Sacheen Littlefeather, the Native American activist and actress who famously declined an Oscar on behalf of actor Marlon Brando at the 45th Academy Awards, has died at 75, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Sunday. [7] She said that the federal government encouraged the blacklisting to abate Native American activism after Wounded Knee. [20] She claims to have participated part-time in the occupation of Alcatraz in 1970, though this claim has been disputed. She delivered a short speech on behalf of Brando declining acceptance of the award. Brando would later tell talk show host Dick Cavett that the Academy didn't want her there and didn't want the evening interrupted with that particular note. In fact, just minutes before the award was handed out, show producer Howard Koch had told Littlefeather that she needed to keep her comments to 60 seconds. Gilio-Whitaker, Dina. Keeler writes that the sisters state that their father, who was born in Oxnard, California, was of Mexican descent and had no tribal ties, nor was he related to the Yaqui tribes of Northern Mexico. Her . Jessica Stewart is a Contributing Writer and Digital Media Specialist for My Modern Met, as well as a curator and art historian. [8][113], In a 1991 article, Littlefeather was credited with co-founding the American Indian Registry for Performing Arts. Sacheen Littlefeather, the Native American civil rights activist best known for declining Marlon Brando's best actor Oscar for "The Godfather" in 1973, has died at the age of 75, the Academy of . Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. None of Littlefeathers relatives identified as Native American, Keeler said. ThoughtCo, Dec. 6, 2021, thoughtco.com/sacheen-littlefeather-academy-awards-2477981. In one of the most memorable moments in Oscars history, Littlefeather took the stage in his place and spoke out about Hollywood's negative treatment of Native Americans. [1], Littlefeather died at her home in Novato, California, on October 2, 2022, at the age of 75. He instead sent Sacheen Littlefeather (born Marie Cruz), a young Apache/Yaqui activist who had participated in the Alcatraz Island occupation. Littlefeather, who appeared nervous during her speech and was booed by a few attendees, received both harassment and praise after the event. Her sisters say she was an ethnic fraud", "Big Littlefeather Lies Sacheen Littlefeather Lied About Native American Ancestry, Sisters Claim 'It is a fraud. [133] However, on her official website, a response to Ebert's article contradicts the lawyer and states that she was born Marie Cruz. [4][5] She later said that she "learned early in life that there was probably a place for me in the dramatic art field, acting if you have a parent who's deaf, you naturally have to act out messages to them," referring to communicating with her father. In a 1974 interview, she stated that her mother left her father when she was 4 and took her to live with her maternal grandparents. [116][117] In 2009, she gave testimony in the documentary Reel Injun about Native Americans in film. [2], In 1974, Littlefeather attended classes at the American Conservatory Theater, studying acting, yoga, fencing, Shakespeare, dancing, and other various skills for her acting career. Littlefeather said her father was of Apache and Yaqui ancestry[1] and her mother was of European descent. For too long the courage you showed has been unacknowledged. ", "Sacheen Littlefeather Once Cheered Cowboys", "Littlefeather discards Oscar memories, finds new dances", "I Believe television program: Father Harry Schlitt and Sacheen Littlefeather", "Alcatraz Miss Chosen as Top Female Vampire", "Official Ceremony Marks Opening Of Fair Tonight", "It's Oscar TimeDo You Know Where Sacheen Littlefeather Is? [39] Looking back at the photo shoot, Littlefeather later said, "I was young and dumb. [6][5][7] Littlefeather's father was Manuel Ybarra Cruz of Oxnard, California,[8] who Littlefeather identified as having White Mountain Apache and Yaqui ancestry. [32][33][34] She worked at a radio station, KFRC, for about six months and did freelance reporting for PBS member station KQED. Where did that come from?. Littlefeather's family asked mourners to make donations to American Indian Child Resource Center in Oakland, California. She had been instructed by Brando not to touch the Oscar and, rather, read an eight-page statement. Riveting new S.F. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. The Associated Press contributed to this report. [50] He called Littlefeather and asked her to appear on his behalf. [5], In 1972, Brando played Vito Corleone in The Godfather, which many critics consider one of the greatest films of all time. [71], The audience in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion was divided between applause and jeers. Sacheen Littlefeather holds a written statement from actor Marlon Brando refusing his Best Actor Oscar on stage at the Academy Awards, Los Angeles, California. She's a friend of mine that I introduced to B She's an Indian princess. 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. Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanityfrom the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening. Keeler is known for her aggressive efforts to out alleged Pretendians, people who falsely claim to be Native American. Sacheen Littlefeather, the Native American actress and activist who made history when she declined the Best Actor Oscar on behalf of Marlon Brando, has died at the age of 75. [42] In an interview published just before her Academy Awards appearance, she stated that she had helped send two Indian nurses to Wounded Knee and that she had relinquished her United States citizenship, along with seven Native Americans. Market data provided by Factset. [2][3], Aspiring to become an actress, Littlefeather picked up several radio and television commercial credits and joined the Screen Actors Guild. She graduated from Northwestern University with a BA degree in German studies and from Mills College with a MFA degree in creative writing and English. (AP Photo/File), Sacheen Littlefeather (born Marie Louise Cruz, 1946 - 2022) on stage at AMPAS Presents An Evening with Sacheen Littlefeather at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on September 17, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. All rights reserved. Things did not go quite as planned. Sacheen Littlefeather fue la primera mujer nativa americana en subir al escenario de los scar. