Miles Morrisseau
ICT
The man I encountered was a magnificent-looking fellow.
Those were the words used to describe Graham Greene after he walked onto the movie screen in his iconic Oscar-nominated role as Kicking Bird in “Dances with Wolves.”
It is one of the great entrances in movie history and a showcase of Greene’s talent and artistic range. At first viewers see the epitome of Indigeneity in Kicking Bird with fantastic hair, glorious beadwork, buckskin and feathers, at one with nature and horse whispering.
Moments later he is falling all over himself in comedic slapstick when he is yelled at by a naked Kevin Costner, who uttered the memorable line in the film. Greene is the stoic face of drama and the grinning smile of comedy all in one scene. He would be nominated for an academy award as best supporting actor for the performance.
But it was not only his acting skills in such iconic productions as “Dances with Wolves, “Reservation Dogs,” and Thunderheart” that drew tributes after his death Sept. 1 at age 73 in Toronto after a long illness. His impact as an Indigenous actor was remembered by fans, famous and otherwise, who mourned the loss.
“A few things come to mind when I think of Graham Greene and our time together on ‘Dances With Wolves,’” Costner posted on social media after news of Greene’s death.
“I think of how willing he was to learn the Lakota language. I think of my joy when I heard that his work on the film was recognized with an @theacademy awards nomination,” Costner wrote. “He was a master at work and a wonderful human being. I’m grateful to have been witness to this part of his lasting legacy. Rest in peace, Graham.”
Cherokee actor Wes Studi also appeared with Greene in “Dances with Wolves” early in both their careers and later in “Reservation Dogs.”
“I had the distinct honor of first working with Graham Greene in 1990 as we filmed ‘Dances With Wolves,’” Studi posted on his official Facebook page. “I’ve had the pleasure of working with him and knowing him off screen since. The world has lost a true talent and advocate. It’s a sad day indeed. Rest in peace, great warrior.”
Greene died in a Toronto hospital Monday, Sept. 1, surrounded by close friends and family. He is survived by his wife 34 years, Hilary Blackmore, daughter Lilly Lazare-Greene, and grandson, Tarlo.
Greene was nominated for an Oscar for best supporting actor for “Dances with Wolved,” and he has won a host of other awards over the years, including receiving the Order of Canada, the highest civilian award in the country, in 2025. He also won a Grammy for best spoken word album for children in 2000
Early years
Greene was considered among the most accomplished and awarded Indigenous actors of his or any generation.
Born on the Six Nations of The Grand River on June 22, 1952, Greene was a proud member of the Oneida Nation. He began his career on the stage, working with the Centre for Indigenous Theatre and performing with the Native Earth Performing Arts theatre company.
He was part of an incredible ensemble cast in Tomson Highway’s play, “Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing,” which included Billy Merasty, Ben Cardinal, Kennetch Charlette and Doris Linklater. Greene would win best actor in Toronto’s 1989 Dora Mavor theatre awards for his performance as Pierre St. Pierre.
Gary Farmer, Greene’s cousin and a fellow member of Six Nations of the Grand River, was also a cast member in the play. He remembers how hard Greene worked from an early age.
“He grew up with nothing and he had to go out and work, and he became … an iron worker at 14 in Rochester, New York,” Farmer told ICT. “I swear, he started really young. And then he became a wonderful sound man, right?”
Indeed, Greene became a respected sound man and worked at the rock-and-roll shows that would tour in the area including Hamilton, Toronto and Buffalo, New York. He also continued to do community work, providing sound for recitals on Six Nations and performing in comedic partnership with Farmer.
“I’ll never forget this skit that Graham and I did,” Farmer recalled. “It was his idea, where he would put his boots on his hands and he would come next to me … like he’s a child, a child with big cowboy boots. And his face [would have] a blanket over it so you couldn’t see his body. “We’d do this little skit for the crowd and, oh, you know, we had a lot of fun.”
Award-winning performances
One of Greene’s first notable performances on film was in the cult classic, “PowWow Highway,” with Farmer in 1990.
It was a small role but indelible to anyone who has seen the film. Greene plays a Vietnam veteran who is suffering from post traumatic stress who provides important life advice to protagonist Buddy Red Bow played by A.Martinez.
He followed up that performance with his role in Costner’s epic film, “Dances with Wolves,” about a suicidal soldier who seeks redemption among the Sioux. “Dances with Wolves” would go on to be for 12 Academy awards and win seven, including Best Picture and Best Director for Costner. Greene was edged out by Joe Pesci for his role in “Goodfellas.”
