Marlon Brando

Cast · Writer · Director

Born

April 3, 1924 · Omaha, Nebraska, USA

Died

July 1, 2004

Birth name

Marlon Brando Jr.

“[on his unforgettable role as Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather (1972)] I went home and did some rehearsing to satisfy my curiosity about whether I could play an Italian. I put on some makeup, stuffed Kleenex in my cheeks and worked out the characterization first in front of a mirror, then on a television monitor. After working on it, I decided I could create a characterization that would support the story. The people at Paramount saw the footage and liked it, and that's how I became the Godfather.” Marlon Brando was a renowned American actor celebrated for his intense and innovative performances. Known as a leading figure in method acting, Brando's distinctive style, marked by a slurred and mumbling delivery, set him apart from traditional actors. After being expelled from Shattuck Military Academy, he studied under Stella Adler in New York and made his stage debut in 1944. He gained prominence on Broadway with his role in A Streetcar Named Desire (1947), which led to his film debut in The Men (1950). Brando's early career included acclaimed roles in Viva Zapata! (1952) and On the Waterfront (1954), the latter earning him an Oscar. However, his career faced a downturn in the 1960s with several high-profile flops. His career resurgence came with The Godfather (1972), where he delivered an iconic performance as Don Vito Corleone, winning another Oscar but refusing it in protest of stereotypical Native American portrayals in film. He continued to act in notable films such as Last Tango in Paris (1972), Superman (1978), and Apocalypse Now (1979). Brando retreated from acting for a period, only returning to notable roles in the late 1980s and 1990s, including A Dry White Season (1989) and Don Juan DeMarco (1995). His life and career were later explored in the documentary Listen to Me Marlon (2015), revealing a complex figure who was both influential and often critical of his profession. Despite his contentious relationship with acting, Brando remains one of the most compelling and influential actors of his era.