Sacheen Littlefeather
Actress

Sacheen Littlefeather Net Worth

She is also known for her iconic speech at the 1973 Academy Awards, where she represented Marlon Brando in his refusal of the Best Actor award for The Godfather. Littlefeather has since become a symbol of Native American activism and a champion of Indigenous rights.
Sacheen Littlefeather is a member of Actress

Age, Biography and Wiki

Who is it? Actress
Birth Day November 14, 1946
Birth Place  Salinas, California, United States
Age 77 YEARS OLD
Birth Sign Sagittarius
Occupation Actress model activist

💰 Net worth

Sacheen Littlefeather, a prominent actress in the United States, is expected to have a net worth ranging between $100,000 to $1 million by 2024. Known for her remarkable talent and captivating performances, Littlefeather has gained wide recognition in the entertainment industry. With her versatility and dedication to her craft, she has undoubtedly accumulated considerable wealth throughout her career. As she continues to make strides in her acting endeavors, her net worth is projected to grow substantially in the coming years.

Famous Quotes:

Hello. My name is Sacheen Littlefeather. I'm Apache and I am president of the National Native American Affirmative Image Committee. I'm representing Marlin Brando this evening, and he has asked me to tell you in a very long speech which I cannot share with you presently, because of time, but I will be glad to share with the press afterwards, that he very regretfully cannot accept this very generous award. And the reasons for this being are the treatment of American Indians today by the film industry – excuse me [boos and cheers] – and on television in movie re-runs, and also with recent happenings at Wounded Knee. I beg at this time that I have not intruded upon this evening, and that we will in the future, our hearts and our understandings will meet with love and generosity. Thank you on behalf of Marlon Brando. [applause]

Biography/Timeline

1946

Sacheen Cruz Littlefeather was born Marie Louise Cruz on November 14, 1946, in Salinas, California. Her mother was a leather Stamper from Phoenix, Arizona, of French, German, and Dutch descent. Her father, an alcoholic who beat her mother, was from the White Mountain Apache and Yaqui tribes. The couple moved to California while her mother was pregnant. She was primarily raised by her maternal grandparents, Marie and Barney, and was Catholic as a child. Sometimes she lived with her mother; she recalls a trip through Mississippi when she was told to use the "black" water fountains and a sign that read, "No Dogs or Indians Allowed".

1960

Littlefeather got in contact with actor Marlon Brando through her neighbor, Director Francis Ford Coppola. She wrote Brando a letter, asking about his interest in Native American issues, and he called the radio where she worked a year later. Brando had worked as an Activist with the American Indian Movement (AIM) since the 1960s and into the 1970s. In Washington, D.C., where Littlefeather was presenting to the Federal Communications Commission about minorities, they met and found in Common their involvement with AIM.

1969

While she attended California State University, East Bay, she continued to look into her Native American identity. In Oakland, she worked with the Intertribal Friendship House. In 1969, she became a member of Indians of All Tribes and participated in the occupation of Alcatraz, when she adopted the name Sacheen Littlefeather. She learned more about Native American customs from elders and other protesters.

1970

On a full scholarship to the American Conservatory Theater, she began acting education. Aspiring to become an Actress, Littlefeather picked up several radio and television commercial credits and joined the Screen Actors Guild. In 1970, she was named Miss Vampire USA, a promotion for Dark Shadows.

1972

Playboy magazine planned a spread called "10 Little Indians" in 1972, and one of the Models was Littlefeather, but Playboy editors cancelled its publication due to the Wounded Knee incident. A year later in October 1973, after her Academy Award appearance fame, they ran the photographs of Littlefeather as a stand-alone feature. Littlefeather was personally criticized for what was seen as exploitation of her fame. Looking back at the photo shoot, Littlefeather later said, "I was young and dumb."

1973

In 1972, Brando played Vito Corleone in The Godfather, which is considered one of the greatest films of all time. For the performance, he was nominated for Best Actor for the role at the 45th Academy Awards, which were presented on March 27, 1973, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, California. But before the ceremony, Brando decided that – as the favorite to win – he would boycott as a protest against the ongoing siege at Wounded Knee led by AIM and his views on how Native Americans were represented in American films. He called Littlefeather and asked her to appear on his behalf. "I was a spokesperson, so to speak, for the stereotype of Native Americans in film and television," she later said.

1979

In 1979, she co-founded the National American Indian Performing Arts Registry, which later helped several actors join the production of Dances with Wolves. She shared an Emmy Award as an advisor to PBS's Dance in America: Song for Dead Warriors (1984). She also worked on the PBS shows Remember Me Forever and The Americas Before Columbus (both 1992), and she has produced films on Native American health. In 2009, she gave testimony in the documentary Reel Injun about Native Americans in film.

1980

She continued doing activism and became a respected member of California's Native American community. In the 1980s, she led prayer circles for Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American Catholic saint. In 1988, she worked with Mother Teresa helping AIDS patients in hospice care, later founding the American Indian AIDS Institute of San Francisco. She campaigned against obesity, alcoholism, and diabetes, and specifically assisted Native Americans with AIDS, including her brother.

2014

The speech was credited with bringing attention back to the Wounded Knee standoff, on which a media blackout had been imposed. Coretta Scott King called Littlefeather to thank her for the speech. In 2014, the 87th ceremony of the Academy Awards drew criticism for lack of diversity in nominations; Actress Jada Pinkett Smith, who boycotted the ceremony, cited Littlefeather as inspiration to do so.

2018

In March 2018, a spokesperson announced that Littlefeather had developed stage 4 breast cancer. As of April 2018, Littlefeather resides in Northern California.

Some Sacheen Littlefeather images

About the author

Lisa Scholfield

As a Senior Writer at Famous Net Worth, I spearhead an exceptional team dedicated to uncovering and sharing the stories of pioneering individuals. My passion for unearthing untold narratives drives me to delve deep into the essence of each subject, bringing forth a unique blend of factual accuracy and narrative allure. In orchestrating the editorial workflow, I am deeply involved in every step—from initial research to the final touches of publishing, ensuring each biography not only informs but also engages and inspires our readership.