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George C. Scott was never complimentary of the Academy Awards, and once referred to the ceremony as "a two-hour meat parade, a public display with contrived suspense for economic reasons."

When he earned his first-ever nomination, a 1959 Best Supporting Actor nod for "Anatomy of a Murder," Scott apparently tolerated recognition from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. It was a different story two years later, when he again was nominated for Best Supporting Actor, this time for the 1961 drama "The Hustler." He declined the nomination because of his dislike of Oscar competition and campaigns.

It all came to a head in the spring of 1970, when Scott began receiving critical praise for his performance in the biopic "Patton" as U.S. Army Gen. George S. Patton, a hero of World War II. Appearing on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," Scott was asked what he would do if he received another Oscar nomination. The actor responded that he would decline it, too.

Sure enough, when the 1970 Oscar field was revealed several months later, Scott received a nomination for Best Actor. He sent a telegram to the Academy, declaring his intention to decline the award and not attend the ceremony. True to his word, Scott was not in attendance on April 15, 1971, when presenter Goldie Hawn announced that he had won the Best Actor award.

Interestingly, Scott was nominated for Best Actor a year later for his performance in "The Hospital," a 1971 black comedy by Paddy Chayefsky. The veteran actor didn't show up that time, either.

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11y ago

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