TORONTO – Graham Greene, the Oscar-nominated Canadian actor known for his remarkable contributions to film, television, and theatre, has passed away at the age of 73 after a long illness. His management team announced that he died on Monday in Stratford, Ontario.
Born in Ohsweken, Ontario, Greene hails from the Six Nations Reserve and began his prolific acting career during the late 1970s, at a time when Indigenous talent was largely marginalized in the entertainment industry. He gained widespread recognition for his role as "Kicking Bird" in the 1990 film "Dances With Wolves," directed by and co-starring Kevin Costner. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture and earned Greene an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
In recent years, Greene continued to showcase his versatility as an actor, winning a Canadian Screen Award last year for his role in the comedy thriller "Seeds," directed by Kaniehtiio Horn. Horn, who grew up in a Mohawk reserve, shared her admiration for Greene, recalling how his performance in the 1991 film "Clearcut" resonated with Indigenous audiences by allowing them to root for an Indigenous character seeking revenge. This cathartic experience was particularly poignant in the aftermath of the Oka Crisis in the early '90s.
Greene's portrayal of his characters was characterized by a unique blend of depth and enthusiasm, as noted by Horn, who recalled the joy of working with him on various projects, including the Syfy series "Defiance" and the FX hit "Reservation Dogs." The rapport they developed over the years was described as a "niece-uncle" relationship, reflecting Greene's supportive nature and his desire to see Horn succeed in her directorial debut.
Greene's legacy is not only marked by his extensive filmography—which includes credits like "Die Hard: With a Vengeance," "The Green Mile," and "Maverick"—but also by his refusal to be typecast as just an Indigenous actor. Horn emphasized that Greene stood out and made each role memorable without conforming to stereotypes often applied to Indigenous characters. "He was not only a good Indigenous actor, he was a good actor who happened to be Indigenous," she stated.
Lou Diamond Phillips, Greene's co-star from the television series "Wolf Lake," expressed his profound sadness on social media following the news of Greene's passing, describing him as "one of the wittiest, wiliest, warmest people" he had ever known. Phillips paid tribute to their beautiful friendship that spanned various projects, marking Greene’s contribution to the arts as both iconic and legendary.
In recognition of his lifetime achievements, Greene was awarded the Governor General’s Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement in June and received the Order of Canada in 2015. His agent, Michael Greene, paid tribute to him, highlighting his moral ethics and character, and expressing the profound impact he made on those who knew him.
On stage, Graham Greene's impressive performances included roles in classics such as "Of Mice and Men" and "The Merchant of Venice" at the Stratford Festival, as well as Tomson Highway’s "Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasking." Greene leaves behind a significant legacy as one of the pioneering Indigenous actors who broke barriers and set a precedent for future generations in the industry.
