Graham Greene’s career was a gift to audiences everywhere. From his Oscar-nominated role in Dances with Wolves to his scene-stealing turns on stage, television, and even video games, he carried Indigenous stories and perspectives to the world with honesty, humor, and heart. His life reminds us of the power of resilience, creativity, and laughter.
Graham Greene CM was born on June 22, 1952, in Ohsweken on the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario.
He was a member of the Oneida Nation and became one of Canada’s most internationally recognized actors.
Greene achieved worldwide fame playing Kicking Bird in Dances with Wolves (1990), earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Before acting, he worked as a draftsman, steelworker, and welder, as well as an audio technician for rock bands in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Musician Kelly Jay encouraged him to try acting, which sparked his career in theatre.
He made his professional theatre debut in the 1970s in Toronto and England, including the University of Western Ontario’s touring performance of Wacousta.
Greene’s television debut came in 1979 in The Great Detective.
His film debut was in Running Brave (1983).
He frequently collaborated with Native Earth Performing Arts, notably playing Pierre St. Pierre in Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing.
Greene was well known on television for playing Edgar “K.B.” Montrose, the explosives expert, on The Red Green Show.
He appeared as Ishi, the last Yahi, in HBO’s The Last of His Tribe (1992).
He starred in major Hollywood films including Thunderheart, Maverick, Die Hard with a Vengeance, and The Green Mile.
Greene portrayed Chief Rains Fall in the acclaimed 2018 video game Red Dead Redemption 2.
He acted as Spotted Eagle in 1883 (2022) and appeared in The Last of Us and Reservation Dogs in 2023.
Greene was awarded a Grammy, Gemini, Canadian Screen Award, Dora Mavor Moore Award, and in 2025, the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award.
He received an honorary doctor of law degree from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2008.
Greene was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 2015.
He enjoyed a long marriage to Hilary Blackmore, and they shared their home with a “small army of cats.”
In interviews, Greene emphasized that Native people should be portrayed as more than stoic, saying, “My people are very funny.”
Graham Greene passed away on September 1, 2025, in Stratford, Ontario, leaving behind a legacy that bridged Indigenous storytelling and global cinema.
These 20 facts only scratch the surface of a remarkable journey. Graham Greene leaves behind a legacy of storytelling that transcends borders and genres, and a spirit that continues to inspire actors, musicians, and fans alike. His voice, his humor, and his presence will be missed—but never forgotten.