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. Its one of the biggest hoaxes certainly the biggest hoax since Iron Eyes Cody, said Dina Gilio-Whitaker, a Cal State San Marcos lecturer of American Indian Studies who was commissioned at one point to ghostwrite Littlefeathers memoir. [45] She continued to pursue acting opportunities, such as touring with the "Red Earth Theater Company". Sacheen Littlefeather, the activist who famously stood in for Marlon Brando to refuse the best actor Oscar in 1973, faked Native American ancestry, her family have said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, [5], Over the years, Littlefeather described her personal experiences with serious health issues, including internal bleeding, collapsed lungs, and cancer. Marlon Brando was one of those stars. Sacheen Littlefeather, the Native American activist who declined Marlon Brando's Oscar for "The Godfather" has died. [28] She said her mother and two sisters were subject to their father's rage and beatings. Littlefeather walked onto the stage and raised her hand to decline the Oscar trophy that Moore offered her. or redistributed. [97][98] She criticized the use of an Indian-themed mascot at Tomales High in 2001. 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. (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. When Brando was announced as the best actor winner for his role in "The Godfather," Littlefeather took the stage to make a powerful and poignant statement about the depiction of Native . [52] For the performance he was nominated for Best Actor at the 45th Academy Awards, which were presented on March 27, 1973, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California. [23] Later accounts describe Coppola as Littlefeather's neighbor in San Francisco. The Academy Museum Owes An Exhibit", "Sacheen Littlefeather Modeling For Photo Shoot", "Interview with Sacheen Cruz Littlefeather on Alcatraz", "Whatever Became of Sacheen Littlefeather? Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The favorite to win, Brando boycotted the ceremony as a protest against Hollywood's portrayal of Native Americans and to draw attention to the standoff at Wounded Knee. I never saw my sister being beaten by my dad. In the statement, Littlefeather continues to claim to be Yaqui and White Mountain Apache. It's disgusting to the heritage of the tribal people. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. No one was without an opinion and some Hollywood stars are remembered for the stands they would take, even if they were unpopular and controversial. Academy representatives have said the organization recognizes self-identification. But it has inserted a disclaimer at the start of a three-hour interview with Littlefeather, posted on its YouTube channel, that says oral histories should not be understood as statements of fact. In that interview, Littlefeather claims she was raised in poverty by an abusive alcoholic father and that she was abandoned by her parents who were too mentally ill to care for her. or redistributed. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. After Liv Ullmann and Roger Moore announced that Marlon Brando won Best Actor for his performance as Vito Corleone in "The Godfather", Littlefeather surprised audiences by walking on stage in his place. He'd also supported Native American causes for years. Sacheen Littlefeather refuses to accept the Best Actor Oscar on behalf of Marlon Brando for his performance in "The Godfather" at the 45th annual Academy Aw. The Pascua Yaqui tribe in Arizona told this news organization that Littlefeather wasnt enrolled, while the White Mountain Apache hasnt responded to media inquiries about her membership. ", "She Crashed the Academy, Now Playboy Magazine", "Littlefeather and Girls-Make-Up for Minorities", "Native Daughter: Sacheen Littlefeather Helped Turn Things Around", "Sacheen Littlefeather, Marlon Brando's one-time Oscars accomplice, on how Hollywood has changed", "The unbelievable story of Why Marlon Brando rejected his 1973 Oscar for 'The Godfather', "43 years later, Native American activist Sacheen Littlefeather reflects on rejecting Marlon Brando's Oscar", "Marlon Brando's Oscar win for "The Godfather", "How Roger Moore Assisted Sacheen Littlefeather In Her Blind Date With History", "Sacheen Littlefeather: Oscars apologises to actress after 50 years", "And The Award For Most Unusual Happening During An Oscar Presentation Goes To (breathless pause)", "scott's world: Best Oscar audience performance", "Column: Did John Wayne try to assault Sacheen Littlefeather at the 1973 Oscars? Her research, which included records going back to 1850, uncovered no ties between the Cruz family of Mexico and the White Mountain Apache and Yaqui tribes. Native American people were in the bottom strata of all socioeconomic indicators, and it was clear to American Indian youth that change was not going to happen without dramatic action. He then shared that he knew that others were afraid to speak up about these issues, but felt that it was important not to be silent. But the next night, Orlandi watched on live TV as Sacheen stoically ascended the Oscars stage in a buckskin dress and told a global audience of 85 million that she