Graham Greene, the groundbreaking Canadian actor who transformed Indigenous representation in Hollywood, passed away on September 1, 2025, at 73 after a long illness in Toronto.
Born June 22, 1952, on Ontario’s Six Nations Reserve, Greene proudly carried his Oneida Nation heritage. Before acting, he worked odd jobs like being a band roadie until someone suggested he try acting—a decision that changed everything.
His breakthrough came in 1990 as Kicking Bird in Dances with Wolves, earning the first Best Supporting Actor Oscar nod for an Indigenous actor. He joked about struggling with the Lakota language but helped reshape Native portrayals on screen.
With over 180 credits, Greene starred in films like Thunderheart, Die Hard with a Vengeance, The Green Mile, Wind River, and TV shows including Northern Exposure, Longmire, and Reservation Dogs. He won a Grammy, Gemini, Canadian Screen Awards, and the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award.
His agent Michael Greene called him a man of integrity, saying, “You’re finally free. Susan Smith’s waiting for you at heaven’s gates.”
He is survived by his wife Hilary Blackmore, daughter Lilly Lazare-Greene, and grandson Tarlo. Graham Greene’s legacy lives on, breaking barriers and inspiring true stories in film and beyond.