1

Marlon Brando

Image: Trailer screenshottrailer at IMDB, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Marlon Brando was one of Hollywood’s most iconic stars, admired for his talent, charisma, and unforgettable roles. He won his first Oscar for On the Waterfront (1954), but things took a very different turn with his second win. When The Godfather earned him another Academy Award in 1972, Brando refused to attend and sent a Native American representative in his place, using the moment to protest Hollywood’s mistreatment and misrepresentation of Indigenous peoples.

2

Tom Cruise

Image: Gabriel Hutchinson Photography, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Like many of the actors on this list, Tom Cruise is a global icon whose career has earned him three Golden Globes: Best Actor for Jerry Maguire (1996), Best Actor for Born on the Fourth of July (1989), and Best Supporting Actor for Magnolia (1999). But in 2021, he made headlines for a very different reason: he returned all three awards. According to reports, Cruise did so as a protest against the ethics and lack of diversity within the organization behind the Globes.

3

Woody Allen

Image: Andreas Tai, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Woody Allen is known for refusing to participate in awards season, despite earning many nominations throughout his career. With around 24 Academy Award nominations, he has attended virtually none of the ceremonies. He has won four Oscars, but he never went to pick them up, though he did not decline or return them. And it’s not just the Oscars: Allen rarely attends any award ceremonies, including the Golden Globes.

4

George C. Scott

Image: Directed by Stanley Kubrick, distributed by Columbia Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

George C. Scott was one of Hollywood’s great classic stars, celebrated for his powerful work on both stage and screen. And he was also the first actor in history to refuse an Oscar. Not only did he decline nominations for The Hustler (1961) and The List of Adrian Messenger (1963), but he also rejected the Best Actor award he won for Patton (1970). Scott believed that each performance is too unique to be ranked against another, and that art should never be treated like a competition. What do you think?

5

Dolly Parton

Image: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/Dolly_Parton_with_guitar.jpg

Actors aren’t the only ones who turn down awards; musicians do it too. One of them is Dolly Parton, who has declined more than just music honors. She was selected three times for the Presidential Medal of Freedom and turned it down each time. The first two refusals were during the pandemic, and the third came from her concern that accepting might seem politically partisan. In addition, in 2022, she also declined a nomination to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, saying she hadn’t yet "earned that right."

6

Katharine Hepburn

Image: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios; Restored by Adam Cuerden, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The incredible Katharine Hepburn won four Oscars! But she never showed up to collect a single one. She always sent someone else to accept them on her behalf. In fact, she only attended the Oscars once, and it wasn’t to receive an award but to present one. When asked why she stayed away, she summed it up perfectly: "Awards are nothing; my reward is my work."

7

Julie Andrews

Image: Eva Rinaldi, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Born in the United Kingdom, Julie Andrews is adored by Americans for many reasons, including the unforgettable films, such as Mary Poppins (1964) and The Sound of Music (1965). But beyond her cinematic gems, she also built a remarkable career in theater. In 1996, she received a Tony nomination for her role in Victor/Victoria , and chose to decline it. Why? Because she was the only member of the entire cast and production recognized, and she simply didn’t think that was fair.

8

Will Smith

Image: photo by Alan Light, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

In the late 80s, Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff won the first-ever Grammy for Best Rap Performance. But when they learned that their category wouldn’t be televised, they chose to boycott the 1989 Grammy Awards in protest. They didn’t turn down the award itself, but their stand made an impact: the following year, the rap category was broadcast on air, finally receiving the same visibility as the others.

9

Sinéad O'Connor

Image: Globe photo/Dave Shea, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Sinéad O'Connor was world-famous, and in America, we remember her mainly for the unforgettable hit "Nothing Compares 2 U." As a passionate activist, she carried her convictions into her career choices, which led her to turn down her Grammy nomination. She specifically asked that her name be withdrawn, arguing that the Grammys were too commercial and rewarded popularity over ethics, artistry, and musical integrity.