Greene then took the lead in the 1991 independent film, “Clearcut,” in a groundbreaking role that is perhaps unmatched in the canon of Canadian film. The anger of Indigenous people who have been dispossessed of their rights and watch helplessly as government and corporations destroy the natural world comes into frightening focus when Greene’s character captures a representative of a forestry company and proceeds to skin him alive, just as the corporations are doing to the earth.
The film was referenced in the 2024 film “Seeds,” in a wonderfully meta performance with Greene as a spirit helper. Greene won the best supporting actor award for that role in the 2025 Canadian Screen Awards.
In 1992, he starred opposite Val Kilmer in the Wounded Knee-inspired film, “Thunderheart,” as savvy local police officer Walter Crow Horse. And in 1994. he stole the movie, “Maverick,” from its star Mel Gibson in the hilarious role of Joseph.
Greene was an international star and a star for Indigenous people around the world, but in Canada he was omnipresent for Indigenous people, being one of the only Indigenous faces on television. He was a regular on the “Red Green Show,” which was a popular comedy series that ran from 1994 -2006 and was in syndication on Canadian television. The show aired daily with , Greene playing the loopy dynamite-loving Edgar K.B. Montrose on the show and in the 2001 movie, “Duct Tape Forever.”
He was the host and narrator for “Exhibit A: The Secrets of Forensic Science,” a series that probed into murders and re-enacted crimes in from 1997-2001. That show was also on syndication for years and connected with all the true-crime addicts who didn’t have anything else to watch.
And for the children, he played Mr. Crabby Tree in the series, “The Adventures of Dudley the Dragon,” from 1994-1997. That series, too, went on to syndication and was available for years on Canadian television. Greene won the Gemini award for Canadian television in 1994 for the best performance in a children or youth series or program.
He continued to work until very recently, and a number of projects will be released posthumously, including an autobiographical documentary and the latest project from “Reservations Dog” creator Sterlin Harjo, “The Lowdown,” which is premiering in September at the 50th annual Toronto International Film Festival.
Mourning the loss
Greene had gravitas; his presence immediately grounded viewers in reality. If he was there, then what was happening in that world on that screen became real.
His death hit hard across Indigenous communities.
Kelly Boutsalis, Mohawk from Six Nations of the Grand River who is a programmer for this year’s TIFF, grew up with pride knowing Greene was from her home community. She credits him for breaking the path for those who followed.
“He knocked down those doors for so many of these films that are being made today, and we have him to thank for it,” Boutsalis told ICT. “He was showing up in super Indigenous films. He was showing up in ‘Die Hard With a Vengeance.’ He was in roles where he wasn’t playing an Indigenous person, he was just playing a cop.
“He’s played so many roles, and he was on those sets, and he was representing for Indigenous people in spaces where there weren’t that many there,” she said.
Jason Ryle, Anishinaabe Lake St. Martin First Nation, is the international programmer for Great Britain, Australia, New Zealand, and Global Indigenous Cinema at the Toronto festival. He said he last spoke to Greene at the Imaginative Film Festival in July when the actor was awarded the August Schellenberg Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in film and television.
“Anytime we lose an icon – and he truly was an icon – there’s sadness, but also there’s that sort of looking with love, with pride at what he accomplished,” Ryle told ICT. “Because that shines really brightly on us all.”
Elaine Bomberry, also from Six Nations and a long-time producer and promoter of musicians and live music, posted to Facebook. She remembered the joy that seemed to surround Greene.
“The news about the passing of legendary Actor & Friend Graham Greene has been very difficult to absorb,” she wrote. “As I reflect on all the different shows and premieres I got to work with him on over the decades, one thing I will always remember was everyone around him always cracking up with laughter at his jokes & antics.”
Actor Gil Birmingham, who recently appeared as Tribal Chairman Thomas Rainwater on the Paramount Network series Yellowstone, was among those who had worked with Greene who took to social media to mourn his loss.
“My heart is broken,” Birmingham wrote. “We have lost a man of incredible talent who made a positive impact on Native representation in film, inspiring a new generation of Native actors. His great heart was only matched by his wickedly funny sense of humor. My prayers are with his family and friends. Journey on, Graham, R.I.P.”
Actor Ethan Hawke worked with Greene in Harjo’s “The Lowdown,” in which Greene will appear this season in several episodes.
“I had the pleasure of working with Graham Greene earlier this year.” Hawk said. “His career is legendary: ‘Dances with Wolves,’ ‘Thunderheart,’ ‘Reservation Dogs,’ to name a few. He has always possessed extraordinary grace, wisdom, wit, & depth. Working with him was shockingly fun. He improvised brilliantly and infused every moment with spontaneity & humor. I even got to break bread with him- and share some fries. I am shocked to hear of his passing. Blessed travels, friend.”