George C. Scott won an Oscar for playing Gen. George S. Patton, then refused to accept it. He was the first actor to turn one down, according to Playbill.
Franklin J. Schaffner directed the 1970 war epic. Its famous opener shows Scott, as Patton, giving a speech beneath an enormous Stars and Stripes.
Time Out puts it at No. 33 among the 50 best war movies of all time. The list was last updated in January 2026.
The website praised Scott’s performance while acknowledging his refusal to accept the honor:
“A complex portrait of a madman who found an ideal conduit for his madness on the battlefield. Scott plays him with maximum theatricality – his Oscar was well-deserved, even if he ultimately refused to accept it.”
Scott’s Oscar standoff started long before the ceremony.
Why George C. Scott Refused His Oscar for Patton
Scott had long made his feelings about the Oscars known, History.com’s Becky Little notes. When Patton earned him a Best Actor nomination, he asked to be taken off the ballot.
He sent the Academy a telegram, per Far Out.
“I respectfully request that you withdraw my name from the list of nominees,” Scott wrote.
“It’s a two-hour meat parade, a public display with contrived suspense for economic reasons.”
Whilst making clear his dislike of the Oscars, Scott nevertheless maintained respect for his fellow nominees, clarifying that “My request is in no way intended to denigrate my colleagues.”
He told the Academy he’d be home watching hockey on Oscar night, per Playbill. Scott won anyway, and producer Frank McCarthy accepted the award for him. McCarthy returned the statuette to the Academy the following day, in accordance with Scott’s wishes.
Francis Ford Coppola shared the Oscar for original screenplay with Edmund H. North. Patton also became the first film carrying the MPAA rating now known as PG to win Best Picture.
Overall, it earned 10 nominations and won seven Oscars, including Best Director.
