Sacheen Littlefeather, a Native American actor and activist who made Oscars history in 197 by declining the best actor prize on behalf of Marlon Brando, and jolting the Academy and an estimated 85 million television viewers with her speech condemning the mistreatment of American Indians, has died aged 75.
For decades, the Oscars largely steered clear of politics and social issues, acquiring a reputation as Hollywood’s biggest night while serving as a glitzy showcase for movies and the people who made them. Littlefeather’s speech helped change that, ushering in an era in which actors and filmmakers increasingly used their acceptance speeches to call out injustice, criticise politicians and urge the industry to diversify its ranks and better represent women and people of colour.
