Greene died in a Toronto hospital on September 1, 2025, after a long illness, according to a statement shared by his agent, Michael Greene (who is not related to the actor) via Deadline. “He was a great man of morals, ethics, and character, and will be eternally missed,” the agent stated. “You are finally free.” No specifications regarding Greene’s long-term illness were made.
Green was a part of the Oneida and was born on the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario, Canada, in 1952. He’s a second cousin once removed to fellow actor Gary Farmer.
As mentioned above, Greene is best known for playing Kicking Bird, friend and mentor to Kevin Costner‘s character in the 1990 hit film Dances With Wolves. It was a performance for which he was nominated under the category of Actor in a Supporting Role. In addition to the career-defining performance in Dances With Wolves, Greene made his mark in roles on TV and in film.
Among his most recent appearances onscreen was in Sterlin Harjo and FX‘s lauded coming-of-age dramedy, Reservation Dogs, during which he appeared in a recurring capacity during the show’s third and final season.
He also appeared in popular films like 1995’s Die Hard With Vengeance alongside Bruce Willis and Samuel L. Jackson, the second installment in the Twilight film franchise, The Twilight Saga:New Moon, and the adaptation of Stephen King’s The Green Mile. He also featured in the film Wind River and reteamed with Taylor Sheridan on TV in Tulsa King and 1883.
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