Activist Sacheen Littlefeather, who turned down Marlon Brando's 1973 Oscar, dies at 75


Sacheen Littlefeather, the Native American activist who famously turned down Marlon Brando's Academy Award on his behalf in 1973, has died. She was 75.
Littlefeather's death was confirmed in a tweet by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. She had been battling breast cancer, according to Variety.
The activist is best known for her role in the 1973 Academy Awards, where Marlon Brando won the Best Actor Oscar for The Godfather. Littlefeather, president of the National Native American Affirmative Image Committee, took the stage to explain the actor sent her to decline his Oscar.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"He very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award, and the reasons for this being are the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry … and on television in movie reruns, and also with recent happenings at Wounded Knee," she said.
Littlefeather received significant backlash at the time and was booed during her speech. She later said that John Wayne "had to be restrained by six men from coming to get me and pull me off the stage."
In August, though, the Academy released an official apology to Littlefeather over the way she was treated.
"The abuse you endured because of this statement was unwarranted and unjustified," the Academy said. "The emotional burden you have lived through and the cost to your own career in our industry are irreparable."
The Academy also invited her to speak at an event, "An Evening with Sacheen Littlefeather."
"Regarding the Academy's apology to me, we Indians are very patient people — it's only been 50 years!" Littlefeather said in August. Speaking with Variety, she also reflected, "I did this for all Native people everywhere who suffered from racial prejudice and discrimination."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Gandhi arrests: Narendra Modi's 'vendetta' against India's opposition
The Explainer Another episode threatens to spark uproar in the Indian PM's long-running battle against the country's first family
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK
-
How the woke right gained power in the US
Under the radar The term has grown in prominence since Donald Trump returned to the White House
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK
-
Codeword: April 24, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
By The Week Staff
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster show
Speed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top Grammys
Speed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own room
Speed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US