Actor and activist Sacheen Littlefeather, who famously declined a 1973 Oscar on behalf of actor Marlon Brando, has died at the age of 75, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said. Read more:
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At his request, she did not accept his Best Actor award for The Godfather, explaining why in a powerful speech in which she spoke of the film industry's mistreatment of Native Americans. "Mr Brando very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award today, and the reasons for this are the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry, and on television and movie reruns and also with recent happenings at Wounded Knee," she said at the time.Half a century on, Academy finally apologises to Indigenous star for historic Oscars abuse
"As you stood on the Oscars stage in 1973 to not accept the Oscar on behalf of Marlon Brando, in recognition of the misrepresentation and mistreatment of Native American people by the film industry, you made a powerful statement that continues to remind us of the necessity of respect and the importance of human dignity," the letter said.