Graham Greene, Academy Award Nominated First Nations Actor, Has Passed Away at 73

Graham Greene has died after an extended illness. The First Nations actor was 73. Greene was known for his roles in movies like Dances with Wolves, Thunderheart, The Twilight Saga, and more recently he was on Reservation Dogs and Tulsa King. The actor paved the way for many other indigenous performers. Graham Greene was the recipient of multiple awards, including a Grammy for best spoken word performance for children’s album ‘Listen to the Storyteller.’

 

Graham Greene’s Early Life

Greene was born in 1952 in Canada on the Six Nations Reserve. He grew up in Ohsweken and began appearing in professional theatrical productions in the early 1970s. In 1979, Greene made his television debut in The Great Detective and then his breakout role was portraying a Sioux Indian, Kicking Bird in Dances with Wolves. His performance opposite Kevin Costner in this movie earned him an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor.

Graham later said that learning the Lakota language was extremely difficult. However, he and costars Rodney Grant and Tantoo Cardinal managed to get some of the language’s nuances down within weeks prior to filming. For his performance as Kicking Bird, Graham said he would stuff his shoes with bologna to impede his walk.

 

Graham Greene’s Prolific Performances

With a stunning amount of work – over 180 credits – to his name, and some projects in development, Graham Greene brought both his cultural heritage and considerable skill to the table. He appeared as Slick Nakai in several Tony Hillerman television movies, and also in the Skinwalkers TV series.

Later on in his career he portrayed Ben in Wind River with Elizabeth Olsen and Jeremy Renner, Nabahe in Shadow Wolves, and he had a recurring role as Malachi Strand on TV series Longmire. Graham also appeared as character Toni Topaz’s grandfather in television series Riverdale.

Graham Greene both produced and acted in 2025 film Protectors of the Land, which is about a Native American family fighting a Mexican drug cartel in Alaska. Two more of his projects were recently completed. They are Ice Fall, and Afterwards; both movies are due to be released in October.

Graham Greene – Leaving a Lasting Legacy

Because of Graham’s portrayal of Kicking Bird, among other characters, he opened the door for more Native American and Furst Nations actors to become involved in show business. His career spanned nearly five decades and he had success in both Canadian and American productions.

His rep, Michael Greene (no relation) made the following statement to Deadline:

He was a great man of morals, ethics and character and will be eternally missed. You are finally free. Susan Smith is meeting you at the gates of heaven.

Susan Smith was Greene’s agent who died in 2013.

Besides his Oscar nomination and his Grammy, Greene received a Gemini Award, a Canadian Screen Award, and he was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award. He additionally received a star on the Canadian Walk of Fame as well as the Earle Grey Lifetime Achievement Award. Greene also was bestowed an honorary doctorate of law from Sir Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario.

The storied actor leaves behind his wife, Hilary Blackmore, two children, and a grandchild. Rest in peace, Graham. Although you’re with the Great Spirit now, your spirit will live on through all of your truly amazing work.