Kevin Costner is paying tribute to Dances With Wolves costar Graham Greene following his death at age 73.
“A few things come to mind when I think of Graham Greene and our time together on Dances With Wolves,” Costner, 70, captioned an Instagram post on Tuesday, September 2. The actor shared a clip of himself and Greene from the 1990 movie.
“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,” he added, referencing his character in the film, Lt. John J. Dunbar. “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.”
Costner concluded his caption: “I’m grateful to have been witness to this part of his lasting legacy. Rest in peace, Graham.”
Deadline reported on Monday, September 1, that Greene died in a Toronto hospital following a long illness.
“He was a great man of morals, ethics and character and will be eternally missed. You are finally free,” Greene’s agent, Michael Greene, said in a statement on Monday.
The late actor was best known for his role as Kicking Bird (Ziŋtká Nagwáka) alongside Costner in Dances With Wolves. Greene received an Oscar nomination in the Best Supporting Actor category for the role.
Celebrity Deaths of 2025: Anne Burrell, Hulk Hogan and More
“He and I got on like a house on fire,” Graham said of his role in the film during a 2017 interview, referring to the horse he rode in the movie. “On the last day I was shooting, this kid came up and told me it had been his — turns out he’d had to sell it. After filming, I went to the producers and said, ‘Make sure this kid gets his horse back. Take it out of my salary if you have to.’”
Greene also appeared in Thunderheart, the 1992 film also starring the late Val Kilmer, and acted alongside Bruce Willis in 1995’s Die Hard With a Vengeance. Greene was also known for his role as Harry Clearwater in the Twilight films. More recently, Greene starred in Marvel Studios’ Echo, which premiered via Disney+ in January 2024.
The actor is survived by his wife, Hilary Blackmore, daughter Lilly Lazare-Greene and his grandson, Tarlo.
