Oscar-Nominated Actor Graham Greene, Known for ‘Dances With Wolves,’ ‘The Green Mile,’ Dies at 73

The Indigenous actor died on Monday of natural causes, his agent confirmed.

Graham Greene attends a screening of "Antlers" at Regal Essex Crossing in New York on Oct. 25, 2021. Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

Graham Greene, an indigenous Canadian actor who garnered an Oscar nod for his riveting performance in the 1990 epic Western film “Dances with Wolves,” has died at the age of 73.

Greene died of natural causes on Sept. 1 in Stratford, Ontario, his agent in Canada, Gerry Jordan, told The Epoch Times via email on Tuesday.

“It is with deep sadness we announce the peaceful passing of award-winning legendary Canadian actor Graham Greene,” Jordan said. “No further information will be released at this time. Details regarding a remembrance celebration will be shared in the coming days.”

Greene’s U.S. representative, Michael Greene, who is of no relation, told ABC News that the actor had been battling a “lengthy illness” up until his death.

“He was a great man of Morals Ethics [and] Character and will be eternally missed,” the agent shared. “We love you, my brother Greene. God bless you.”

Greene was born on June 22, 1952, on Six Nations of the Grand River, a First Nations reservation located in Southern Ontario.

After landing his first major film role in the 1983 biographical sports drama “Running Brave,” the prolific actor went on to accumulate nearly 200 on-screen credits throughout his decades-long career, often portraying indigenous characters on screen.

Some of his most memorable film roles include “Thunderheart” (1992), “Maverick” (1994), “Die Hard with a Vengeance” (1995), “The Green Mile” (1999), “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” (2009), and “Wind River” (2017).

He is also known for appearing in the television shows “Wolf Lake,” “Defiance,” “Longmire,” “The Detour,” “Goliath,” “Reservation Dogs,” “Echo,” and “Tulsa King.”

Greene earned an Academy Award nomination for “Best Supporting Actor” in 1991 for his portrayal of Lakota Sioux medicine man Kicking Bird in “Dances With Wolves,” starring and directed by Kevin Costner.

In the wake of his death, Greene was remembered online by his peers and fans.

Actor Lou Diamond Phillips—who starred alongside Greene in “Wolf Lake” and “Longmire”—took to X to share that he was heartbroken over the news.

“Terribly saddened to hear of the passing of Graham Greene at only 73,” Phillips wrote, calling Greene “an actor’s actor.”

“One of the wittiest, wiliest, warmest people I’ve ever known,” he added. “Iconic and Legendary. RIP, My Brother.”

Actor Robert Patrick shared a similar sentiment, writing: “Heartbroken to hear Graham Greene has passed. I had the privilege of working with him on ‘The Outer Limits’... I loved that man! Absolute legend.”

SAG-AFTRA also paid tribute online, describing Greene as “a proud member of the Oneida Nation & a pioneer for Indigenous representation.”

“We honor the trailblazing legacy of Graham Greene,” the entertainment labor union wrote. “From ‘Dances with Wolves’ to ’Reservation Dogs’ & ‘Tulsa King,’ he brought heart & quiet power to every role.”

The actor is survived by his wife of 34 years, Hilary Blackmore; his daughter, Lilly Lazare-Greene; and his grandson, Tarlo.