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 . [123], Littlefeather studied orthomolecular nutrition and later said that she had "wanted to see where all the 'white' food came from" so she went to Sweden and lived in Stockholm. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. She had been battling breast cancer since 2018, and the disease metastasized to other parts of her body. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. [79], In 2015, Littlefeather reported that her name and image were being used fraudulently to raise money claimed to be for the Lakota nation. [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. 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. Gilio-Whitaker, Dina. He objected to the way Native Americans were represented in the movies. When we think today about his words and what representation meansespecially to childrenone can't help but applaud his willingness to speak out in a time when it wasn't popular to do so. [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. Want to advertise with us? In June, the. 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. Since Littlefeathers death in Novato on Oct. 2 at age 75, Orlandi, 72, and another sister, Rosalind Cruz, 65, have ignited an uproar in Native American circles by alleging their estranged activist sister spent 50 years faking an identity as White Mountain Apache and Yaqui. In an email to The Times, Littlefeather's family confirmed her death, saying she died peacefully, surrounded by . Updated Oct. 2: Sacheen Littlefeather has died at the age of 75. I knew Sacheen and I don't think it was her idea at allI am sure Brando recruited her". She was 75. [120] Author Tommy Orange was commissioned by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art's Open Space platform to write a piece called "Dear Marlon Brando" as part of the magazine Alcatraz Is Not an Island, commemorating the 50th anniversary. She's a friend of mine that I introduced to B She's an Indian princess. Should We Celebrate Thanksgiving and the Pilgrims? This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. No one would listen to my story or give me a chance to work.". [61] Littlefeather stated in 2022 that some people mockingly used the tomahawk chop towards her as she was led by. To her, Sacheen was Marie Louise Cruz from Salinas, and they had a Mexican American father and White mother. Littlefeather has long been an accepted and highly respected member of the Native American community despite lingering speculation about her identity. [5], Over the years, Littlefeather described her personal experiences with serious health issues, including internal bleeding, collapsed lungs, and cancer. [56], At the age of 29 her lungs collapsed. [28] She said her mother and two sisters were subject to their father's rage and beatings. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. [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. [1][127] She stated that she was suicidal and hospitalized in a mental institution for a year. She had been instructed by Brando not to touch the Oscar and, rather, read an eight-page statement. To Orlandi, it was the beginning of Littlefeathers nearly half-century hoax. 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. [30][31], While living in the San Francisco Bay area in the early 1970s, Littlefeather participated in the 1971 American Indian Festival at Foothill College, judged a local 1972 beauty pageant as "Princess Littlefeather", and organized a 1972 American Indian Festival at the Palace of Fine Arts. Daily Question: In 1973, Sacheen Littlefeather declined an Oscar on which actor's behalf? The strange, sad tale of Sacheen Littlefeather: Did icon fake a Native American identity? Two weeks before her death, the Academy honored her at an event called "An Evening with Sacheen Littlefeather." 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. [128], In 2018, Littlefeather developed stage IV breast cancer,[129] a recurrence of the breast cancer from which she was reported to be in remission in 2012. [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. All rights reserved. It's our method of survival. [5][7] Both Geroldine and Manuel were saddlemakers. Fox News Flash top entertainment and celebrity headlines are here. The Native American actor and activist has died of breast cancer at age 75. 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.. Later, however, he became critical of Israel and supported the Palestinian cause. [101] Although St. Mary's Hospital and Health Center did receive an Achievement Citation from the Catholic Health Association of the United States in 1986 for Traditional Indian Medicine's Role in the Carondelet Health System,[102] an article about the award only mentions the initiator of the program, Apache nurse Belinda Acosta, and the program coordinator, Ann Hubbert. [7] She played a role in the mascot change at Tamalpais High School in the late 1980s, first becoming involved when she visited the high school as a guest director for the drama class play, "Grandmother Earth". [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. The Apache and Yaqui activist respectfully waved off actor Roger Moore, who attempted to hand her the statue. Market data provided by Factset. Her death came just weeks after she accepted a formal apology in person at a tribute in Los Angeles. "I beg at this time that I have not intruded upon this evening, and that we will in the future, our hearts and our understandings, will meet with love and generosity," she added. Tyler Perrys Inspiring Oscars Acceptance Speech Denounces Hate, Zendaya Makes Emmy Awards History and Sets Two Records in One Night, Chlo Zhao Makes History as First Woman of Color To Win Oscar for Best Director, Natalie Portman Wore Cape Embroidered With Names of Women Directors Snubbed by Oscars. [116][117] In 2009, she gave testimony in the documentary Reel Injun about Native Americans in film. For too long the courage you showed has been unacknowledged. [5][101] In 1991, Littlefeather was reported to be recovering from radical cancer surgery. Sacheen Littlefeather stunned Hollywood when she was sent on behalf of Marlon Brando to reject his 1973 Oscar for best actor in "The Godfather." Nearly 50 years later, the Native American. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. [2][3], Aspiring to become an actress, Littlefeather picked up several radio and television commercial credits and joined the Screen Actors Guild. