How Charlie Chaplin Ended Up with Marlon Brando's Rejected 'Godfather' Oscar

The iconic moment when Sacheen Littlefeather refused Brando's Best Actor award on his behalf has a surprising resolution decades later.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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In one of the most memorable moments in Oscars history, Marlon Brando won the Best Actor award for his role in "The Godfather" in 1973 but declined to accept it. Instead, Sacheen Littlefeather took the stage on his behalf to protest Hollywood's portrayal of Native Americans. The fate of that rejected Oscar remained a mystery for decades, until entertainment journalist Scott Huver uncovered the surprising resolution - the statue eventually ended up in the hands of legendary actor Charlie Chaplin.

Why it matters

Brando's protest and the subsequent journey of the rejected Oscar statue have become part of the Oscars' enduring legacy, highlighting both the political tensions of the era and the unpredictable drama that can unfold at the prestigious awards ceremony. The story also sheds light on the behind-the-scenes workings of the Academy and how it handled an unprecedented situation.

The details

When Brando's name was called by co-presenters Roger Moore and Liv Ullmann, Sacheen Littlefeather took the stage to decline the award on Brando's behalf, denouncing Hollywood's portrayal of Native Americans and the federal response to the Wounded Knee Occupation. The Oscar statue itself was never touched by Littlefeather, instead being carried off by Moore, who took it home with him. Two weeks later, Moore informed the Academy that he still had the award, and they sent an armored car to retrieve it.

  • On March 27, 1973, the 45th Academy Awards ceremony took place at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles.
  • Marlon Brando won the Best Actor Oscar for his role in "The Godfather".
  • Sacheen Littlefeather took the stage to decline the award on Brando's behalf.
  • Weeks later, Roger Moore informed the Academy that he still had the Oscar statue, and they sent an armored car to retrieve it.
  • Chaplin had won his first competitive Oscar earlier that evening for best original dramatic score for "Limelight", but the statue was damaged in transit, so the Academy engraved Chaplin's name on the Brando Oscar and sent it to him in London.

The players

Marlon Brando

An acclaimed American actor who won the Best Actor Oscar for his iconic performance as Vito Corleone in "The Godfather".

Sacheen Littlefeather

An activist who took the stage at the 1973 Oscars to decline Brando's award on his behalf, in protest of Hollywood's portrayal of Native Americans.

Roger Moore

A British actor who co-presented the Best Actor award at the 1973 Oscars, and ended up taking the rejected Oscar statue home with him.

Charlie Chaplin

A legendary silent film comedian who won his first competitive Oscar for best original dramatic score for "Limelight" at the same 1973 ceremony, and ultimately received Brando's rejected Oscar statue.

Scott Huver

An entertainment journalist and historian who uncovered the details of the Brando Oscar's journey in a Deadline article.

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What they’re saying

“That protest, on March 27, 1973, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, stands as one of the Academy Awards' most shocking and indelible moments.”

— G. Allen Johnson, Journalist (sfchronicle.com)

“The legend who finally got it? None other than Charlie Chaplin.”

— Scott Huver, Entertainment journalist and historian (Deadline)

What’s next

The Academy has stated that Brando's Oscar is still available for him to claim if he ever changes his mind, though the actor passed away in 2004 without doing so.

The takeaway

This iconic Oscars moment not only highlighted the political tensions of the era, but also showcased the unpredictable drama that can unfold at the prestigious awards ceremony. The surprising journey of Brando's rejected Oscar statue, ultimately ending up in the hands of the legendary Charlie Chaplin, adds another layer of intrigue to this enduring piece of Oscars history.