10

Nick Cave

Image: Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Australian artist Nick Cave declined his nomination for Best Male Artist at the 1996 MTV Video Music Awards. He even sent a formal letter asking that his name be withdrawn, famously saying: "My muse is not a horse, and I am not in any horse race."

1

Los Angeles, California

Image: Venti Views

The Spanish settlers who arrived in the area in the 18th century originally named it El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles , which translates to "The Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels." Elegant, but kind of a mouthful for a town name! Over time, the Spanish name stuck, but it was shortened to the more practical "Los Angeles." The city officially adopted this name when it was incorporated in 1850, the same year California became a state.

2

New York City, New York

Image: Colton Duke

Before becoming the one and only New York we know today, the city went by a different name. In the 17th century, the Dutch settlers who arrived in the area called it New Amsterdam . However, when the English seized control in 1664, they renamed it New York in honor of the Duke of York.

3

Seattle, Washington

Image: Michael Discenza

Seattle is more than its iconic Space Needle; it has a long history that shaped the city we know today. When European settlers arrived in the area in 1851, they named their settlement New York and added the Chinook word Alki , meaning "by and by," "someday," or "later," suggesting it would one day become as big as New York City. However, in 1852, they changed the settlement’s name to Seattle in honor of Chief Sealth, a Duwamish and Suquamish leader.

4

Portland, Oregon

Image: Zack Spear

Early settlers referred to the area as The Clearing because it stood out from the dense forests typical of the Pacific Northwest. But in 1845, an event occurred that would change everything. Portland’s two founders, Asa Lovejoy from Boston, Massachusetts, and Francis W. Pettygrove from Portland , Maine, each wanted to name the new settlement after their hometown. So how did they decide? Simple: they flipped a coin . Of course, you know who won!

5

Kansas City, Missouri

Image: Farhodjon Chinberdiev

Kansas City was originally founded as the Town of Kansas in 1850, named for its location near the Kansas River. As it quickly grew, it was reincorporated just three years later as the City of Kansas . Finally, in 1889, it officially became Kansas City.

Fun fact: Kansas City, Missouri, was actually founded before the state of Kansas!

6

Charleston, South Carolina

Image: Tyrone Sanders

Before it became the city we know today, Charleston had another name, though not so different. When it was first settled in 1670, the English named it Charles Town in honor of King Charles II. However, over time, the name gradually evolved in pronunciation to Charleston. In 1783, after the Revolutionary War, the city was officially renamed Charleston.

7

San Diego, California

Image: Sean Mullowney

San Diego was the first site on the US West Coast settled by Europeans, which is why it's often called "the Birthplace of California." When Spanish explorers arrived in the area in 1542, they named the bay after a different saint: San Miguel . But years later, in 1602, explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno renamed it San Diego, in honor of San Diego de Alcalá (Saint Didacus of Alcalá).

8

Orlando, Florida

Image: Aditya Vyas

In 1840, the first settlers arrived in what we know today as Orlando. They were the Jernigan family, who named the place after themselves. A post office with that name was even established in 1850. However, about 6 years later, Jernigan officially changed to Orlando. Although the exact reason isn't entirely clear, there are several theories. A popular one claims it was named after Orlando Reeves, a soldier who may have died in the area during the Seminole Wars. Another well-known theory suggests the name came from Orlando , a character in Shakespeare’s As You Like It .

9

Cincinnati, Ohio

Image: Matt Koffel

In the 1780s, the first settlement in this area was called Losantiville , a name created from a mix of words meaning "The town opposite the mouth of the Licking River." But in 1790, the first governor of the Northwest Territory, who was also a member of the Society of the Cincinnati (named in honor of the Roman general Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus), disliked Losantiville and decided to change it to its present name.

