Graham Greene, the actor who received an Oscar nomination for his role as Kicking Bird in “Dances With Wolves,” passed away on September 1, 2025, in Toronto after a prolonged illness at the age of 73. Greene was a highly respected Indigenous Canadian actor whose portrayal of Kicking Bird in “Dances With Wolves” made him a pioneering figure for First Nations representation in mainstream cinema. Over his impressive four-decade career, he delivered memorable performances in films like “Thunderheart,” “Maverick,” “The Green Mile,” “Reservation Dogs,” “The Last of Us,” and the Marvel series “Echo.” He was known for challenging stereotypes and advocating for genuine Indigenous voices in film and television. Born on June 22, 1952, in Ohsweken, Ontario, part of the Six Nations Reserve, he belonged to the Oneida First Nation. Before diving into acting, he held various trades and technical jobs, including working as an audio technician for Canadian rock bands. Greene started his on-screen journey in the late 1970s with a television debut in “The Great Detective” and made his film debut in “Running Brave.” His international breakthrough arrived in 1990 with “Dances With Wolves,” which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He continued to be a significant presence in both film and television throughout his career. Some notable films included “Die Hard with a Vengeance,” “The Twilight Saga: New Moon,” “Wind River,” and “Transamerica.” He is also remembered for his TV roles in shows like “1883,” “Tulsa King,” “Northern Exposure,” “The Red Green Show,” “Murder, She Wrote,” and “Defiance.” Additionally, he hosted the Canadian series “Exhibit A: Secrets of Forensic Science” and lent his voice to a character in the video game “Red Dead Redemption 2.” A strong advocate for Indigenous representation in media, Greene emphasized that Native Americans are more than just stoic reservation residents. In a 2022 interview with Canada’s Theatre Museum, he recounted leaving an audition for a war movie after being told: “We talked… and he says, ‘You know, I can’t really see a Native American working on a submarine.’ And I said, ‘Well, if you could, I would let you tell my four dead uncles who died in the Pacific on subs thanks for the trip to New York. I’m going to Sardi’s for lunch now.’ I got up and left.” Alongside his Academy Award nomination, Greene won a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children due to his reading of “Listen to the Storyteller.” He was honored with the Earle Grey Award recognizing lifetime achievement from Canada’s Gemini Awards. Furthermore, he was appointed as a member of the Order of Canada and had a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame. By Legacy News Staff (Image: Joe Pugliese/Syfy/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
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