Graham Greene, a trailblazing Indigenous actor best known for ‘Dances with Wolves’, dies at 73

Greene died Monday in Stratford, Ontario, after a long battle with an unspecified illness.. Variety first reported the news on Monday night. A representative for Greene did not immediately respond to an Associated Press' request for comment.

Born in June 1952 in Ohsweken, Ontario, on Canada’s Six Nations Reserve, Greene worked as a draftsman, high steelworker, welder and carpenter before becoming an actor in the 1970s, beginning with the 1979 Canadian drama series “The Great Detective” and 1983 film “Running Brave.”

He is best known for his landmark role as Kicking Bird in the 1990 film “Dances with Wolves." Greene's 1991 Oscar nomination was one of 12 the movie earned. It won seven, including the top prize of best picture and best director for Kevin Costner. Greene also starred as Arlen Bitterbuck in the 1999 Tom Hanks project, “The Green Mile.”