Who was the first screen actor to refuse an Academy Award?

The first actor to refuse an Academy Award was George C. Scott -- a longtime critic of the awards show -- who declined his 1970 Best Actor Oscar for "Patton." Two years later, Marlon Brando refused to accept his 1972 Best Actor Oscar for "The Godfather" in protest of how Native Americans had been portrayed on film through the years.

Both actors were nominated for Oscars again the year after their refusals -- Scott for "The Hospital" (1971) and Brando for "Last Tango in Paris" (1973). Neither won.