Graham Greene: Life, Career, Movies, and Legacy of the Beloved Actor
The entertainment world is mourning the loss of Graham Greene CM (actor), the Oscar-nominated Canadian First Nations (Oneida) performer who passed away on September 1, 2025, at the age of 73 in Stratford, Ontario. Known for his unforgettable role as Kicking Bird in Dances with Wolves, Greene’s career spanned over four decades across film, television, theatre, and even music.
Fans searching “Did Graham Greene die?” are heartbroken to learn that this legendary talent is no longer with us — but his movies and TV shows will forever preserve his legacy.
Early Life and Career Beginnings
Born June 22, 1952, in Ohsweken on the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario, Greene was an Oneida actor who grew up in Hamilton. Before pursuing acting, he worked as a draftsman, steelworker, welder, and even as an audio technician for rock bands in Newfoundland and Labrador. It was musician Kelly Jay who encouraged him to try acting, setting Greene on a path that would make him one of the most celebrated Indigenous actors of his generation.
His television debut came in 1979 on The Great Detective, and his film debut followed in Running Brave (1983). By the late 1980s, he was working in Toronto and England theatre productions, including Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing.
Breakthrough: Dances with Wolves
Greene’s breakthrough role came in Kevin Costner’s epic Dances with Wolves (1990), where he portrayed Kicking Bird (Ziŋtká Nagwáka). The performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, catapulting him into Hollywood fame.
Greene once shared how tough it was to learn the Lakota language for the role, describing its grammar as “totally foreign” compared to English or French. Despite the challenges, his performance remains one of the most memorable portrayals of Native characters in film history.
Graham Greene Movies and TV Shows
Over the decades, Graham Greene movies and TV shows demonstrated his remarkable versatility:
- Thunderheart (1992) – Walter Crow Horse
- Maverick (1994) – Sidekick to Mel Gibson
- Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995) – Detective Joe Lambert alongside Bruce Willis
- The Green Mile (1999) – Arlen Bitterbuck, in a deeply emotional role
- Skins (2002), Transamerica (2005), Casino Jack (2010)
- Winter’s Tale (2014), The Shack (2017), Wind River (2017)
- Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009) – Harry Clearwater, fan-favorite in Graham Greene Twilight searches
- TV roles in Northern Exposure, The Red Green Show, Exhibit A: Secrets of Forensic Science, Longmire, 1883, The Last of Us, Tulsa King, and Echo (Marvel, 2024).
Gamers also recognize him as the voice of Chief Rains Fall in Red Dead Redemption 2.
Awards and Recognition
Greene’s contributions were widely recognized:
- Academy Award nomination for Dances with Wolves
- Winner of a Grammy Award, Gemini Award, Canadian Screen Award, and Dora Mavor Moore Award
- Received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award in 2025
- Appointed Member of the Order of Canada (CM) in 2015
- Honorary Doctor of Law from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2008
Few Indigenous actors have matched the breadth of his achievements across stage, screen, and music.
Personal Life
Greene lived outside Toronto with his wife Hilary Blackmore and what he fondly called a “small army of cats.” He enjoyed writing, boat-building, and golf. Greene often said he preferred staying in Canada over Hollywood, noting, “A working actor can live anywhere as long as you have a phone, a fax, and know where the airport is.”
In 1997, he faced a major depressive episode that led to hospitalization, but he later returned to acting with renewed purpose. He also worked tirelessly to improve Native representation in media, often reminding people that Indigenous cultures are not only stoic but also deeply humorous.
Graham Greene Net Worth 2025
At the time of his death, Graham Greene net worth 2025 was estimated at around $5 million. His earnings came from decades of acclaimed performances in Graham Greene movies and TV shows, stage work, narration, and even video games.
Legacy of Graham Greene (Actor)
Yes, it is true: Graham Greene died in 2025. But his impact as Graham Greene actor — and a proud Oneida performer — will live on for generations. From Dances with Wolves to Twilight, from Shakespeare to Marvel, his career was a bridge between Indigenous storytelling and global cinema.
As fans revisit Graham Greene movies, Graham Greene TV shows, and interviews, one truth remains: his voice, humor, and authenticity transformed the landscape of Hollywood.
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Conclusion
The death of Graham Greene (actor) is a profound loss, but his work remains immortal. Whether you remember him as Kicking Bird in Dances with Wolves, Harry Clearwater in Twilight, or Malachi Strand in Longmire, his performances carry an enduring resonance. Though Graham Greene died in 2025, his legacy continues — not just as an actor, but as a trailblazer for First Nations representation in film.
