Marlon Brando is a legendary American actor, filmmaker and Hollywood sex symbol. He was called a nightmare for filmmakers and a conqueror of women's hearts. He was a supporter of the Stanislavsky system, propped up his door with an Oscar, and became the first Hollywood actor to receive a million dollar royalty. The name Marlon Brando went down in the history of cinema, thanks to his roles in such films as: "The Godfather", "A Streetcar Named Desire", "At the Port", "Julius Caesar", "The Last Tango in Paris", "Ugly American".
early years
Marlon Brando was born on April 3, 1924 in Omaha, Nebraska. Father - Marlon Brando Sr.was the owner of a production that was engaged in the manufacture of animal feed. Mother - Dorothy Pennybaker - an actress. Marlon Jr. had two older sisters, Jocelyn and Francis. Their family was not happy. Father Brando Sr. was rude, cruel, often punished children for any wrongdoing. Mother - abused alcohol. In the house of the Brando family there was a piano, played by Dorothy (the mother of the future actor). These were the only pleasant moments of the boy's childhood.
Marlon began to dream of cinema at school age. He studied at the prestigious Lincoln School, distinguished by his ugly behavior and rebellious disposition. He often played in school plays, mostly in dramatic roles. In addition, Brando was fond of sports, loved to read, for a short time was a drummer in a local group.
After graduating from school, the young man, at the behest of his father, becomes a cadet in a military school. Instead of military affairs, Brando is even more interested in art. At amateur performances, he perfectly reads excerpts from Shakespeare's poems, reproduces other people's voices and intonations. Also plays the main role in the production of "Message from Khafu", which tells about the life of Tutankhamun. English teacher Earl Wagner draws attention to his acting talent. Soon, Wagner convinces Marlon's parents to let the young man start an acting career.
Film career
The debut of the young actor on the big stage took place in 1944. It was a role in the drama "I Remember Mom", which was approved by many critics. When Brando was 23 years old, he was noticed by the then famous playwright Tennessee Williams. He was just looking for an actor for the lead role of Stanley Kowalski in the play A Streetcar Named Desire. In 1951, the play was filmed, and the role of the temperamental worker Stanley glorified Marlon Brando throughout Hollywood. The famous actress Vivien Leigh became his partner in the film, and the young actor was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor. In the next film, At the Port, 1954, Brando won an Oscar for Best Actor. In the Port is a corruption crime drama starring Marlon as former boxer Terry Malloy. Then several more successful films “Viva, Zapata!”, “Julius Caesar”, “Savage”, “Guys and Dolls” are released. In five years, Marlon Brando has become the first Hollywood star and America's main sex symbol. But fame and success greatly corrupted and fed up the actor. He was a filmmaker's nightmare. Brando could come to the shooting drunk, with an unlearned role, and even refused to read the script. His acting was sheer improvisation. But the more ugly the actor behaved, the more his popularity and the love of the audience grew.
Marlon Brando receives his second Oscar for the role of the head of the mafia clan, Don Vito Corleone. The gangster drama The Godfather of 1972 by Francis Ford Coppola is considered one of the most iconic not only in the career of Marlon Brando, but also in the history of American cinema. However, Brando refused to take his Oscar for ideological reasons.
In the same year, the erotic melodrama "The Last Tango in Paris" directed by Bernardo Bertolucci was released. Brando's partner in the film was actress Maria Schneider. The film received two Academy Award nominations: for director Bertolucci and for Brando's acting. After that, two more successful films come out: "Superman" (1978) and "Apocalypse Now" (1979).
In 1980, the actor announces his retirement from the cinema, however, since the late 1980s, he sometimes starred in supporting roles.
During his fifty-year acting career, Brando has appeared in more than 40 films. His talent serves as a role model for many Hollywood actors. Most of the films with his participation were included in the golden fund of world cinema.
Personal life
The actor's personal life was very stormy and scandalous.
Brando was officially married three times, had eight children, not counting adopted, and those whose relationship with him has not been established. The actor had a huge number of romantic relationships with various women. The greatest interest among the public was caused by his connection with the American film star Marilyn Monroe. The actor claimed that they had a short romance, after which they broke up.
In 1957, Marlon Brando married Indian actress Anna Kashfi. Two years later, they had a son, Christian Devi. The couple divorced shortly after the birth of the child.
The second time Brando married in 1960, the Mexican actress Movita Castaneda, who was 7 years his senior. This marriage lasted 2 years, and Movita gave birth to Brando's son Miko Castanedo and daughter Rebecca.
Shortly after his second divorce, Brando married a third time in 1962. His chosen one was a young twenty-year-old Tahitian actress Tarita Teriipia, who was 18 years younger than him. They had a son, Simon Teihotu, and a daughter, Tarita Cheinny. It turned out to be the longest marriage, lasting ten years.
The actor did not marry anymore, but it is known that he had a cohabitant relationship with his housekeeper, Maria Cristina Ruiz. She gave birth to three children from him.
Brando's best friend throughout his life was actor Jack Nicholson.
Last years
The last years of his life Brando lived on the island of Tahiti.
The actor's scandalous lifestyle, alcohol and food abuse, the constant change of women, could not but affect his health. He had diabetes of the 2nd degree, vision problems, his weight was about 140 kg. He also suffered from memory loss and was later diagnosed with liver cancer. Marlon Brando died on July 1, 2004 of respiratory failure at the Ronald Reagan Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Brando was ranked fourth on the list of "100 Greatest Movie Stars in 100 Years."
After his death, actor Al Pacino, who played with Brando in The Godfather, said: "God is dead."