was Apache. [40] As a spokesperson for the National American Indian Council, she protested President Richard Nixon's budget cuts to federal Indian programs in February 1973. All Access Digital offer for just 99 cents! [5][37] Littlefeather was personally criticized for what was seen as exploitation of her fame,[38] but she explained that it was "strictly a business agreement" to earn the money needed to attend the World Theater Festival in Nancy, France. [6], Littlefeather attended North Salinas High School from 1960 to 1964 and was active in 4-H, winning awards in home economics categories such as food preservation and fashion. "[Brando] very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award. Dina Gilo-Whitaker is a lecturer of American Indian Studies at California State University San Marcos. Littlefeather has long been an accepted and highly respected member of the Native American community despite lingering speculation about her identity. She made this man out to be a monster. Her speech made her famous literally overnight and her fame would be exploited by Playboy magazine. All rights reserved. Shortly after Littlefeather's death, Navajo writer and activist Jacqueline Keeler interviewed Littlefeather's two sisters, who say that their family is not Native American and that Littlefeather fabricated her Native American ancestry. [79][7] Actor Jay Silverheels, who played Tonto in The Lone Ranger and later founded the Indian Actors Workshop, commented that he didn't think Littlefeather's appearance at Oscars "did any harm or any particular good. Attempts were made at non-violent protests the Alcatraz occupation was completely nonviolent although it lasted well over a year but there were times when violence seemed like the only way to bring attention to the problem. (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 caller was Marlon Brando, she told her younger sister, Trudy Orlandi, and he had asked Littlefeather to appear on his behalf at the Academy Awards the following night, in case he won the best actor award for The Godfather.. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. [59], The Best Actor award was presented by Norwegian actress Liv Ullmann and British actor Roger Moore. [87][88] Contemporary accounts of the founding of the Red Earth Performing Arts Company by Nez Perce actor and playwright John Kauffman, Jr in 1974 do not mention Littlefeather. They also said that their father, who was born in Oxnard, California, was of Spanish-Mexican descent and had no tribal ties. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences confirmed the . I knew Sacheen and I don't think it was her idea at allI am sure Brando recruited her". For other uses, see, Last edited on 19 February 2023, at 08:33, Hollywood's portrayal of Native Americans, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Catholic Health Association of the United States, "Sacheen Littlefeather was a Native icon. It was a moving presentation, but it was a pretend Sacheen, said Orlandi, who lives in Marin County now. Gilio-Whitaker, Dina. [49][50], In a 2021 interview, Littlefeather said that she got to know Coppola while hiking the hills of San Francisco and she got Brando's address from him. By 1949, they had moved to Salinas and opened up their own business, Cruz Saddlery. [27] Littlefeather participated in events related to a year-long celebration of the Americas before Columbus, but there is no record of a PBS show by either name being broadcast in 1992. Later, however, he became critical of Israel and supported the Palestinian cause. Should We Celebrate Thanksgiving and the Pilgrims? She committed herself to other health education work as well and worked with Mother Theresa doing hospice care for AIDS patients. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images), Sacheen Littlefeather laughs while chatting with Museum of the American Indian interim executive director Victoria Canby at the museum in Novato, Calif. on Wednesday, Aug. 4, 2020. Sacheen Littlefeather made history in 1973 when she turned down the Academy Award for Best Actor on behalf of "The Godfather" winner Marlon Brando.Almost 50 years later, Indigenous activist . Sacheen Littlefeather on stage at AMPAS Presents An Evening with Sacheen Littlefeather at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on September 17, 2022, in Los Angeles, California. The 74-year-old is the subject of a new documentary titled "Sacheen: Breaking The Silence," which details the famous political speech and its aftermath. The activist had been battling. [56], At the age of 29 her lungs collapsed. [5][27] She reported having tuberculosis at age four and received treatment in an oxygen tent while hospitalized. And White Mountain Apache? Marie would later become famous as Native American activist Sacheen Littlefeather. Sacheen Littlefeather is the subject of a new documentary titled 'Sacheen: Breaking The Silence. She was 75 years old. "[15] Littlefeather said she was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Did Sacheen Littlefeather share true story about John Wayne trying to attack her? Nearly 50 years later, the Native American actress has spoken out about how the stunning move ended her career. "I was a spokesperson, so to speak, for the stereotype of Native Americans in film and television," she later said. Demanding a regime change from the U.S.