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images), It was mortifying, said Cruz, of Lake County, Montana, of the Oscars appearance. 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. Bettmann via. He died of cancer when Sacheen was 19, Orlandi said. [99] In the 1980s, she led prayer circles for Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American Catholic saint. [applause][60], Moore escorted Littlefeather off-stage, past several people critical of her, and towards the press. [96], She continued doing activism and became a respected member of California's Native American community. 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.. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The Apache and Yaqui activist respectfully waved off actor Roger Moore, who attempted to hand her the statue. Related Articles The registry was founded in the early 1980s by Muscogee actor Will Sampson, who worked with the American Native Association to publish a directory of American Indians in the arts and entertainment fields. [45] She continued to pursue acting opportunities, such as touring with the "Red Earth Theater Company". Legal Statement. However, Littlefeather admitted that the praise was bittersweet. Sacheen Littlefeather at the 1973 Oscars (Photo: UCLA Library Special Collections, CC BY 2.0). [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. After the Academy Award speech, Littlefeather worked in hospice care. 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. 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. [73] Brando and Littlefeather's protest was generally considered inappropriate for the awards ceremony. [63][64][65][66][67] This claim has since been disputed by film historian Farran Nehme and biographer Scott Eyman. Sacheen Littlefeather stunned Hollywood when she was sent on behalf of Marlon Brando to reject his 1973 Oscar for best actor in "The Godfather." His theatrical training and instruction was carried out by Stella Adler, one of the most prestigious professors who developed Stanislavski's work in New York; some Saturdays he went to the Actor's Studio interested in Elia Kazan's classes. [134], "Littlefeather" redirects 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. [26] She characterized this as either being "adopted",[21] or in foster care. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Marlon Brando . 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 Awards in 1973. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images). [7] She said in a 2021 interview that the cancer had metastasized to her right lung and that she was terminal. Deviating from the prepared speech, she said the following:[60], Hello. (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. [92] She served as an advisor to PBS's Dance in America: Song for Dead Warriors (1984), which earned its choreographer, Michael Smuin, an Emmy Award. They say their sisters speech was the first time anyone in their Salinas family had ever talked about being Native American. 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. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Some felt that Brando was making a mockery of the awards, while others felt that he was jumping on a social cause bandwagon. A few months after the Academy Awards, Brando was a guest on The Dick Cavett Show, where he eloquently explained his position and showed no regrets for asking Littlefeather to attend the Oscars. "I was ostracized everywhere I turned. 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. The actress, who had breast cancer, died on Sunday . According to Littlefeather, the institution was a "hell hole" and doctors used what she said was "psychodrama," role-playing her parents "while black-hooded figures listened in a dim-lit room" to help her "reconstruct memories of childhood abuse and abandonment. Image of Sacheen Littlefeather standing before an Oscar statue holding Marlon Brando's statement at the 45th annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles, California, 1973. https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sacheen_Littlefeather&oldid=1140269831, This page was last edited on 19 February 2023, at 08:33. (2021, December 6). As the 50th anniversary of Littlefeathers Oscars moment approaches, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences continues to showcase Littlefeather as an icon of diversity in its glittery new museum in Los Angeles, where she is featured in an exhibit about iconic moments in the award ceremonys history. Brando's speech addressed the stereotypes of Native Americans in films long before the subject would be taken seriously in the industry. "For too long the courage you showed has been unacknowledged. While some in the audience applauded Littlefeather, her presence at the awards ruffled feathers. She added, "We need to keep our sense of humor about this at all times. (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. Get Morning Report and other email newsletters, Sacheen Littlefeather was giddy as she hung up the phone in her San Francisco apartment in March of 1973. At the time, Brando was a top Hollywood supporter of the American Indian Movement and acquainted with Littlefeather through her neighbor, Francis Ford Coppola. It was televised to 85 million people. [56] In other retellings of that night, Littlefeather said Koch told her that she had 60 seconds to deliver the speech or else she would be removed from the stage and arrested. 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. [27] A 1999 article stated she had developed colon cancer in the early 1990s. 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. [121] In the piece, a character from Orange's novel There, There writes to Brando about what it meant to see Littlefeather at the Oscars. She committed herself to other health education work as well and worked with Mother Theresa doing hospice care for AIDS patients. 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. "Brando, Littlefeather, and the Academy Awards." Littlefeather, who appeared nervous during her speech and was booed by a few attendees, received both harassment and praise after the event. Market data provided by Factset. Legal Statement. 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. [18] She learned more about Native American customs from elders and other protesters, like Adam Fortunate Eagle (then known as Adam Nordwall). 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. 