Sacheen Littlefeather

Career overview

Sacheen Cruz Littlefeather, born Marie Louise Cruz, was an American actress, model, and Native American civil rights activist. Born on November 14, 1946, in Salinas, California, her heritage included a Native American Apache and Yaqui father and a European American mother. During the 1969 occupation of Alcatraz, she became involved in the Native American activist community.

Throughout her career in entertainment, Littlefeather accumulated thirteen known acting credits in movies and television shows. She is widely recognized for an event at the 45th Academy Awards in 1973, where she represented actor Marlon Brando. On his behalf, she declined the Best Actor award that he had won for his performance in The Godfather. Brando, who was the favorite to win, boycotted the ceremony as a protest against Hollywood's portrayal of Native Americans and to draw attention to ongoing issues.

Littlefeather passed away on October 2, 2022, at the age of seventy-five. Her involvement in both the entertainment industry and civil rights advocacy marked her public life, bridging her work as an actress and model with her activism on behalf of Native Americans.