The entertainment world is mourning today as news breaks that Graham Greene, the groundbreaking Canadian First Nations actor who captivated audiences worldwide, has passed away at age 73. The Oscar-nominated star died in a Toronto hospital after battling a long illness, leaving behind an incredible legacy that changed how Indigenous people are portrayed on screen.

A Pioneer Who Broke Hollywood Barriers

Graham Greene wasn’t just an actor – he was a trailblazer who opened doors for Indigenous performers in an industry that had long stereotyped and marginalized Native voices. His agent, Michael Greene (no relation), shared the heartbreaking news with Deadline, saying: “He was a great man of morals, ethics and character and will be eternally missed. You are finally free.”

Those final words hit differently when you understand Greene’s lifelong fight against Hollywood’s narrow view of Indigenous people.

From Construction Worker to Hollywood Star

Greene’s path to stardom was anything but typical. Born in 1952 in Ohsweken on the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario, he was a member of the Oneida Nation. Before becoming a household name, he worked as a draftsman, civil technologist, steelworker, and even as a rock-band crew member. Talk about life experience!

His acting journey began almost by accident in the 1970s when he was working as a recording engineer. A friend convinced him to read a script, and that simple moment changed everything. He started performing in Canadian and English theatre productions, where he learned the craft that would make him famous.

“Theatre helps you build a character,” Greene explained in a 2012 interview with Playback magazine. “When you get into film you don’t have that luxury. The discipline of theatre is what I recommend to all actors.”

The Role That Changed Everything

1990 was Greene’s breakthrough year. Kevin Costner cast him as Kicking Bird, a Lakota medicine man in the epic western “Dances With Wolves.” This wasn’t just any role – it was a performance that earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and put him on Hollywood’s map.

But what made this role special wasn’t just the recognition. It was how Greene fought to bring authenticity to Indigenous characters who had been reduced to stereotypes for decades.

More Than Just Another Actor

Greene didn’t stop at one great performance. His filmography reads like a who’s who of Hollywood blockbusters:

• Thunderheart (1992) – as tribal officer Walter Crow Horse
• Maverick (1994) – alongside Mel Gibson
• Die Hard With A Vengeance (1995) – bringing gravitas to the action franchise
• The Green Mile (1999) – as Arlen Bitterbuck, a death row inmate
• The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009) – introducing his talent to a new generation
• Wind River (2017) – in Taylor Sheridan’s critically acclaimed thriller

Fighting Stereotypes Until the End

Perhaps Greene’s most powerful legacy was his constant battle against Hollywood’s stereotypical portrayal of Indigenous people. In a 2024 interview that now feels like his final message to the world, he revealed the painful reality of his early career:

“When I first started out in the business, it was a very strange thing where they’d hand you the script where you had to speak the way they thought native people spoke. And in order to get my foot in the door a little further, I did it. I went along with it for a while… You gotta look stoic. Don’t smile… you gotta grunt a lot.”

His voice of frustration is palpable as he continued: “I don’t know anybody who behaves like that. Native people have an incredible sense of humor.”

The Kevin Costner Connection

Greene’s relationship with Kevin Costner went beyond just director and actor. He actively pushed for more authentic representation in “Dances With Wolves,” telling Costner: “You know, the people in this film, in this village, they have an incredible family, incredible relationship and fun has always been part of that. Fun is 50% of how they live and enjoy things. Family is family, no matter what.”

This conversation helped reshape how the film portrayed Indigenous communities – not as stoic stereotypes, but as real people with humor, love, and complex relationships.

A Life of Recognition and Honor

Greene’s contributions didn’t go unnoticed. His trophy cabinet was impressive:

• Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor
• Earle Grey Award for Lifetime Achievement (2004)
• Order of Canada – the country’s second-highest civilian honor (2016)
• Canadian Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for lifetime achievement (June 2024)
• Grammy, Gemini, and Canadian Screen Awards
• Star on Canada’s Walk of Fame

Never Stopped Working

Even in his final years, Greene remained active in the industry. He appeared in recent hits like:

• Reservation Dogs (Taika Waititi’s FX series)
• The Last of Us (HBO’s post-apocalyptic drama)
• 1883 and Tulsa King (Taylor Sheridan productions)

True to his work ethic, Greene was still filming projects at the time of his death, with multiple unreleased films yet to reach audiences.

The Personal Side

Behind the Hollywood success was a man who found his greatest joy in family. In that 2012 interview, Greene said marrying his wife Hilary Blackmore led to “the best time of my life.” They were married for 35 years – a rarity in Hollywood that speaks to the man’s character.

His Lasting Legacy

Graham Greene leaves behind more than just a filmography. He leaves behind:

• His wife of 35 years: Hilary Blackmore
• His daughter: Lilly Lazare-Greene
• His grandson: Tarlo
• An entire generation of Indigenous actors who can now play complex, authentic characters thanks to the doors he opened

A Voice That Will Be Missed

Greene’s death marks the end of an era for Indigenous representation in Hollywood. He was more than an actor – he was an advocate, a pioneer, and a man who refused to let his people be reduced to outdated stereotypes.

His final interview words about Indigenous people having “an incredible sense of humor” and that “family is family, no matter what” serve as a perfect summary of what he fought for throughout his career – the right for Indigenous people to be seen as fully human, complex, and real.

In an industry that too often reduces people to categories, Graham Greene stood tall as a man who insisted on authenticity, fought for representation, and never forgot where he came from.

Rest in peace, Graham Greene. You are finally free, and your legacy will live on in every Indigenous actor who gets to play a real person instead of a stereotype.