“Dance with Wolf” star Graham Green has passed away. He was 73 years old.
The famous Canadian First Nations actor passed away Monday at a Toronto hospital after fighting a “long illness.”
“He is a great man of morality, ethics and character, and will forever be overlooked,” actor agent Michael Green (unrelated), told the deadline for the statement.
“You’re finally free. Susan Smith will meet you at the gates of heaven,” he added, referring to the actor’s longtime agent who passed away in 2013.
Born in Six Nations Reserve in Ontario, Canada in 1952, the actor has been praised for opening the door for indigenous actors in the entertainment industry.
An early-stage actor, Graham made his television debut in 1979 with the Canadian series The Great Detective, and then began his film career four years later with Running Brave.
Global fame came in “Dance with Wolves” a few years later. There he acted on the other side of Kevin Costner. His role as a bird kicking bird in a western film earned him an Oscar nomination for the best supporting actor.
He later appeared in starring roles, including “Maverick” (opposite Oscar winners Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster).
Many of his roles on television over the years included “Murder,” “She Written,” “Northern Exposure,” and “The Lonely Dove: Series.”
And recently he has appeared in the Disney+ mini series “Echo,” the Paramount+ series “Tulsa King” and “Sweet Summer Pow Wow.”
In a 2021 interview, the Oscar nominee said he aims to diversify the roles he has played over the years.
“I tend to drive my career and play unique and different roles,” he told the salon at the time.
“I played God twice. I played a judge, a lawyer, a doctor, a police officer, a detective,” he continued. “Role diversity is something I like to play. I don’t want to be pigeon-holeeded as one thing because you’re caught up in one role.”
When asked if there was a particular role he still wanted to play, he was easy.
“The ones that pay the most,” he told the outlet. “That’s honest.”
Graham was survived by his wife, Hilary Blackmore and daughter, Lily Lazare Green.
