Talk:Marlon Brando

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[edit] Influences on...

The introduction to this article currently names about 20 actors that Brando influenced. I know this is important information, but shouldn't the detail be in the body of the article, rather than here in the intro? Perhaps the intro should just mention that he is very influential. 192.43.227.18 04:28, 28 May 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Greatest Of All Time

It says Lawrance Olivier is the finest of actor, better than Brando? Not in any coming centuries, nobody revolutionized acting like him, nobody.--The preceding unsigned comment was added by 207.203.31.186 (talk) 20:58, 14 February 2007 (UTC).

None of this has anything to do with the article and this talk page is for discussing the article, thanks. Wildhartlivie 05:35, 1 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Bisexuality

Just a tad curious here. NNDB and others seem to list the man as bisexual in life, though I can't seem to find any solid information. Can this be confirmed one way or another? --AWF

Well, Brando said he was. (DaveyJones1968 12:15, 10 June 2007 (UTC))

brando was everything he is the greatest that ever lived waterfont godfather what else can anyone say, they know who is the bset pacino said it on fri in larry king!!

[edit] Clarification

Brando also received an Oscar for On the Waterfront --zeno 04:19 Jan 31, 2003 (UTC)

"Uninspired performances " in poor films in the second half of the sixties?

This is largely true, but there are two exceptions.

"Reflections In A Golden Eye" is amongst Brando's best performances, while "The Night Of The Following Day" is a very good film. However, neither were very successful at the box office.

Have heard on a radio program that Brando's Don Corleone characterization (especially speech) was based on his observation of producer Dino DeLaurentiis...have not been able to confirm. Should go in the article if this is true. 20:08, 10 Jan 2004 (UTC)

The Wikipedia article on Sacheen Littlefeather indicates that her heritage includes "Apache, Yaqui, Pueblo and Caucasian blood," which seems to contradict this article. One of the two articles should be corrected. 63.71.211.149 21:41, 7 August 2006 (UTC) Ken Brown, Aug. 7, 2006

[edit] Politics? O RLY?

Why is it that the list of his awards is under the "Politics" Section? 68.175.89.35 (talk) 04:31, 17 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Handsome Looks

I couldn't find anything about Brando's stunning looks. C'mon, he is regarded as one of the most beautiful men of all time and yet not one mention of his looks. It should be mentioned in conjuction with his rise to stardom. I mean if pages on this encyclopedia have sections dedicated about the "so called" beauty of foul low life pornographic actors/actresses, then why not Brando - Someone who actually had amazing looks.

He was only mildly handsome even before he became morbidly obese.

Really? Only 'mildly'? I think you're alone in thinking that. He was pretty darn good looking (the best). ISAYsorry 22:58, 20 July 2007 (UTC)

No, I think you're alone in thinking that. Brando was always average looking and even when young he had thin hair. In fact I never thought he was handsome at all, even in the early 1950s. There have been hundreds of far better looking men, like Elvis Presley. No wonder Brando hated him so much. (Daer11 15:29, 31 August 2007 (UTC))

He's not alone in thinking Marlon Brando was pretty darn good looking. Even I, a heterosexual male, think he is beautiful. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.105.85.72 (talk) 09:41, 31 January 2008 (UTC)

Yes. It is well known that he is considered extremely attractive. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.177.120.179 (talk) 08:38, 27 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Superman

I really liked the job he did in the first Superman movie..."This is no fantasy. No careless product of wild imagination. No, my good friends, these indictments I have brought you today, the specific charges listed herein against the individuals, their acts of treason, their ultimate aim of sedition. These are matters of undeniable fact. I ask you now to pronounce judgment on those accused. On this, this mindless aberration, whose only means of expression are wanton violence and destruction. On the woman Ursa, whose perversions and unreasoning hatred of all mankind have threatened even the children of the planet Krypton. Finally, General Zod. Once trusted by this Council, charged with maintaining the defense of the planet Krypton itself. Chief architect of this revolution, and author of this insidious plot, to establish a "New Order" amongst us. With himself as absolute ruler. You have heard the evidence. The decision of the Council will now be heard."

  • Such a badass scene even with the supposed que cards, Brando always rocks.

His performance in that crappy dated movie sucked, and a real man and actor like Charlton Heston should have played Superman's father instead of Fat Mumbling Idiot. (DaveyJones1968 12:16, 10 June 2007 (UTC))

BRADO= LOVE BRAND0= GENIUS

[edit] Christian Brando

1: Who suggested this merger ? Would you please give your reasons why you suggested this change? 2: Don't you think it a bit silly to merge another person's entry? That seems to me like merging 'The Red Sox' and 'The Yankees' into one. Archtemplar 08:14, 1 February 2006 (UTC)

I am not the one who suggested it, but I am in favor of it. I am confident that I would not know who Christian Brando is were it not for Marlon. He does not merit an entry of his own. The Red Sox/Yankees analogy does not hold up due to this difference.68.155.22.116 23:01, 19 March 2006 (UTC)

Merging Christian Brando into Marlon Brando, on the grounds that you wouldn't have ever known who Christian Brando was if it weren't for Marlon Brando, is pointless to the nth degree. They are people with different things known about them. It's saying you ought to merge, using professonal wrestling as an example, Ultimate Warrior with Triple H, because one wouldn't know who Triple H was if it wasn't for Warrior. --Yarrik 20:54, 28 April 2006 (UTC)

Should the USA be merged into the Mayflower?--MartinUK (talk) 22:29, 11 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Brando bio/New School

Finding no better way to pose the question ("Contact Us?") I wanted to ask/alert someone that the "New School" link on the Brando biographical site sends you to a reference to "a course grouping at Dawson College in Montreal, Quebec, . . ." I'm guessing that the reference should be to New School University in NYC (New School for Social Research) in which The Actors' Studio is a highly respected college.

