Why Marlon Brando Refused to Accept the Oscar He Won for ‘The Godfather’ in 1973

Marlon Brando refused his Oscar for The Godfather in protest. Here’s why he did it and the consequences that followed.

One Hollywood celebrity who commands attention like no other is Marlon Brando.

He wasn’t just an actor; he was a game changer who reshaped movies and acting with his powerful performances effortlessly.

Brando’s acting style was rich and had a heavy influence from theatrics; his expressions were more prominent, and he would easily stand out when he came on screen.

His acting would add a whole new level of authenticity.

From his rebellious role in The Wild One to his Oscar-winning performance as a dockworker in On the Waterfront, he didn’t just act in these roles—he became the characters he was playing.

It was during the late ’60s and early ’70s when he was not getting a lot of roles due to poorly received films and his reputation for being difficult to work with—but the slump came to an end after he was given an offer he couldn’t refuse (get it?).

He was finally cast to play Vito Corleone in Mario Puzo’s novel adaptation of The Godfather.

The studio didn’t want him, and the executives doubted him, but Francis Ford Coppola knew Brando was the only man who could bring Don Vito Corleone to life.

And when Brando auditioned with the stuffed tissues for the iconic look, he proved them all wrong, and the rest is history.

A still from Godfather | Credits: Prime Video

After the movie spread like wildfire, becoming a favorite of critics and viewers, the big question was: would he get an Oscar?––spoiler alert––he did.

But here is where things get interesting.

When the Academy called his name during the 45th Oscar Awards night, Brando didn’t show up.

Instead, a woman no one in the audience expected walked onto the stage, stood in front of millions, and refused the award on his behalf.

Reasons why Marlon Brando did not accept the Best Actor Oscar

Marlon Brando accepting the Oscar for Waterfront | Credits: YouTube (Oscar’s channel)

When The Godfather hit theaters in 1972, it didn’t just succeed—it exploded.

The film dominated the box office and became the highest-grossing movie of the year.

Brando, paired with Francis Ford Coppola, changed the gangster movie genre.

The gripping story, combined with brilliant acting, cemented their place in the Oscars.

The critics were head over heels for the film, and nobody could get enough of the movie.

It is safe to say it was Brando’s role as Don Corleone that took the movie to insane heights, and when the award season finally rolled out, his performance was impossible to ignore.

Brando, as expected, was nominated for the Best Actor Award, and when his name was called by the presenters Roger Moore and Liv Ullmann, he did not show up.

Instead, a Native American woman, Sacheen Littlefeather, came to the stage to reject it.

Littlefeather at the 1973 Oscars | Credits: YouTube

Dressed in traditional Apache clothing, she gestured with her hand as the Oscar was given to her and politely refused it, leaving the audience in complete silence and shock.

During the moment of silence, she started to explain his absence and the reason for rejecting the award.

In a brief but powerful speech, she stated that Brando was rejecting the award in protest of Hollywood’s treatment of Native Americans in films and television.

He believed that Hollywood had treated Native Americans unfairly for years, often showing them as aggressive or one-dimensional characters instead of real, complex people.

Brando’s refusal of the Oscar was a shocking moment in Oscar history.

It was rare for celebrities to use their stage to talk about sensitive topics due to the risk of getting dropped from Hollywood.

They typically just thank the respected people, accept the award, and leave.

So when Brando pulled this off, it was a huge surprise to many.

Littlefeather, despite being met with boos and ridicule from some in the audience, stood firm in delivering Brando’s message.

It was a bold and controversial move, but looking back, it feels like quite a brave act.

The Academy Offers an apology for Littlefeather’s mistreatment

Littlefeather at the Academy Awards | Credits: News24

When Sacheen Littlefeather took the stage to reject the award and stated the reasons for rejecting it, the reaction was mixed.

Some in the audience booed loudly, while others mocked her with an offensive gesture by giving her the “Tomahawk Chop.”

Backstage, actor John Wayne reportedly had to be held back from attacking her, and for many years, she faced discrimination, was blacklisted, and ridiculed in Hollywood.

Despite the horrific discrimination, the Academy chose not to speak about the incident.

But after 50 years, they finally issued an apology.

The Academy acknowledged the “unwarranted and unjustified” mistreatment she had to face, and to honor her, they hosted a special event at the Academy Museum called An Evening with Sacheen Littlefeather.

Littlefeather accepted the apology with gratitude and a little bit of humor.

She said:

“We are a very patient people—it’s only been 50 years!”

She also mentioned that she was not expecting to see an apology, adding:

“I never thought I’d live to see the day for this program to take place, featuring such wonderful Native performers.

… This is a dream come true.”

Sacheen Littlefeather first received the letter, written by former Academy President David Rubin, in June.

However, the Academy officially shared it with the public on Monday.

Al Pacino boycotts the Oscars after Brando won the Best Actor Award

Al Pacino receiving the Best Actor Award in 1993 | Credits: YouTube

It wasn’t just Marlon Brando who made headlines during the 1973 Oscars.

Another Godfather star who garnered a lot of attention was Al Pacino.

But unlike Brando, he didn’t reject an award in protest.

Instead, he boycotted the event because he felt like he was disrespected by the Academy.

Pacino also delivered a powerful performance in The Godfather, portraying Michael and beautifully showing his transformation from a shy and hesitant outsider to a deadly mafia boss.

His performance was so intense that many believed he was the heart of the movie, but it looks like the Academy didn’t feel the same way.

Despite his incredible performance, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor instead of Best Actor.

Pacino had more screen time than Brando, and being placed in the supporting category didn’t sit well with him—he considered it an insult.

While Brando’s absence became the night’s biggest controversy, Pacino’s boycott also raised eyebrows.

Some believed the Academy intentionally placed him in the supporting category to avoid splitting votes with Brando.

However, Pacino’s frustration didn’t last long.

He lost interest in pursuing the boycott and later secured an Oscar for his role in Scent of a Woman in 1993.