Sacheen Littlefeather, a Native American activist who rejected Marlon Brando’s 1973 Academy Award for Best Actor on his behalf, died Sunday at age 75, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences tweeted .
Littlefeather, who rejected Brando’s award for his role in “The Godfather” on his behalf, famously spoke out on stage about the film industry’s treatment of Native Americans nearly 50 years ago.
He was later booed and criticized after his speech.
“I never thought I would live to see the day when I would hear this, experience this,” Littlefeather said.
“When I got on the podium in 1973, I was alone.”
