Graham Greene, Dances With Wolves star, dies at 73

Graham Greene, the Canadian First Nations actor whose Oscar nominated turn as Kicking Bird in the 1990 Western Dances With Wolves helped launch a decadeslong career, died on September 1, 2025, after a long illness. He was 73. On Tuesday, his longtime colleague Kevin Costner paid tribute on Instagram, posting a clip of the film and praising Greene’s dedication and craft.

Costner recalled Greene’s willingness to learn the Lakota language for the role and singled out the Tatanka scene, in which his character Dunbar pretends to be a buffalo to communicate with Wind In His Hair and Kicking Bird. “I think of how willing he was to learn the Lakota language,” Costner wrote. “I think of my joy when I heard that his work on the film was recognized with an Academy Awards nomination. He was a master at work and a wonderful human being.” Costner added that he was grateful to have witnessed that part of Greene’s legacy and closed his post, “Rest in peace, Graham.”

Greene’s agent, Michael Greene, confirmed the actor’s death and said in a statement that Greene “was a great man of morals, ethics and character and will be eternally missed.” Michael Greene, who is not related to the actor, said in...