Hollywood History the First Actor To Turn Down an Oscar

Even if you aren’t a huge movie buff, you probably know what the Oscars are. They have become a massive part of our culture, with people throwing viewing parties and placing bets on who will win every single year.

However, not everyone in the film industry thinks the Academy Awards are such a big deal. In fact, some of the most famous actors in history have shown quite a bit of dislike for the ceremony and the people who run it.

One of the most famous examples happened in 1973 when Marlon Brando refused to show up. Instead, he sent a Native American activist named Sacheen Littlefeather to speak for him so she could talk about how her community was being mistreated.

Long before that, in 1935, a writer named Dudley Nichols became the first person to ever turn down an Oscar. He did it to show support for a writers’ strike and only took the award once the fight was over.

For some stars, the Oscars represent a way of doing business that they just don’t like. In 1971, George C. Scott famously asked the Academy to take his name off the ballot for Best Actor.

He had given an incredible performance as General George S. Patton in the movie Patton, and critics everywhere were raving about him. Even so, he sent a telegram to the Academy calling the whole show a two-hour meat parade and a public display that was only created for economic reasons.

Scott wanted to make it clear that he wasn’t trying to insult his fellow actors, but he simply didn’t believe in the way the awards worked. Despite his request, the Academy went ahead and gave him the award anyway.

Since he wasn’t there, the producer of Patton had to go up on stage and accept the trophy for him. Scott was a man of his word, though, and the very next day, he sent the golden statue right back to the Academy.

While George C. Scott passed away in 1999, his legacy as a “rebel” of Hollywood is still very much alive. Film fans often revisit his legendary roles, especially his portrayal of Ebenezer Scrooge in the 1984 version of A Christmas Carol, which many people still consider the best adaptation ever made. His intense acting style in classics like Dr. Strangelove and The Hustler continues to influence new actors who want to bring a sense of raw power to their own performances.

Do you think George C. Scott was right to call the Academy Awards a “meat parade,” or has the ceremony changed enough over the years to be worth the hype? Share your thoughts in the comments!