Graham Greene, the Oscar-nominated actor from Dances With Wolves, died Monday after a lengthy illness in Stratford, Ontario, his rep told The Hollywood Reporter. He was 73.
“He was a great man of morals, ethics and character and will be eternally missed,” Greene’s agent Michael Greene said in a statement to THR. “You are finally free. Susan Smith is meeting you at the gates of heaven,” referring to the actor’s longtime agent, who died in 2013.
Born on June 22, 1952, in Ohsweken on the Six Nations Reserve and a graduate of the Centre for Indigenous Theatre Program in 1974, the Canadian actor made his small-screen debut on the 1979 Canadian drama series The Great Detective and film debut in Running Brave (1983).
However it was his role as Kicking Bird in the 1990 film Dances With Wolves that earned him a best supporting actor Oscar nomination. Out of its 12 nominations, Dances with Wolves won seven, including one for best picture.
The film launched Graham’s career to new heights; he had performances in more than 200 film and television productions and starring roles at the Stratford Festival.
His other best-known films included Maverick (1994), Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995), The Green Mile (1999), The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009) and Aaron Sorkin’s Molly’s Game (2017).
He also starred in Thunderheart (1992) opposite Val Kilmer, Transamerica (2005), Wind River (2017) and on the FX series Reservation Dogs.
Most recently, Greene starred in the Tyler Sheridan series 1883 and Tulsa King.
Throughout his career, Greene received numerous accolades including several Gemini’s, a Grammy and was the recipient of the Earle Grey Lifetime Achievement Award. He was bestowed an honorary doctor of law degree in June 2008 from Sir Wilfred Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario which was near the Oneida Reserve where he is from.
Greene was also the recipient of the Order of Canada and the Governor General’s Award.
He is survived by his wife Hilary Blackmore; daughter Lilly Lazare-Greene; and grandson Tarlo. Details regarding a remembrance celebration are expected to be shared in the coming days.
