AceShowbiz - The Native American activist who appeared at the 1973 Academy Awards in place of Marlon Brando insists the famous protest put her life in danger. The actor won an Oscar for his performance in "The Godfather" but he boycotted the ceremony, sending Sacheen Littlefeather instead to give a speech about the treatment and portrayal of Native Americans in Hollywood.

But Littlefeather, now 63, is convinced the incident put an end to her acting career - and nearly cost her her life. Speaking at a documentary presentation on Thursday, August 5, Littlefeather recalled how bullets were fired at Brando's front door when she went to visit him after the awards.

She also accused government officials of asking top movie bosses to avoid casting her in their projects - in a bid to quash American Indian activism, reports the Associated Press.