Legendary ‘Dances With Wolves’ Actor Graham Greene Dies at 73

Hollywood is mourning the loss of Graham Greene, the celebrated Canadian First Nations actor whose work left an indelible mark on cinema. Greene, best known for his Oscar-nominated role as Kicking Bird in Dances With Wolves (1990), has died peacefully at the age of 73, his manager confirmed.

Born into the Oneida Nation, part of the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario, Greene’s life and career were anything but ordinary. Before stepping onto a stage, he worked as a draftsman, steelworker, and even with a rock band crew. It wasn’t until the 1970s, when he ventured into theatre in the UK, that his passion for acting truly took shape.

In a 2012 interview, Greene reflected on how theatre shaped his career: “It 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.”

A Breakthrough Star

Greene’s big break came in Dances With Wolves, where his moving portrayal of Kicking Bird earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The performance was hailed as both powerful and groundbreaking, spotlighting Indigenous characters in a more authentic way than Hollywood had often done before.

His talent didn’t stop there. Greene went on to deliver memorable roles in:

• Thunderheart (1992) as tribal officer Walter Crow Horse
• Maverick (1994) alongside Mel Gibson
• Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995) with Bruce Willis
• The Green Mile (1999) as Arlen Bitterbuck
• The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)
• Wind River (2017)

Honors and Legacy

Over the years, Greene was recognized with countless awards. In 2004, he received the Earle Grey Award for Lifetime Achievement from the Academy of Canadian Film and Television. Two years later, in 2016, he was inducted into the Order of Canada, one of the nation’s highest civilian honors.

Beyond the accolades, Greene often credited his marriage to Hilary Blackmore as one of the most important milestones in his life, calling it “the best time of my life.”

Remembering Graham Greene

Greene’s death is a profound loss not only for the film industry but also for Indigenous communities who saw in him a voice, a trailblazer, and a storyteller who broke barriers. From epic westerns to fantasy dramas, he brought authenticity and gravitas to every role.

As tributes pour in, fans and colleagues alike are remembering him not just as a talented actor, but as a man who changed the way Indigenous stories were told on screen.