Sacheen Littlefeather, a Native American activist who turned down Marlon Brando’s 1973 Academy Award for Best Actor on his behalf, died Sunday at 75, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences tweeted.
Littlefeather, who declined Brando’s award for his role in “The Godfather” on his behalf, famously spoke on stage about the film industry’s treatment of Native Americans nearly 50 years ago.
She was later subject to boos and criticism following her speech.
“I never thought I’d live to see the day I would be hearing this, experiencing this,” Littlefeather said.
“When I was at the podium in 1973, I stood there alone.”