Sacheen Littlefeather was an American actress, civil rights campaigner for Native Americans, and model. She was born in Salinas, California, on November 14, 1946, and was 75 years old at the time of her death. Littlefeather revealed in March 2018 that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer at stage 4 in March 2018. She is a graduate of California State University, Hayward, and the American Conservatory Theater, where she studied acting.
She starred in films like “The Trial of Billy Jack” (1974), “Johnny Firecloud” (1975), and “Counselor at Crime” (1973). On September 17, “An Evening with Sacheen Littlefeather” honored Littleweather. Littlefeather was the first Native American woman to deliver an acceptance speech at the Oscars.
Advertisement
Career Highlights
Littlefeathers joined the American labour union Screen Actors Guild and appeared in various radio and television commercials while aspiring to be an actor. Later on, she claimed that her profession as an actress was inevitable because she had been portraying her deaf father since a very young age.
Littlefeather was named Miss Vampire USA in 1970, and her serial opera, Dark Shadows, was promoted from 1966 to 1971.
Advertisement
Littlefeather herself revealed in 1991 that she was ready to commit to two PBS episodes, America Before Columbus and Remember Me Forever, slated for 1992 release. Unfortunately, no such programmes were aired on the channel, since no such reports have been received.
Reel Injun Littefeather offered her experience with Native Americans in the 2009 Canadian documentary to raise awareness among the incoming generation.
Littlefeather's film roles range from Laughing Policemen to Listen To Me Marlon, and include Winterhawk, Counsellor at Crime, The Trial of Billy Jack, Brando, and Shoot the Sun Down, among others.
Other Career Activities
Later in 1971, Littlefeather participated in the American Indian Festival, and in 1972, as Princess Littlefeather, she served as a judge at a beauty contest. In the same year, she organized an American Indian Festival at the Palace of Fine Arts and went on to work for radio stations such as KFRC and Channel 9.
In 1972, Playboy magazine finished a photo shoot titled “Ten Little Indians” that was irrelevant since the resulting images were not as sexual as anticipated. However, once Littlefeather was awarded the Academy Award and her fame grew, the photos were published, which sparked controversy. In response, she stated that she had only taken the photos when she was in desperate need of money to attend the World Theatre Festival.
Littlefeather acquired a second identity in 1973 when she appeared in “Makeup for Minority Women” as a professional model. As a spokeswoman, Littolefeather was spotted protesting Nixon's budget amendment the same year. As a representative of minorities on television in March 1973, I participated in a discussion session with the Federal Communications Commission.
Littlefeather was also a secretary and member of the board of directors at the American Indian AIDS Institute of San Francisco. Apparently, she also served in Mother Teresa‘s AIDS hospice Gift of Love at the same time and was privileged to meet the generous spirit at least once in her lifetime. Littlefeather reportedly had a sibling whom neither her parents nor grandparents welcomed, and he died of AIDS in 1990. Littlefeather has been committed to educating Native Americans about not only AIDS, but also alcoholism, diabetes, and obesity, all of which are fatal afflictions.
In the late 1980s, it was determined that Littlfeqter was deserving of the Traditional Indian Medicine Achievement Award, and in 2019, she was selected to receive the Brando Award, a particular award presented to persons for their contribution to the advancement of American Indians.
Littlefeather was one of only a few people to reject the Oscar trophies, though she did so on behalf of Marlon Brando, and she even delivered a completely different speech after successfully refusing Moore's medal. Shortly thereafter, Brando's original remarks were exposed to the media, which finally resulted in the creation of hordes of detractors.
How did Sacheen Littlefeather die?
How did Sacheen Littlefeather die? On October 2, 2022, the cause of Littlefeather's death was initially unknown, but it was eventually determined to be breast cancer. Littlefeather informed The Guardian, in what would be her final interview, that she was gravely ill: “I'm very, very sick. My incurable breast cancer has metastasized to my right lung. And I've been on chemotherapy and daily antibiotics for quite some time.
Consequently, my memory is not as good as it once was… Cancer is a full-time job, as evidenced by CT scans, MRIs, laboratory blood work, medical visits, chemotherapy, infectious disease control physicians, etc. You do not need to apply for cancer if you are lazy.” On October 2, 2022, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences tweeted a statement with a quotation claimed to the activist: “When I am gone, remember that anytime you stand for your truth, you will be keeping my voice and the voices of our nations and people alive.”
According to the New York Times, Littlefeather passed away at her home in Marin County, California, on Sunday. Her death occurred just weeks after the Academy issued an apology for Hollywood's reaction to Marlon Brando's Oscars rejection speech, in which the Godfather actor boycotted the awards ceremony and sent her in his place to protest the plight of Native Americans.
RELATED TOPICS:
- Patrick Mahomes Career Highlights!
- Joey King's Life Story Explained!
- Jordan Peele’s Life Story Explained!
Conclusion
She passed away at 75 years old. The world will never forget her efforts.” Another individual stated, “Sacheen Littlefeather has died. In addition to her acceptance speech for Marlon Brando, she halted the media embargo of the Wounded Knee occupation, received an Emmy, and co-founded the American Indian AIDS Institute in San Francisco.
Advertisement