Bryan McAllister’s personal reference notebook
July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
A quiet encyclopedia with a personal desk
Screen & Stage • Actor

Graham Greene (actor)

Graham Greene was a Canadian First Nations actor and recording artist of Oneida descent, best known for his Academy Award-nominated performance as Kicking Bird in *Dances with Wolves* (1990).

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Graham Greene was a Canadian First Nations actor of Oneida descent, best known for his Oscar-nominated role as Kicking Bird in *Dances with Wolves* (1990). He worked across film, television, and theatre for over five decades.

Early life and background

Greene was born on June 22, 1952, on the Six Nations Reserve near Brantford, Ontario, and was Oneida of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. He grew up in Ontario before beginning a career in performance.

Acting career

He made his television debut in 1979 and his film debut in 1983, then achieved international recognition with *Dances with Wolves* in 1990. His later work included film and television roles across North America, spanning five decades.

Recognition and legacy

Greene received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for *Dances with Wolves* and is widely recognized as a major Indigenous performer in Canadian screen history. His career helped increase visibility for First Nations actors. He died on September 1, 2025, in Stratford, Ontario, at age 73.

In short

  • Oneida actor from Six Nations Reserve
  • Oscar-nominated for Dances with Wolves
  • Career spanned 1970s to 2025
  • Died in 2025 at age 73
Canadian angle

Graham Greene was a prominent Canadian actor from Ontario and an important Indigenous cultural figure in Canadian film, television, and theatre.

Quick questions

Who was Graham Greene?
He was a Canadian First Nations actor and recording artist of Oneida descent, best known for *Dances with Wolves*.
What role made Graham Greene famous?
He became internationally known for playing Kicking Bird in Kevin Costner’s *Dances with Wolves* (1990).
Was Graham Greene nominated for an Oscar?
Yes. He received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for *Dances with Wolves*.

Sources

  1. Wikipediahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Greene_(actor)
    Supports: Birth and death dates, Oneida identity, career overview, and Academy Award nomination.
  2. The Canadian Encyclopediahttps://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/graham-greene
    Supports: Canadian identity, Oneida background, reputation, and major biographical details.
  3. IMDbhttps://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001295/bio/
    Supports: Birth place, death place, and biographical summary.
  4. EBSCO Research Startershttps://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biography/graham-greene
    Supports: Early life, training, career milestones, and awards overview.
  5. The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/sep/06/graham-greene-obituary
    Supports: Death notice and age at death.
  6. Turner Classic Movieshttps://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/986378%7C0/Graham-Greene
    Supports: Known-for role in *Dances with Wolves* and Indigenous background.