10

Atlanta, Georgia

Image: Christopher Alvarenga

Atlanta didn't just have one or two names; it had three! By the mid-19th century, the area where the city stands today had become a transportation hub where several railroad lines converged. Because of this, in 1837, the area was called Terminus , meaning "the end of the line." Then, in 1843, the name was changed to Marthasville , in honor of Martha, the daughter of Georgia Governor Wilson Lumpkin. Finally, just two years later, the city was renamed Atlanta. This name is believed to be a shortened form of "Atlantic," referring to the Western and Atlantic Railroad.

1

John Quincy Adams’ alligator

Image: Robert Zunikoff

Adams kept an alligator in the White House bathtub, a gift from Marquis de Lafayette. Guests were reportedly startled by the reptile for months before it was relocated.

However, recent historians believe the story may be more myth than fact, reflecting the perceived eccentricity of both Adams and Lafayette rather than actual events.

2

Theodore Roosevelt’s badger

Image: Vincent van Zalinge

It’s clear that Teddy Roosevelt was an animal lover, keeping some of the most bizarre and unusual pets in White House history.

When Roosevelt’s children received a badger named "Josiah" from a girl in Kansas, the president didn’t hesitate to welcome it into the family home. The mischievous animal, however, often nipped at people’s ankles—including White House staff.

3

Martin Van Buren’s tiger cubs

Image: Mystery Cat

Yes—tiger cubs, plural. The Sultan of Oman gifted Van Buren two tiger cubs, but Congress demanded he surrender them to a zoo, citing laws against presidential gifts.

Van Buren fought to keep them but ultimately lost, and the cubs ended up in a public collection, marking one of the earliest disputes over presidential ethics and gifts.

4

Andrew Jackson’s parrot

Image: Ilona Frey

Jackson’s parrot, "Polly" learned to swear so well that it had to be removed from his funeral for cursing during the ceremony.

Known for his fiery temper, Jackson likely found the bird’s language amusing. Polly’s notorious vocabulary made it one of the earliest infamous pets in U.S. political lore.

5

James Buchanan’s elephant

Image: Wolfgang Hasselmann

This was a case of "almost." The King of Siam offered Buchanan a herd of elephants, suggesting they could breed in America. However, Buchanan politely declined—perhaps recalling Van Buren’s short-lived tiger ordeal? Still, he did maintain other exotic animals in Washington.

6

Abraham Lincoln’s turkey

Image: Tyler Jamieson Moulton

Lincoln’s son Tad named their Thanksgiving turkey "Jack" and begged his father to spare it—a story said to inspire the later turkey pardon tradition.

Jack roamed the White House freely and even followed Tad around, charming guests with his odd pet status.

7

Calvin Coolidge’s raccoon

Image: Joshua J. Cotten

Originally sent to be eaten at Thanksgiving—yes, eating raccoon wasn’t that unusual back then—"Rebecca" the raccoon was spared and became a pet. Coolidge even walked her on a leash around the White House gardens.

Rebecca had a custom house and enjoyed baths. Coolidge adored animals and also kept a wallaby, a bobcat, and even pygmy hippos!

8

Theodore Roosevelt’s hyena

Image: Matt Burke

By modern standards, it sounds insane, but Roosevelt was once gifted a hyena named "Bill" by an Ethiopian emperor—and he found the animal surprisingly affectionate.

Bill often roamed the White House lawn freely before eventually being sent to the Smithsonian, adding another chapter to Roosevelt’s legendary fascination with wildlife.

9

Woodrow Wilson’s sheep

Image: Sam Carter

During World War I, Wilson let sheep graze the White House lawn to save labor and raise war funds by auctioning their wool.

The move doubled as an environmental gesture and patriotic fundraiser. "Old Ike," a ram, became infamous for butting staff members and reporters alike.

10

Theodore Roosevelt’s bear cub

Image: Alla Kemelmakher

A black bear named "Jonathan Edwards" was among Roosevelt’s pets, inspired by his love of hunting and the outdoors.

Though kept briefly, the bear contributed to Roosevelt’s reputation as an adventurer—one that even inspired the creation of the "Teddy bear."