George C. Scott became the first actor to refuse an Academy Award when he declined Best Actor for Patton at the 43rd Academy Awards in 1971. Scott called the Oscars a 'meat parade' and said the competition among actors was degrading. Scott had also rejected his 1962 nomination for The Hustler. Unlike Marlon Brando's later refusal, Scott's rejection was not tied to a political cause. He remained adamant about his position until his death in 1999, never accepting the statuette. #Oscars #GeorgeCSco