Entertainers Who Turned Down Major Awards

Marlon Brando

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Marlon Brando is one of the most iconic actors of all time — from A Streetcar Named Desire, which remains a film-school staple because of its importance, to Apocalypse Now, which raked in numerous Golden Globes, Academy Awards, and BAFTA Awards. It almost seems like Brando can’t touch a single movie without it tripping into an Oscar, but awards weren’t really important to the actor.

“I think awards in this country at this time are inappropriate to be received or given until the condition of the American Indian is drastically altered. If we are not our brother’s keeper, at least let us not be his executioner,” he said, and thus began one of the biggest Oscars scandals of all time.