While Katherine Hepburn famously declined every invitation to attend the Academy Awards, she reportedly displayed the Oscars trophies she had won proudly in her home. However, Marlon Brando, George C.Scott, Dudley Nichols flat out refused the award.
Although there have been a few instances when some winners were unable to receive their award at the ceremony due to scheduling conflicts or other such genuine issues, there have been three people who outright refused their Oscar.
Dudley Nichols, a screenwriter, was the first person to reject an Oscar, citing the Academy's mistreatment of writers. Other Oscar winners, such as George C. Scott and Marlon Brando, have also refused their awards, using their platform to make important statements about the industry.
What happens if you reject an Academy Award? Well, it turns out…not very much. Numerous actors, writers and directors have rejected their awards over the year – and they're still listed as winners in all official records. Stars are free to send back the award statuettes, however.
Marlon Brando's Best Actor Oscar win for "The Godfather" | Sacheen Littlefeather
Has any actor refused an Oscar?
(NEXSTAR) – The Academy Award is generally regarded as one of the highest honors that an actor can receive — the keyword being “generally.” In the history of the Oscars, however, there have only been three people who refused their awards: actors George C. Scott and Marlon Brando, and screenwriter Dudley Nichols.
According to The Wrap, only one Oscar has ever been rescinded after being awarded, and it was actually for a technicality: In 1969, the Oscar for Best Documentary Feature was given to Young Americans, then taken away after it was revealed that the documentary was exhibited publicly starting in 1967.
Who was the first person expelled from the Oscars?
Caridi was cleared of wrongdoing. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced on February 3, 2004, that it was expelling Caridi for violating his agreement to safeguard their screeners, making him the first Academy member to be expelled.
Every year the Academy holds a lottery for the Red Carpet Fan Experience where around 700 people from the public who sign up are chosen. If you are lucky, you might get a seat in the front row in the bleachers lining the red carpet and even shake the hand of one of your idols.
Herman Mankiewicz's statuette for Best Screenplay for 'Citizen Kane' was sold for $588,455. In 1999, Michael Jackson spent an exorbitant 1.5 million dollars to buy the statuette for 'Gone with the Wind', which won the Oscar for Best Film in 1939.
The Academy's rule that regulates the sale of a statue
All nominees sign a contract prohibiting them from selling their award in the event that they are winners. This rule was ratified in 2015 by a Los Angeles judge. Previously it had a symbolic value of $10, but it was agreed to lower it to $1.
Brando did not appear at the function but a buckskin clad American Indian woman Sacheen Little Feather, got on the stage and told the audience: “Marlon Brando very regretfully cannot accept this award because of the treatment of American Indians in this country to-day on the television, on reruns and recent happenings ...
Who knows the winners before they're announced? According to the academy website, just two PricewaterhouseCoopers partners know the results beforehand. PwC is the accounting firm that tabulates the votes.
Since 1951, all Academy Award winners must sign an agreement that they “shall not sell or otherwise dispose of the Oscar statuette, nor permit it to be sold or disposed of by operation of law, without first offering to sell it to the Academy for the sum of $1”.
Do actors pay to go to the Oscars? No. The Oscars are the biggest awards show, not only in Hollywood, but the world, and actors clammer to be a part of it. If an actor is chosen to be a presenter, they'll show up for a rehearsal or two to check their lighting and their lines before the actual event.
One vote per category! Hooray for simplicity! Are Academy voters required to actually watch every Oscar nominee to vote? No, though some categories require that all nominees have been viewed for a member to vote in that category, including shorts and international feature.
In its 94-year history, the Academy has expelled only five members: Carmine Caridi, Harvey Weinstein, Bill Cosby, Roman Polanski, and cinematographer Adam Kimmel.
During the 94th Academy Awards on March 27, 2022, actor Will Smith walked onstage and assaulted comedian Chris Rock across the face with what appeared to be an open-palm strike during Rock's presentation for Best Documentary Feature.
Despite Lennix's plea, it seems that Will Smith will be able to keep his prize. The Academy didn't want to set a precedent of taking awards away from actors and directors for extracurricular behaviour and instead believed the decade-long ban from attending the ceremony would suffice.
As of 2021, 44 actors and actresses have received two or more Academy Awards in acting categories. Katharine Hepburn leads the way with four (all Best Actress).
Prior to 1950, Oscar statuettes were (and remain) the property of the recipient. Since then the statuettes have been legally encumbered by the requirement that the statuette be first offered for sale back to the Academy for US$1. If a winner refuses to agree to this stipulation, then the Academy keeps the statuette.
Who is the youngest ever Oscars winner? There are, of course, multiple different types of award on offer at the Oscars, but the youngest person to win any of them at all is Tatum O'Neal. She won Best Supporting Actress at the 1974 Oscars at the age of 10.
