Sacheen Littlefeather
Known for ActingBorn 1946-11-14 — died 2022-10-02Salinas, California, USA
Sacheen Cruz Littlefeather (born Marie Louise Cruz; November 14, 1946 – October 2, 2022) was an American actress, model, and Native American civil rights activist. Littlefeather was born to a Native American (Apache and Yaqui) father and a European American mother. During the 1969 occupation of Alcatraz, she became involved in the Native American activist community.
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. 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. During her speech, the audience's response to Brando's boycotting was divided between booing and applause.
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After the Academy Award speech, she went on to work in hospice care. She continued to work in activism for a number of health-related and Native American issues, and had produced films about Native Americans. In June 2022, the Academy sent Littlefeather a statement of apology, which was read in full at An Evening with Sacheen Littlefeather on September 17.
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Known for
Freebie and the Bean
1974 · as Minor Role (uncredited)
Clint Eastwood: The Last Legend
2022 · as Self (archive footage)
Brando
2007 · as Self
Counselor at Crime
1973 · as Maggie
Winterhawk
1975 · as Pale Flower
Reel Injun
2010 · as Self
Shoot the Sun Down
1978 · as Navajo Woman
Johnny Firecloud
1975 · as Nenya
The Trial of Billy Jack
1974 · as Patsy Littlejohn
Sacheen: Breaking the Silence
2019 · as Self
The Last Days of Marlon Brando
2008 · as Self (archive footage)