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. [5], In 1972, Brando played Vito Corleone in The Godfather, which many critics consider one of the greatest films of all time. "The emotional burden you have lived through and the cost to your own career in our industry are irreparable. [2][3], Littlefeather was born Marie Louise Cruz on November 14, 1946, in Salinas, California. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Subsequently, she wrote Brando a letter, asking about his interest in Native American issues. Some of Littlefeathers claims about aiding Native American organizations can be verified. 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. 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. Littlefeather's family asked mourners to make donations to American Indian Child Resource Center in Oakland, California. [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. So, effectively what we hear at the podium is an improvised speech by the activist. [5], Littlefeather joined the audience minutes before the award for Best Actor was announced. When he was nominated for an Oscar for his infamous portrayal of Don Corleone in "The Godfather," he refused to attend the ceremony. Riveting new S.F. 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. 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Did Sacheen Littlefeather share true story about John Wayne trying to attack her? 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. Famous Last Words: Fictional Characters, Books and Plays, Biography of Charlie Chaplin, Legendary Movie Comedian, M.A., American Studies, University of New Mexico, B.A., Native American Studies, University of New Mexico. 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." Entertainment | And it's just insulting to my parents', "A Recent TV Slur Revives Debate About Sacheen Littlefeather and Her Role in Marlon Brando's Oscar Refusal", "4-H Home Ec Results Listed At Monterey County Fair", "DeSerpa Is Elected Hartnell Student V-P", "Sacheen Littlefeather: Fact Or Fiction? [2][3] Although some of her distant family may have been born in Pima/Oodham tribal territory in Sonora, Mexico, scholars have stated that actual tribal members in these communities would have been a minority during the time. In 1964 during a fish-in, which was a protest to honor fishing rights on Puget Sound promised to Native American tribes, he was even arrested. [18][19] In 1969, she joined the United Bay Indian Council. 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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. Marie would later become famous as Native American activist Sacheen Littlefeather. "I was blacklisted or, you could say, redlisted," she explained. 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.. By 1949, they had moved to Salinas and opened up their own business, Cruz Saddlery. The Academy Museum Owes An Exhibit", "Sacheen Littlefeather Modeling For Photo Shoot", "Interview with Sacheen Cruz Littlefeather on Alcatraz", "Whatever Became of Sacheen Littlefeather? Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. She continued her activism for Native American issues including healthcare and unemployment, and produced films about Native Americans. [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. [24], In interviews, Littlefeather said she had a difficult childhood. (Photo by Beck Starr/FilmMagic/Getty Images). [5] In an interview after her Academy Awards appearance, Fortunate Eagle confirmed that Littlefeather had supported the protest at Alcatraz;[22] According to Keeler's 2022 article published after Littlefeather's death, activist LaNada War Jack, who was at Alcatraz, said Littlefeather was not there. Brando, Littlefeather, and the Academy Awards. None of Littlefeathers relatives identified as Native American, Keeler 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. Orlandi and Cruz just want the truth to be known about their family. 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. The truth, they say, is that their parents, self-employed makers of horse saddles, raised their three daughters in a loving middle-class home. [133] However, on her official website, a response to Ebert's article contradicts the lawyer and states that she was born Marie Cruz. After Littlefeathers sisters learned about her death, they went public with their fraud allegations because, they said, their sisters lies maligned their parents, Manuel and Geroldine Cruz. 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. Were also on Pinterest, Tumblr, and Flipboard. Then, it wasn't Brando who mounted the stage, but a 26-year-old Native American activist named Sacheen Littlefeather. 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. [20][35], Playboy magazine planned a spread called "10 Little Indians" in 1972, and one of the models was Littlefeather, but the spread was cancelled. [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. Legal Statement. 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. All rights reserved. Stephanie Nolasco covers entertainment at Foxnews.com. (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. She delivered a short speech on behalf of Brando declining acceptance of the award. LIttlefeathers longtime Bay Area friend, Bridget Neconie, said she and others never doubted Littlefeather was Apache or Yaqui. [118], In November 2019 she received the Brando Award, which recognizes individuals for their contributions to the American Indian, from the Red Nation International Film Festival. Bettmann/Getty Images Sacheen Littlefeather declining Marlon Brando's Oscar in 1973. She can rest assured that no one will take her bravery that night for granted; and long after her passing, she will continue to be a shining example for others. She lives in San Francisco. All rights reserved. [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. The History of the American Indian Movement (AIM), Indian Citizenship Act: Granted Citizenship but Not Voting Rights, The Native American Ghost Dance, a Symbol of Defiance, Top 10 Classic Films With a Social Message, Indian Reorganization Act: A New Deal for American Indians, 5 Common Indigenous Stereotypes in Film and Television. 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. [59], The Best Actor award was presented by Norwegian actress Liv Ullmann and British actor Roger Moore. [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.
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