[4] She said she chose the name Sacheen because that was the name her father called her before he died, and Littlefeather came from the feather she always wore in her hair. No one would listen to my story or give me a chance to work.". [76], According to Ann Brebner of the Brebner Agency, which handled Littlefeather's modeling bookings, she was deluged with mail and phone calls after her Oscars appearance, which led to radio and television appearances as well as the opportunity to read for several film roles. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/sacheen-littlefeather-academy-awards-2477981. Still, in the short time she did have, Littlefeather made her voice heard. [7] She said in a 2021 interview that the cancer had metastasized to her right lung and that she was terminal. Did Sacheen Littlefeather share true story about John Wayne trying to attack her? Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. ', (Photo by Beck Starr/FilmMagic/Getty Images), Fox News Flash top entertainment headlines for April 25, Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves take bumpy second flight after 'CHAOS' on Lufthansa plane: 'Wish me luck', Kelsey Grammer wont apologize for the 'difference' that Jesus has made in his life, Person roaming in 'Scream' Ghostface costume prompts multiple police calls, Kelsea Ballerini kisses Chase Stokes after criticizing ex amid nasty divorce, Why Kevin Bacon refuses to share the secret to his 35-year marriage to Kyra Sedgwick. Entertainment | The letter, signed by Betty Cooper, director of the American Indian alcoholism program, and Sally Gallegos, director of the Consortium of United Indian Nations, was credited with Mandela's decision to meet with American Indian leaders in October 1990. ACADEMY APOLOGIZES TO SACHEEN LITTLEFEATHER NEARLY 50 YEARS AFTER REJECTING AN OSCAR ON MARLON BRANDO'S BEHALF, At the 1973 Academy Awards, Sacheen Littlefeather refused the Academy Award for Best Actor on behalf of Marlon Brando who won for his role in The Godfather. She continued her activism for Native American issues including healthcare and unemployment, and produced films about Native Americans. "[Brando] very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award. She made this man out to be a monster. But she also received death threats and was lied about in the media, including allegations that she wasn't Indian. Indian children seeing Indians represented as savages, ugly, nasty, treacherous, drunkthey grow up only with a negative image of themselves and it lasts a lifetime.. Entertainment | Some of Littlefeathers claims about aiding Native American organizations can be verified. "I later learned six security guards had to hold back John Wayne, who was in the wings and wanted to storm on the stage and drag me off," she claimed. Helene Hagan, a historian, anthropologist and former longtime friend, believes that Littlefeathers Native American claims and delusions of being a suffering, victimized woman began around this time. Keeler searched records of Littlefeather's family going back to 1850 and did not find evidence of Native ancestry. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. [84], In June 2022, the Academy sent Littlefeather a statement of apology, in which the organization's then-president David Rubin wrote: "The abuse you endured because of this statement was unwarranted and unjustified. Did Sacheen Littlefeather share true story about John Wayne trying to attack her? The lawyer's letter claimed that Cruz was her married name. I'm representing Marlon Brando this evening, and he has asked me to tell you in a very long speech which I cannot share with you presently, because of time, but I will be glad to share with the press afterwards, that he very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award. Then, it wasn't Brando who mounted the stage, but a 26-year-old Native American activist named Sacheen Littlefeather. Sacheen Littlefeather (left) appeared at the 1973 Oscars to decline a Best Oscar trophy for Marlon Brando, introducing herself as Apache and saying "The Godfather" actor could not accept because . He had also participated in the March on Washington in 1963 and he supported the work of Dr. Martin Luther King. The Apache and Yaqui activist respectfully waved off actor Roger Moore, who attempted to hand her the statue. [21] Around this time she adopted the name Sacheen Littlefeather. Bettmann/Getty Images Sacheen Littlefeather declining Marlon Brando's Oscar in 1973. The activist, who also worked as an actress, changed her name from Marie Louise Cruz to Sacheen Littlefeather after rediscovering her Native American heritage and becoming active in protests as a young woman. Brando was unequivocal about his view that Hollywood was doing a disservice not only to Native Americans, but all minorities, thanks to their stereotypical portrayal of different cultures. [77] In the years immediately following the protest, Littlefeather said that it had "had little effect on the course of her career". Few Academy Awards ceremonies have been as eventful as the one held in 1973, when Marlon Brando sent Native American activist Sacheen Littlefeather to explain why he was rejecting his award . Nearly 50 years later, the Native American actress has spoken out about how the stunning move ended her career. Her speech made her famous literally overnight and her fame would be exploited by Playboy magazine. "I was a spokesperson, so to speak, for the stereotype of Native Americans in film and television," she later said. [73][100], A 1987 profile of Littlefeather stated that she was a recipient of the 1986 Traditional Indian Medicine Achievement Award for her participation in the Traditional Indian Medicine Program at St. Mary's Hospital in Tucson, Arizona. Receive our Weekly Newsletter. [70][7], The incident drew remarks from others at the same ceremony. Littlefeather, who just passed away on October 2, 2022 at age 75, was only 26 years old when she took the stage after Brando was announced as the winner of the Best Actor Award. Actress and activist Sacheen Littlefeatherwho carried out Marlon Brando's protest against the treatment and portrayal of Native Americans at the 1973 Oscarshas died at the age of 75.. Bettmann via. