HEARTBREAKING FAREWELL: Kevin Costner breaks silence to honor late Dances With Wolves co-star Graham Greene đ˘
From learning Lakota with fierce dedication to earning an Oscar nomination that made Hollywood take notice â Costnerâs emotional tribute reveals memories fans have never heard before.
đ Read his full words and the legacy Graham leaves behind đ
Kevin Costner is mourning his âDances With Wolvesâ co-star Graham Greene.
Costner, 70, posted an emotional Instagram tribute Tuesday to Greene, who died Monday at age 73, with a clip of their characters interacting in a scene from the 1990 Western film.
âA few things come to mind when I think of Graham Greene and our time together on âDances With Wolves,’â Costner began in his caption.
Kevin Costner attends Fanatics Fest NYC on June 20. Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock
Graham Greene attends the âAntlersâ screening in NYC in Oct. 2021. Getty Images
âI think of how willing he was to learn the Lakota language,â the âYellowstoneâ star said. âI think of my joy when I heard that his work on the film was recognized with an @theacademy 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.â
Costner called Greene âa master at work and a wonderful human being.â
âIâm grateful to have been witness to this part of his lasting legacy,â Costner added. âRest in peace, Graham.â
âDances With Wolves,â which marked Costnerâs feature directorial debut, follows a Civil War soldier (Costner) who creates a bond with a band of Lakota Indians including Kicking Bird (Greene).
Graham Greene in âDances With Wolves.â ŠOrion Pictures Corp/Courtesy Everett Collection
Kevin Costner at Fanatics Fest 2025 in New York City. Janet Mayer/INSTARimages.com
The film was nominated for 12 Oscars, including Best Supporting Actor for Greene. It won Best Picture and Best Director.
Greene passed away in a Toronto hospital with his wife, Hilary Blackmore, by his side, his rep confirmed this week.
Kevin Costner, Graham Greene in âDances With Wolves.â ŠOrion Pictures Corp/Courtesy Everett Collection
The rep said Greene lost his battle with a âlengthy illnessâ but did not elaborate on the exact cause of death.
Greene made his on-screen debut in 1979, starring in the Canadian drama series âThe Great Detective.â His first feature film was 1983âs âRunning Brave,â with his big break coming years later in âDances With Wolves.â
Kevin Costner, Graham Greene in âDances With Wolves.â ŠOrion Pictures Corp/Courtesy Everett Collection
The Canadian actor also starred in âThunderheart,â âMaverick,â âTransamerica,â âWinterâs Taleâ and âWind River.â Greeneâs recent TV roles included âGoliath,â âReservation Dogs,â â1883,â âThe Last Of Usâ and âEcho.â
Greene claimed in 2017 that acting was something he just happened to âstumble into.â
Graham Greene attends the âSeedsâ premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film. Getty Images
âI started out as a carpenter, a welder, a draftsman, a carpet layer, a roadie and an audio tech,â he told Readerâs Digest Canada at the time.
âI stumbled into acting and I thought, âThese people keep me in the shade, give me food and water, take me over to where I say what Iâm supposed to say, then they take me back. Wowâthis is the life of a dog,ââ he added.