dances With Wolves (1990). The performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, making him only the second Indigenous performer ever nominated in that category, following Chief Dan George in 1971.

“I called my wife, Hilary, and said, ‘You won’t believe this—I’ve just been nominated for an Oscar,’” Greene once recalled. “Two minutes later, the phone wouldn’t stop ringing.”

Before Hollywood success, Greene’s life was filled with hard work and diverse experiences. He had worked as a carpenter, steelworker, draftsman, and even part of a rock-band crew. It wasn’t until the 1970s, when he began performing in UK theatre, that he found his true calling. Those years on stage, he later said, gave him the discipline and depth that shaped his screen career.

From Stage to Screen

Greene’s talents transcended genres and mediums. His filmography includes unforgettable roles in The Green Mile (1999), Wind River (2017), and more recently, television hits like Tulsa King and HBO’s The Last of Us.

In a 2012 interview, he credited his stage roots: “Theatre helps you build a character. When you get into film, you don’t have that luxury. The discipline of theatre is what I recommend to all actors.”

Cause of Death

Variety reported Greene died after a “long illness,” though his manager clarified he passed of natural causes.

A proud member of the Oneida Nation of the Six Nations Reserve in southern Ontario, Greene was widely regarded as a trailblazer for Indigenous actors in Hollywood. Variety called him “a pioneer,” and colleagues remembered his warmth, humor, and humility.

Actor Matty Cardarople, who shared the screen with Greene on Reservation Dogs, offered a heartfelt tribute:

“Rip Graham Greene. I had the honor of working with him on @rezdogsfx. On long van rides to set, he kept everyone laughing. He was lighthearted, wise, hilarious. He lived with no ego, no bitterness—just curiosity and joy. You’ll be missed.”

A Life Beyond the Camera

When asked in an interview what career he might have pursued if not acting, Greene answered with characteristic humor:

“I’d probably be a welder. I started out as a carpenter, a welder, a draftsman, a carpet layer, a roadie, and an audio tech. Then I stumbled into acting and thought, These people give me food, water, shade, and tell me what to say. This is the life of a dog!”

Final Days and Legacy

Greene spent his final moments with his wife, Hilary Blackmore, by his side at a Toronto hospital. His representative told the New York Post that the actor was “finally free.”

The couple first met on the set of Dances With Wolves, and their love endured for decades. Greene leaves behind Hilary, their daughter Lilly Lazare-Greene, and grandson Tarlo.

Remembered for his wisdom, heart, and barrier-breaking career, Graham Greene’s impact on both Indigenous representation and the wider film industry will endure for generations.