Kevin Costner Pays Tribute to ‘Dances With Wolves’ Co-Star Graham Greene

Los Angeles, September 2, 2025 - Hollywood legend Kevin Costner took to Instagram today to honor his late “Dances With Wolves” co-star Graham Greene, who passed away on Monday at age 73.

Costner, who both directed and starred alongside Greene in the acclaimed 1990 Western, recalled Greene’s dedication and quiet mastery in bringing the Lakota warrior Kicking Bird to life. “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 Academy 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,” Costner wrote in his tribute.

Lou Diamond Phillips and Gil Birmingham also shared memories of Greene’s warmth and impact on Indigenous representation in cinema. Phillips, who collaborated with Greene on projects such as “Wolf Lake” and “Longmire,” described him as “an actor’s actor, one of the wittiest, cleverest, and warmest individuals I’ve ever encountered. Iconic and legendary.” Birmingham added, “We have lost an immensely talented individual whose heart was matched only by his sharp sense of humor,” highlighting Greene’s influence on a generation of actors.

Greene’s performance in “Dances With Wolves” earned him a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the 1991 Academy Awards and helped redefine the portrayal of Native American characters on the silver screen. As tributes poured in across social media, Costner concluded his post simply: “Rest in peace, Graham.”