TORONTO: Graham Greene, the acclaimed Canadian Indigenous actor famous for his powerful performance as Kicking Bird in the epic western Dances With Wolves, has passed away at the age of 73.
His manager, Gerry Jordan, confirmed that Greene died peacefully on Monday of natural causes.
A member of the Oneida Nation from the Six Nations Reserve in southern Ontario, Greene’s portrayal of the medicine man in the 1990 film earned him a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Academy Awards.
The role catapulted his career, leading to memorable appearances in blockbuster films such as Die Hard with a Vengeance and The Green Mile.
Beyond his work on the silver screen, Greene had a long and celebrated career in television, featuring in popular shows including Northern Exposure, Reservation Dogs, and most recently, The Last of Us.
He also had roles in two films from The Twilight Saga franchise.
Throughout his life, Greene was a dedicated advocate for Indigenous artistes.
Just this past June, he was awarded the prestigious Governor General’s Award for lifetime artistic achievement. Reflecting on the evolving landscape for Indigenous actors, Greene once remarked, “At first, there was nothing, no real outlet for our acting, our storytelling, our careers, our talent.”
He added that it was “great to see” the growing number of Indigenous writers and actors now breaking into the industry.
In recognition of his contributions to the arts and his country, Greene was also appointed to the Order of Canada in 2016, one of the nation’s highest civilian honours.
His legacy will be remembered not only for his incredible talent but also for his trailblazing efforts in paving the way for future generations of Indigenous storytellers.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
