Kevin Costner's Emotional Tribute To Dancing With Wolves Legend Graham Greene

Sad news to start the week: Graham Greene has died at 73 after a long illness, passing on September 1, 2025. If you have watched, well, almost anything since the early 80s, you have probably seen him. Colleagues and fans have been flooding social media with tributes, and one of the most personal came from Kevin Costner, Greene's director and co-star on Dances with Wolves.

Kevin Costner remembers his Dances with Wolves co-star

Costner posted a clip from Dances with Wolves on Instagram and wrote a thoughtful caption that hits all the right notes. It is a little inside baseball in the best way, calling out the craft behind Greene's performance and the work it took to get there.

"A few things come to mind when I think of Graham Greene and our time together on Dances With Wolves."

"I think of how willing he was to learn the Lakota language. I think of my joy when I heard that his work on the film was recognized with an @theacademy Awards nomination."

"And I think of this scene in particular, when he was able to establish so much about the relationship between Dunbar and the natives with so few words. He was a master at work and a wonderful human being. I'm grateful to have been witness to this part of his lasting legacy. Rest in peace, Graham."

The Lakota detail stands out. It is not the kind of thing you fake, and it says a lot about Greene's approach and the care put into that production. For the record, Greene played Kicking Bird in Dances with Wolves, and that performance earned him his first Academy Award nomination.

Graham Greene's legacy, at a glance

Greene, a Canadian First Nations actor, built one of those careers that quietly touches everything. Nearly 200 screen credits since the early 80s is not just prolific; it is the definition of a working actor who shows up and elevates whatever he is in.

• Film highlights: The Green Mile, The Twilight Saga: New Moon, Wind River, and Dances with Wolves (as Kicking Bird, the role that brought him his first Oscar nomination).
• Stage work: Known for powerful turns in Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing, The Crackwalker, and more.
• Community response: Colleagues and fans have been sharing memories and condolences across social media since the news broke.

Greene leaves behind a body of work that is big, varied, and consistently grounded. The faces paying tribute today are a reminder of how many artists he impacted along the way.