Sacheen Littlefeather, made famous by Marlon Brando, was a lifelong warrior for justice

Sacheen Littlefeather, the Native American actor and activist who declined Marlon Brando’s Oscar for The Godfather in 1973.

She was a staff member of the American Indian Center.

She spoke out against the use of Native American caricatures as sports mascots.

She was involved with the American Indian Registry for Performing Arts.

It was she who stepped on to the stage of the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and declined to accept Marlon Brando’s Oscar from Roger Moore and Liv Ullman.

[ Sacheen Littlefeather, actor and activist who declined Marlon Brando’s Oscar, dies aged 75 ].

The actor, nominated for The Godfather, was boycotting the event in protest at Hollywood’s treatment of Native Americans.

Her Native American heritage was questioned (her father was of Apache and Yaqui stock).