Oscar-nominated Actor Graham Greene Dies At 73

Hollywood loses a legend: the pioneering Indigenous actor whose performances shaped Hollywood and beyond has died, leaving behind a powerful artistic legacy.

A towering presence both on and off screen, Graham Greene, the groundbreaking First Nations actor who became a symbol of Indigenous excellence in mainstream Hollywood, has passed away at the age of 73, leaving behind a career marked by brilliance, dignity, and unapologetic representation.

His death on September 1, 2025, in a Toronto hospital, followed a long illness, and has left fans across the globe stunned and grief-stricken.

The tragic news was confirmed by his agent, Michael Greene, who made it clear there was no relation between them, only a shared surname and deep admiration.

"He was a great man of morals, ethics, and character and will be eternally missed," the agent told Deadline. "You are finally free. Susan Smith is meeting you at the gates of heaven." Susan Smith was Graham's former agent, who died in 2013.

From Steel and Welding to Center Stage

Born in Oshweken, Ontario, Graham's path to international stardom was anything but conventional. Before setting foot on a single stage, he labored in gritty, hands-on trades like steel work, welding, carpentry, and even audio engineering.

But it was the theater that eventually claimed him, and he pursued it with a fearless passion. Graham's artistic journey took him from England to South America, where he didn't just perform but also taught theater, spreading his gift across continents.

Among his early achievements were his stage roles in "The Crackwalker," "Jessica," and "DY Lips Oughtta Move Kapuskasing," the latter of which earned him the Dora Maver Moore Award.

Oscar Nomination Catapulted Him to Stardom

But it was Hollywood's spotlight that eventually came calling, and Graham answered in a way only he could. His breakout role as Kicking Bird in Kevin Costner's 1990 epic "Dances With Wolves" earned him a coveted Academy Award nomination.

He followed it up with appearances in a string of hits, including "The Green Mile," "Maverick," "Snow Dogs," and "Die Hard with a Vengeance."

Television audiences, too, couldn't get enough of his quiet gravitas and magnetic screen presence. From "Dudley the Dragon" and "North of Sixty" to "Rocket Science" and "1883", Graham made himself at home on both the big and small screen.

He also took on fan-favorite roles in "Longmire" and as Harry Clearwater in the "Twilight" saga, endearing himself to a whole new generation of viewers. In his final years, he remained busy with projects like "American Gods," "The Last of Us," "Tar," "Two Minutes to Midnight," and several others.

A Simple Life with Pets, Boats, and Laughter

Despite his fame, Graham lived quietly outside Toronto with his wife Hilary Blackmore and their "small army of cats." When he wasn't on set, he was building boats, writing, or simply soaking in the joys of everyday life.

In a revealing 2024 interview with R. H. Thompson for Canada's Theatre Museum, Graham opened up about playing bad guys and told a hilarious story about his wife.

"Well, you get to do basically stuff you'd never do out in the street. You get to be funny and sassy and lippy with people, and nobody punches you or anything because you always got a gang behind you," he said with a laugh, describing why playing the villain was so much fun.

The interviewer then asked if he had ever played a good guy who was "sassy and lippy." Graham said yes and mentioned that James Garner was like that. The actor was a man Hilary had adored since she was a teenager.

He and Graham worked together on "Maverick," and it was during that shoot that one of the couple's most unforgettable moments unfolded.

During a visit on set, Hilary got to sit next to James, who talked to her for a long time and even patted her knee. She was completely starstruck. So when Graham approached and gently asked, "Honey, I'm going up to the trailer, you want to come?", her response was as priceless as it was brutal:

"I'll see you later. Yes, Mr. Garner?"

The moment could have stirred envy in any man. But when R. H. asked Graham if that had made him jealous, the actor shook his head and delivered a line that revealed the rock-solid trust at the heart of their relationship.

"No, I just started laughing. So eventually she came back to the trailer. 'You're happy now?' And she says, 'That's the dream come true right there.' I said, 'Excellent,'" he responded.

The interviewer then quipped that Hilary may have married him to meet famous people. But Graham, never missing a beat, coolly replied, "Oh, I don't know. I think it was my charm and my wits."

It was a cheeky, unfiltered look at a marriage full of humor, warmth, and unshakable affection — one that endured through fame and the occasional brush with a Hollywood heartthrob.