Sacheen Littlefeather Biography
Sacheen Littlefeather is a Native American rights activist and actress from the United States. She is best known for protesting the stereotypical portrayal of Native Americans in the entertainment industry by representing Oscar-nominated actor Marlon Brando at the 45th Academy Awards in 1973.
Where was Sacheen Littlefeather born? – Age
Littlefeather was born on November 14, 1946, as Marie Louise Cruz in Salinas, California, to a French, German, and Dutch mother and a Native American father. She has two younger sisters. Her childhood was difficult because she had to endure abuse at the hands of her father.
Sacheen Littlefeather Education
She attended California State University (present day – California State University). She later went to the American Conservatory Theater to study acting.
Sacheen Littlefeather Height
Her height is not yet disclosed.
Sacheen Littlefeather Family
Littlefeather was born on November 14, 1946, as Marie Louise Cruz in Salinas, California, to a French, German, and Dutch mother and a Native American father. She has two younger sisters. Her childhood was difficult because she had to endure abuse at the hands of her father.
Sacheen Littlefeather Husband
She hasn’t made her relationship public. Her marital status, whether married, engaged, divorced, or single, is unknown.
Sacheen Littlefeather Career
Littlefeather began her acting career by appearing in radio and television commercials. She appeared as Maggie in the Italian-Spanish crime film Counselor at Crime’ in 1973. Her uncredited roles in ‘The Laughing Policeman’ and ‘Freebie and the Bean,’ released in 1973 and 1974, respectively, followed. In 1974, she played Patsy Littlejohn in ‘The Trial of Billy Jack,’ an action sequel to the 1971 film ‘Billy Jack,’ which starred Delores Taylor and Tom Laughlin. She appeared in the films “Winterhawk” and “Shoot the Sun Down.” Littlefeather appeared on a few PBS shows in the 1990s, including ‘The Americas Before Columbus’ and ‘Remember Me Forever.’ She appeared as herself in the documentary Reel Injun’ in 2009. Her self-titled documentary was released in 2018.
Sacheen Littlefeather joined the Alcatraz occupation in 1969, a 19-month-long protest against the American government’s opposition to native land claims led by Canada Means and Richard Oakes. She co-founded the National American Indian Performing Arts Registry in 1979 after working at St. Mary’s Hospital and the Institute of American Indian Arts. Littlefeather continued her activism and rose to prominence in California’s Native American community. She collaborated with Mother Teresa in 1988, assisting AIDS patients in hospice care. She later established the San Francisco American Indian AIDS Institute. In 2010, she was appointed executive director of the Kateri Tekakwitha prayer circles in San Francisco.
Sacheen Littlefeather represented actor Marlon Brando at the 45th Academy Awards on March 27, 1973, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California. Brando, who was nominated for Best Actor for his performance as Vito Corleone in the 1972 film ‘The Godfather,’ boycotted the ceremony as part of AIM’s protest against the portrayal of Native Americans in the American film industry. Littlefeather, who acted as Brando’s spokesperson, took the stage and turned down the Academy Award trophy that Roger Moore and Liv Ullmann offered her. Her speech compelled the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to forbid future Oscar proxy acceptance. The Hollywood community blacklisted Littlefeather.
Sacheen Littlefeather Net Worth
Sacheen has an estimated net worth of 1.5 million dollars.
