Yellowstone Stars Breaks Down in Tears While Paying Tribute to Beloved ‘1883’ Actor
Canadian actor Graham Greene, who died Monday, is being remembered by a wide range of his acting and filmmaking colleagues. Kevin Costner, who directed him to a supporting actor Oscar nomination and co-starred with him in “Dances With Wolves,” paid tribute on Instagram Tuesday.
“A few things come to mind when I think of Graham Greene and our time together on ‘Dances With Wolves,’” he wrote. “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. 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 is describing the scene where his character sees a herd of buffalo and wants to alert the Native people, but comes up against a language barrier. After he and Greene’s character go back and forth, they come to a mutual understanding of the meaning of the word. The 1990 film, which won the best picture Oscar, was acclaimed for depicting a more nuanced and sensitive portrayal of Indigenous people as complex characters than was seen in earlier Westerns.
“I’m grateful to have been witness to this part of his lasting legacy. Rest in peace, Graham,” Costner concluded.
Other Yellowstone star Gil Birmingham has been left “heartbroken” by the death of iconic actor Graham Greene, who died on Sunday afternoon after a 50-year film and TV career. Though they didn’t share the screen in the hit Western drama, both starred in the Yellowstone franchise, with Birmingham portraying Thomas Rainwater in the flagship show and Greene guest starring as Spotted Eagle in 1883. Greene also made a guest appearance in Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan’s Sylvester Stallone-led crime drama Tulsa King and, of course, co-starred with Birmingham in the Twilight Saga.
Birmingham paid tribute to Greene after his death aged 73 with a touching post on Instagram. He shared a still of them both from the film Wind River, the 2017 thriller set on a Native American Reservation directed by Sheridan and starring Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen.
“My heart is broken,” he admitted in the touching caption. “We have lost a man of incredible talent who made a positive impact on Native representation in film, inspiring a new generation of Native actors. “His great heart was only matched by his wickedly funny sense of humor. My prayers are with his family and friends. Journey on, Graham, R.I.P. #GrahamGreene.”
No cause of death has been announced just yet, as his agent simply reported he passed in a Toronto hospital over the weekend. However, it’s understood that Greene has been unwell for some time and his manager Gerry Jordan confirms he passed away “peacefully”.
Yellowstone is available to stream on Paramount+.