Softly-spoken, iconic actor Graham Greene was Oneida, born on the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario. He began his working life in the steel industry, as a draftsman, welder, carpenter and civil technician. For a while, he also operated a recording studio in Hamilton, Ontario, later sidelining as an audio technician for rock bands. Greene's acting career did not take off until the 1970s and 80s when he began performing in theatres, first in Toronto and then in England. Upon his return to Canada and with good reviews under his belt, he was cast opposite Al Pacino in the British-made historical drama Revolution (1985). He subsequently portrayed primarily First Nations people on the screen, becoming internationally best known for his Oscar-nominated role as Kicking Bird in Kevin Costner's epic Der mit dem Wolf tanzt (1990). He was featured in other A-grade productions like Halbblut (1992), Maverick - Den Colt am Gürtel, ein As im Ärmel (1994) and The Green Mile (1999).
For the small screen, Greene was top-billed as Ishi in the made-for-television movie Der letzte seines Stammes (1992), playing the last known survivor of the Yahi tribe (who died in 1916). He also played Chingachgook in The Pathfinder (1996), based on the classic pioneering novel by James Fenimore Cooper. His many episodic TV guest appearances include stints on Outer Limits: Die unbekannte Dimension (1995), Dead Man's Gun (1997), Skinwalkers: The Navajo Mysteries (2002), 1883 (2021) and Tulsa King (2022). Greene co-starred alongside Lou Diamond Phillips in the short-lived supernatural drama series Wolf Lake (2001). They also appeared together in several episodes of Longmire (2012), with Greene featured as casino security chief Malachi Strand. Yet another recurring pivotal character was Greene's wealthy mine owner Rafe McCawley in the off-beat science fiction series Defiance (2013).
On stage, Greene has worked with the Native Earth Performing Arts, at the Theatre Passe Muraille, the Manitoba Theatre Centre and the Royal Alexandra Theatre. His many accolades have included an honorary doctorate in law from Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario (in 2008), a Grammy and, two Gemini Awards. He was inducted into Order of Canada in 2016 and became a recipient of the Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement in 2025.
Prior to his untimely death on September 1 2025, Greene resided with his wife Hilary Blackmore (plus lots of cats) outside of Toronto, continuing his acting career, writing and building boats.
