# WHAT?! When did this happen?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-when-did-this-happen/151622
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [January 30, 2003, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-when-did-this-happen/151622 "2003-01-30T15:23:31Z")
**Posts on this page:** 15
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@mmm.forbidden\_doughnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmm.forbidden_doughnut)
#### Post date: [January 30, 2003, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-when-did-this-happen/151622/1 "2003-01-30T15:23:31Z")
Whilst reading an article yesterday on [cnn.com](http://cnn.com) about Peter O’Toole (who is refusing a “Lifetime Achievement” Oscar (how to you make the little TM thing?), I ran across this:
AMPAS execs and Oscarcast producer Gil Cates will discuss what to do in the event
O’Toole does not show up. This is uncharted territory: In the past, winning actors
such as **Marlon Brando** and **George C. Scott** have refused the Oscar, but no honorary winner has ever declined the prize.
I’ve looked an’ looked but can’t find out when or why. Anybody know what gives?
mmm…
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### Author:  [@II\_Gyan\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/II_Gyan_II)
#### Post date: [January 30, 2003, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-when-did-this-happen/151622/2 "2003-01-30T15:29:18Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by mmm… forbidden doughnut \*
> \*\*I’ve looked an’ looked but can’t find out when or why. Anybody know what gives?
>
> mmm… \*\*
[Brando’s Awards](http://us.imdb.com/Pawards?Brando,%20Marlon) (Refused Godfather Best Actor - 1973 over treatment on native Indians)
[Scott’s Awards](http://us.imdb.com/Pawards?Scott,%20George%20C.) (Refused Patton Best Actor - 1970, didn’t think of himself as competing with other actors)
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### Author:  [@mmm.forbidden\_doughnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmm.forbidden_doughnut)
#### Post date: [January 30, 2003, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-when-did-this-happen/151622/3 "2003-01-30T15:31:56Z")
First, I apologize for not having a more descriptive thread title.
Second, thanks, Gyan, for your prompt response.
Third, I guess I wasn’t phrasing it correctly when I was searching ot something.
Have a swell day!
mmm…
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### Author:  [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)
#### Post date: [January 30, 2003, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-when-did-this-happen/151622/4 "2003-01-30T16:49:14Z")
A Indian received Brando’s award in his name and gave a protest speech. I don’t even think Scott showed up.
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### Author:  [@23skidoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/23skidoo)
#### Post date: [January 30, 2003, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-when-did-this-happen/151622/5 "2003-01-30T18:53:56Z")
Yeah, but why is O’Toole refusing his award?
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### Author:  [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)
#### Post date: [January 30, 2003, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-when-did-this-happen/151622/6 "2003-01-30T19:02:16Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by mobo85 \*
> \*\*A Indian received Brando’s award in his name and gave a protest speech. I don’t even think Scott showed up. \*\*
Actually, it was Maria Cruz who “accepted/refused” the award on Brando’s behalf. She pretended to be a Native American woman by the name of Sacheen Littlefeather.
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### Author:  [@H8\_2\_W8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/H8_2_W8)
#### Post date: [January 30, 2003, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-when-did-this-happen/151622/7 "2003-01-30T19:11:49Z")
Can’t Mark Linn-Baker keep him sober long enough to accept the award?
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### Author:  [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)
#### Post date: [January 30, 2003, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-when-did-this-happen/151622/8 "2003-01-30T19:13:56Z")
O’Toole’s said, basically, “I’m not dead yet!” From his statement it was clear to me that he thought this meant the Academy was writing him off as a legitimate threat to win an Oscar on his own, and he didn’t want to be part of that.
The Academy said the honorary award means no such thing, it’s just a recognition of his body of work.
You decide which is right.
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### Author:  [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)
#### Post date: [January 30, 2003, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-when-did-this-happen/151622/9 "2003-01-30T19:14:51Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by 23skidoo \*
> \*\*Yeah, but why is O’Toole refusing his award? \*\*
Basically O’Toole feels that at 70, he is too young for a “Lifetime Achievement” award. He asked that they wait until he is 80, so he has more time to win a competitive reward.
It’s a little silly, because there’s nothing to stop him from winning a competitive award later and he certainly wouldn’t be the youngest to win Lifetime Achievement.
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### Author:  [@Jabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jabba)
#### Post date: [January 30, 2003, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-when-did-this-happen/151622/10 "2003-01-30T19:15:29Z")
He is refusing it because he still hopes to win a real one.
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### Author:  [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)
#### Post date: [January 30, 2003, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-when-did-this-happen/151622/11 "2003-01-30T20:38:45Z")
Specifically, he responded to the notification of the award with a handwritten note that included the phrase, “I’m still in the game.”
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### Author:  [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)
#### Post date: [January 30, 2003, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-when-did-this-happen/151622/12 "2003-01-30T21:00:56Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Telemark \*
> \*\*O’Toole’s said, basically, “I’m not dead yet!” From his statement it was clear to me that he thought this meant the Academy was writing him off as a legitimate threat to win an Oscar on his own, and he didn’t want to be part of that.
>
> The Academy said the honorary award means no such thing, it’s just a recognition of his body of work.
>
> You decide which is right. \*\*
The Thalberg award is usually awarded as a lifetime achievement sort of award, and Steven Spielberg won it BEFORE he won his regular Oscars.
Incidentally, I believe Peter O’Toole holds the record for most nominations for an actor without winning; he’s been up 7 times.
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### Author:  [@Fish42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish42)
#### Post date: [January 30, 2003, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-when-did-this-happen/151622/13 "2003-01-30T21:01:09Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Skammer \*
> \*\*Basically O’Toole feels that at 70, he is too young for a “Lifetime Achievement” award. He asked that they wait until he is 80, so he has more time to win a competitive reward.
>
> It’s a little silly, because there’s nothing to stop him from winning a competitive award later and he certainly wouldn’t be the youngest to win Lifetime Achievement. \*\*
Perhaps someone could point out to O’Toole that Paul Newman reeived a Lifetime Achievement award the year before he won a competitive Oscar for “The Color of Money.”
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### Author:  [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)
#### Post date: [January 30, 2003, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-when-did-this-happen/151622/14 "2003-01-30T22:16:55Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Fish42 \*
> \*\*Perhaps someone could point out to O’Toole that Paul Newman reeived a Lifetime Achievement award the year before he won a competitive Oscar for “The Color of Money.” \*\*
Also Henry Fonda.
[http://www.backstage.com/backstage/news/article\_display.jsp?vnu\_content\_id=1806804](http://www.backstage.com/backstage/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1806804)
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### Author:  [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)
#### Post date: [January 30, 2003, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-when-did-this-happen/151622/15 "2003-01-30T22:25:00Z")
> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by RickJay \*
> Incidentally, I believe Peter O’Toole holds the record for most nominations for an actor without winning; he’s been up 7 times.
He’s tied with Richard Burton (his co-star in _Becket_).
[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/features/oscars/actornoms.htm](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/style/longterm/movies/features/oscars/actornoms.htm)