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. [124][125][126][5] She stated that she wanted to travel in Europe to "see where the white people came from" just as people are "always going to reservations to see where the Indians came from". As Brando clearly explained to Dick Cavett, while he understood that not everyone would share his opinion, he wished that they would take the time to listen to what Littlfeather had to say. [1] After recovering, she received a degree from Antioch University in holistic health and nutrition with an emphasis in Native American medicine, a practice she credited with her recovery. Brando had written a much longer speech, but Littlefeather was instructed by the award ceremony's production team to keep the rejection to 60 seconds. In an email to The Times, Littlefeather's family confirmed her death, saying she died peacefully, surrounded by . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, [26] She characterized this as either being "adopted",[21] or in foster care. I knew Sacheen and I don't think it was her idea at allI am sure Brando recruited her". A group of heavily-armed Oglala Lakota and their American Indian Movement supporters overtook a trading post in the town of Wounded Knee, the site of the 1890 massacre. When he was nominated for an Oscar for his infamous portrayal of Don Corleone in "The Godfather," he refused to attend the ceremony. [50] In 2016, the 88th ceremony of the Academy Awards drew criticism for lack of diversity in nominations; actress Jada Pinkett Smith, who boycotted the ceremony, cited Littlefeather as inspiration to do so. Legal Statement. Sacheen Littlefeather, Who Delivered Marlon Brando's Oscar Rejection Speech, Dies at 75 The Academy formally apologized to the Native American activist and former actress in June after she. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Sacheen Littlefeather, the Native American actress and activist who declined Marlon Brando's best actor Oscar in 1973, has died, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Sunday night. [5] While traveling, she became interested in the food of other cultures and noted similarities between foods such as Spanish buuelos and American Indian fry bread as well as Russian pirozhki and the meat pies made by her Kiowa friends. [61] Littlefeather stated in 2022 that some people mockingly used the tomahawk chop towards her as she was led by. While some in the audience applauded Littlefeather, her presence at the awards ruffled feathers. Sacheen Littlefeather, the Native American activist who declined Marlon Brando's Best Actor Oscar for him in a memorable 1973 speech, passed away on Sunday. [16][17] She said she had been treated with thorazine and other medications but "mostly stabilized with much help" from the San Francisco Bay Area Native American community. Littlefeather was a budding model and actress, and she agreed to represent him. [119] She participated in events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Occupation of Alcatraz, including serving as head pow wow judge. In a speech that shocked the country at the time, the 26-year-old Apache activist began by introducing herself and explaining that she was representing the "Godfather" actor. "[15] Littlefeather said she was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Marlon Brando had a long history of supporting various social movements dating back to at least 1946 when he backed the Zionist movement for a Jewish homeland. Not only did he refuse the Academy Award for Best Actor, which he won for his role as Don Vito Corleone, but he sent Sacheen Littlefeather to the ceremony in his place. [5], In 1972, Brando played Vito Corleone in The Godfather, which many critics consider one of the greatest films of all time. Jessica Stewart is a Contributing Writer and Digital Media Specialist for My Modern Met, as well as a curator and art historian. And Brando had decided to cast the 26-year-old aspiring actress as his Oscars proxy to reject the award, denounce the negative stereotyping of American Indians in entertainment and bring attention to the Wounded Knee Occupation protest in South Dakota. [97][98] She criticized the use of an Indian-themed mascot at Tomales High in 2001. [8][113], In a 1991 article, Littlefeather was credited with co-founding the American Indian Registry for Performing Arts. Sacheen Littlefeather, the Native American activist Marlon Brando sent to the 1973 Academy Awards to decline the lead actor Oscar he won for "The Godfather," died Sunday at age 75.. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images), "The abuse you endured because of this statement was unwarranted and unjustified," David Rubin, president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, wrote to Littefeather. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group), Trudy Orlandi remembers her late sister Maria Cruz, the woman who would later become famous as Native American activist Sacheen Littlefeather, during an interview at her home in Marin County, Calif., Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. The strange, sad tale of Sacheen Littlefeather:, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Los Gatos: Hundreds still without power as Black Road repair project finishes early. [36] A year later in October 1973, after her Academy Award appearance fame, they ran the photographs of Littlefeather as a stand-alone feature. Sacheen Littlefeather, the Native American activist who declined Marlon Brando's Oscar for "The Godfather" has died. Sacheen Littlefeather, who famously took to the stage when Marlon Brando won an Oscar for The Godfather to decline the award, has died at the age of 75. He'd also supported Native American causes for years. She continued her social justice work for Native Americans from her home in the San Francisco Bay area and worked as an advocate for Native American AIDS patients. Brando was also highly dissatisfied with the way Hollywood treated American Indians. "When I am gone, always be reminded that whenever you stand for your truth, you will be keeping my voice and the voices of our nations and our people alive," the quote read. FILE - Sacheen Littlefeather, a Native American activist, tells the audience at the Academy Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, March 27, 1973, that Marlon Brando was declining to accept his Oscar as best actor for his role in "The Godfather." [applause][60], Moore escorted Littlefeather off-stage, past several people critical of her, and towards the press. She committed herself to other health education work as well and worked with Mother Theresa doing hospice care for AIDS patients. [27] During a 1976 television interview she described her father as abusive.
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