Graham Greene, a pioneering actor from the Canadian First Nations community who significantly contributed to the representation of Indigenous actors in Hollywood, passed away on September 1 in a Toronto hospital after a prolonged illness. He was 73 years old and was notably an Oscar nominee for his role in ‘Dances with Wolves’.
“He was a great man of morals, ethics and character and will be eternally missed,” Greene’s agent, Michael Greene (no relation), stated in a release to Deadline. “You are finally free. Susan Smith is meeting you at the gates of heaven,” he added, paying tribute to Greene’s longtime agent who passed away in 2013.
Born on June 22, 1952, in Ohsweken on the Six Nations Reserve, Greene initially took on various jobs before pursuing acting. He began his career on stage, participating in Canadian and English theater productions throughout the 1970s.
Greene made his television debut in 1979 with an episode of the Canadian drama ‘The Great Detective‘, and his first film appearance followed in 1983’s ‘Running Brave’. His career took a significant turn when he was cast by Kevin Costner as Kicking Bird (Ziŋtká Nagwáka) in the 1990 Western ‘Dances with Wolves’. The film earned 12 Academy Award nominations, including a Best Supporting Actor nod for Greene, and ultimately secured seven Oscars, including Best Picture.
‘‘Dances with Wolves’ catapulted Greene into Hollywood, leading to roles in major films such as ‘Maverick’ (1994) alongside Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster, ‘Die Hard with a Vengeance’ (1995) with Bruce Willis, ‘The Green Mile’ (1999) opposite Tom Hanks, ‘The Twilight Saga: New Moon’ (2009) with Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, and ‘Molly’s Game’ (2017) directed by Aaron Sorkin.
Additionally, Greene starred in significant films including ‘Thunderheart’ (1992) with Val Kilmer, ‘Transamerica’ (2005) opposite Felicity Huffman, and ‘Wind River’ (2017) alongside Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen. Taylor Sheridan also enlisted Greene for roles in his series for Paramount+, including ‘1883’ and the recently released ‘Tulsa King’.
Greene’s television credits are extensive; he held regular roles in ‘Wolf Lake’, ‘Defiance’, and Marvel’s ‘Echo’, and had recurring parts in shows like ‘Northern Exposure’, ‘Lonesome Dove: The Series’, ‘Being Erica’, ‘Longmire’, ‘Goliath’, and ‘American Gods’.
In addition to his Oscar nomination, Greene’s accolades include a Grammy, Gemini, Canadian Screen Award win, and Independent Spirit nomination. He was honored with a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame and received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award earlier this year.
Also Read : Nio’s Remarkable Growth Challenges Tesla’s Dominance in the EV Market
A fitting tribute to his legacy, one of Greene’s final performances was in FX’s critically acclaimed series ‘Reservation Dogs’, known for showcasing Indigenous talent in Hollywood. He continued to work up until the end, with one upcoming film, the thriller ‘Ice Fall’, starring Joel Kinnaman.
He is survived by his wife, Hilary Blackmore, with whom he shared 35 years, as well as a daughter, Lilly Lazare-Greene, and a grandson, Tarlo.
