GRAHAM GREENE Native/Indigenous actor from Canada dies at 73. He was the 2nd native actor in history to earn an Oscar nomination (Dances With Wolves 1990). Chief Dan George was the 1st (Little Big Man 1972). Both were for "Best Supporting Actor" in a motion picture. No other Native performer has since been nominated.
I walked into a movie theater 10 times to watch "Dances With Wolves." I never saw it on TV/Video/DVD/Blu-Ray. The best way to see it is on the big screen.
Back in 1990. Natives were under-represented in Hollywood. They had been stuck in the western genre for decades. They were also labeled, "Savages" and "Hostiles." It was always negative until a movie came along to make them human beings. That film was "Wolves." Natives were funny, warm and caring. They also protected their Sioux tribal people.
Graham Greene portrayed "Kicking Bird" who befriended Kevin Costner's "John Dunbar." That friendship opened the window to Indian people of the old west. Kicking Bird was a leader who also learned from John. The west was changing as white settlers pushed onto tribal lands. The Sioux would no longer run free across the Plains.
Graham was a trailblazer for others to follow. He got to perform as a modern native in an "LA Law" TV episode (NBC). He was a lawyer who fought for a half-breed Indian child to remain with his father. Greene also portrayed a modern police detective in the action film, "Die Hard with a Vengeance." This was the decade of the 1990's. It was so good to see modern natives.
I also enjoyed Greene playing the Native best friend of Bret Maverick (Mel Gibson) in the comedy western, "Maverick" (1994). Greene was this crazy, funny, native warrior. I cannot remember his character name in this film. It doesn't matter because he was just funny. RIP....
Below is the movie trailer for "Dances With Wolves" (1990).
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