The film world is sad after the death of Graham Greene, a respected Canadian actor of Oneida heritage. He died at age 73 in a Toronto hospital. He was well-known for playing Kicking Bird in Dances with Wolves. Greene’s career lasted more than 40 years and made a big impact on how Indigenous people are shown in movies.
Greene was born on June 22, 1952, on the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario. He started from a simple background but became famous worldwide. His role in Dances with Wolves (1990) earned him an Oscar nomination, the first for an Indigenous actor. He acted in movies like The Green Mile, Wind River, and Maverick, and TV shows such as Reservation Dogs and Longmire. His acting showed both strength and kindness.
Graham Greene, Oscar-nominated ‘Dances With Wolves’ actor, dead at 73 https://t.co/I4ZNE3rzF1 pic.twitter.com/b1x8tiVRjj
— Page Six (@PageSix) September 2, 2025Greene’s representative said he passed away in a Toronto hospital, with his wife, Hilary Blackmore, by his side. He had been sick for a long time but kept working. He had a part in the new movie Ice Fall. The family has not shared the cause of death.
Greene played important parts that changed how Indigenous people are seen in films. His role as Kicking Bird made Dances with Wolves earn $424 million worldwide. He also did well in The Green Mile and Thunderheart and won a Grammy and Gemini awards. His work in Reservation Dogs helped tell true Indigenous stories.
Greene broke barriers in a film world that often gave false images of Indigenous people. He helped young actors and made movies with real Indigenous voices. He received the Order of Canada and the 2025 Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for his work