-backed tribal government that had been mistreating the reservation's residents for years, the occupiers found themselves in a 71-day armed battle against the FBI and the U.S. [2][3], Littlefeather was born Marie Louise Cruz on November 14, 1946, in Salinas, California. The allegations emerged into public view in October when Native American journalist Jacqueline Keeler published an investigation into the Mexican ancestry of Littlefeathers California-born father, Manuel Cruz. [95] As the director of the First Nation Education Resource Center in San Francisco, Littlefeather commented on a letter from two American Indians in Oakland that was handed to Nelson Mandela, stating that the letter outlined problems facing American Indians, including healthcare and unemployment. [41] On March 6, 1973, she participated in a meeting between the Federal Communications Commission and members of several minority groups about the representation of minorities on television. The Native American actor and activist has died of breast cancer at age 75. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/sacheen-littlefeather-academy-awards-2477981. The emotional burden you have lived through and the cost to your own career in our industry are irreparable. Receive our Weekly Newsletter. Littlefeather represented Marlon Brando at the 45th Academy Awards in 1973, where she - on Brando's behalf - declined the Best Actor award that he won for his performance in The Godfather. Littlefeather was a budding model and actress, and she agreed to represent him. Check out what's clicking today in entertainment. Market data provided by Factset. She continued her activism for Native American issues including healthcare and unemployment, and produced films about Native Americans. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. She couldnt have been more Native, said Neconie, an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Acoma of New Mexico and former UC Berkeley assistant director of undergraduate admissions. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. "[73] Her appearance prompted the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to rule out future proxy acceptance of Academy Awards. My mom was a very sweet, kind person, Orlandi said. [54] Producer Howard W. Koch, she later said, told her "you can't read all that" in reference to the 739-word speech written by Brando,[55] so she condensed it all into 60 seconds. [85][86], She described the Academy's apology to her as "a dream come true", and said that "we Indians are very patient peopleit's only been 50 years!" 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 . Sacheen Littlefeathers work on famed San Francisco ballet among suspect claims [74], After giving the speech, Littlefeather spent two days in Los Angeles before returning to San Francisco. Instead, she was given 60 seconds. "[72][71] Michael Caine, the night's co-host, criticized Brando for "letting some poor little Indian girl take the boos" instead of "[standing] up and [doing] it himself". [51] Littlefeather also said that she met Brando in Washington, D.C., where she was presenting to the Federal Communications Commission about minorities. When Brando was announced as the winner, Littlefeather took the stage dressed in full native regalia. Then, it wasn't Brando who mounted the stage, but a 26-year-old Native American activist named Sacheen Littlefeather. [4][5] Her mother, Geroldine Marie Cruz (ne Barnitz), was a leather stamper of French, German, and Dutch descent, and was born and raised in Santa Barbara, California. 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. However, Littlefeather claimed she felt "abandoned" by Brando when she was faced withthe intense backlash. [20] In 1970, as "Sacheen Littlefeather of Alcatraz", she was named Miss Vampire USA, a promotion for House of Dark Shadows. Bettmann via. Entertainment | At the time of the Oscars, she had known Brando for nearly a year. Daily Question: In 1973, Sacheen Littlefeather declined an Oscar on which actor's behalf? Sacheen Littlefeather on stage at AMPAS Presents An Evening with Sacheen Littlefeather at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on September 17, 2022, in Los Angeles, California. [Brando] very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award. Subsequently, she wrote Brando a letter, asking about his interest in Native American issues. [105][106][107], In 1988, she served as the secretary and community member-at-large on the interim board of directors of the American Indian AIDS Institute of San Francisco. He objected to the way Native Americans were represented in the movies. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. The actress had disputed similar claims before", "Screen: 'Trial of Billy Jack,' a Sequel", "Sacheen Littlefeather's Oral History: The Oscars, Marlon Brando and a Legacy of Activism", Text, audio, video of the Academy Award speech, Sacheen Littlefeather reads Brando's Oscar speech for first time publicly. Sacheen Littlefeather addressing the 45th Academy Awards in October 1973, declining Marlon Brando's Oscar for best actor on his behalf. [56] In 1974, she stated that Marlon Brando sent her to a doctor when she was in a lot of pain and helped her recover, so she made the Oscar speech to repay him. [89][90][91] In 1978, it was reported that Littlefeather would travel to Newfoundland with the Greenpeace Foundation to protest the Newfoundland seal hunt along with politicians and other show business personalities. [75] She later said that she visited Marlon Brando's house after the Academy Awards and bullets were fired into his front door while they were talking. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. And the reasons for this being are the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry, she said as the audience began to boo, and on television in movie reruns, and also with recent happenings at Wounded Knee.. [37][112] Obituaries for Littlefeather's father and maternal grandmother do not mention a biological son in the family, only Littlefeather and her two younger sisters. Entertainment | Orlandi grew up with her sister Maria Cruz, the woman who would later become famous as Native American activist Sacheen Littlefeather. But she also received death threats and was lied about in the media, including allegations that she wasn't Indian.