[edit] Ancestry / Ethnicity

We so far have "He was of Dutch, French, English and Irish stock; the original family name was Brandeau." (I added Dutch in as he was a descendant of Neeltje Sellen and Weigand Pennebaker). But it's worth a note here to say that these sort of tidbits are the things actors often make up on the spot, and I wouldn't be too quick to accept the "Brandeau" as the origin of the name of his one "Brando" ancestor in each generation.

He is also said to be father of 1 adopted child and 9 acknowledged children, but an actual list is hard to find:

  • by 1st wife, Anna Kashfi (who was born Joan O'Callaghan)
    • 1. Christian Devi Brando, AKA Gary Brown (1958),
  • by Movita Castanada, 2nd wife
    • 2. Miko Brando (1960)
  • by Tarita Teriipia, 3rd wife
    • 3. Rebecca Brando (xxxx)
    • 4. Tehotu Simon Brando (1962)
    • 5. Cheyenne Brando (1970-1995)
  • by Christina Ruiz, his former housekeeper
    • 6. Ninna Priscilla Brando (1989)
    • 7. Miles Brando (1992)
    • 8. Timothy Brando (1994)
  • by unknown mother
    • 9. Stephano Mosca Brando (AKA) Stephen Blackehart (1967)
  • by adoption
    • 10. Petra Parrett Brando, the biological daughter (b. 1970) of novelist James Clavell and Caroline Barrett
  • other reputed children
    • Lisa Warmer, daughter of actress Cynthia Lynn

I would imagine that this is all such a complicated mess the facts will only become apparent after DNA testing, if it's performed (as it no doubt wil be if rumors of his pennilessness are, as reported, exaggerated. - Nunh-huh 00:59, 5 Jul 2004 (UTC)

  • The last time I was in Tahiti, in August of 1995, I was at the Faaa International airport waiting to catch my morning flight out. Sitting at the bar, having either a beer or a coffee, I forget which, was a young man about 18 to 20 years old who looked so much like Marlon Brando that my mouth almost dropped open. I had lived in Tahiti for 25 years and had never seen him before. Who he was, I still don't know. Judging from the above info about Brando's kids it's possible it was Tehotu Simon Brando but he would have been 32 at the time and this man definitely seemed quite a bit younger than that. Brando was reclusive all the time he stayed in Tahiti and I never met him (I saw him once at the airport) but many of my close friends knew him and I never heard any talk about there being illegitimate offspring, and Tahiti was certainly the gossip capital of the world. But who knows...?Hayford Peirce 17:23, 5 Jul 2004 (UTC)
    • You're probably right, the obituaries all insist that there are about 3-5 more, unnamed, illegitimate or unacknowledged children...so you probably met one<g> - Nunh-huh 02:07, 5 Jul 2004 (UTC)
  • The main page has just added two more kids, both with Tahitian names but no known mother. "Maimiti" (if that's a male name) could be the right age for the fellow I saw at the airport.Hayford Peirce 23:50, 11 Jul 2004 (UTC)
    • The New York Times says that Maimiti is a daughter. And Google says that Maimiti is the name of the female character in Mutiny on the Bounty that Brando fell in love with, ie, the one played by Tarita. So Maimiti is not the Brando look-alike I saw at the bar....Hayford Peirce 17:07, 12 Jul 2004 (UTC)
  • I do not know of evidence of French ancestry for Brando, his Brando ancestors were from Germany, the name was spelt Brandau originally, article edited. Arnie587 19:28, 8 August 2005 (UTC)
    • I remember hearing on television that he had French ancestry and the original name was Brandeau. The online bios I'm reading right now all say Brandeau. Can you site a source for the German Brandau?

The "Dutch" thing stemmed from fake rumours that his surname was "Brandeis". It was in actuality "Brandeau" (his father had changed it before Marlon's birth). I consulted two book bios previously - one said his father was French, his mother Irish. The other said his father was French-English and his mother Irish. This obit says http://www.kpho.com/Global/story.asp?S=1990163&nav=23KtOOSA "He was a distant, conservative man of French, English and Irish stock; the original family name was Brandeau." The Dutch thing got circulated around the web alot, and even Roger Ebert's obit included that. But it's pretty clearly incorrect - as is the German thing.

  • Hi I'm afraid I have to pretty strongly disagree here as I have a carefully researched ancestral tree here of Brando going back to 1600s. Contrary to the above comments I believe it is the web that is responsible for the incorrect rumour that his name was French, actually his Brando/Brandow ancestors trace back to Greene Co., NY, the furthest traced ancestor being Nicholas Brandow born c. 1702 in Germany. His mother's family were Pennebaker which is originally from Dutch Pfannbecker, and his maternal great grandfather Miles Gahan was born c.1844 in Ireland. There is no evidence of any French names whatsoever in his ancestry, most if not all are German, Dutch, Irish and English. Arnie587 23:39, 9 August 2005 (UTC)
  • Hi the source is from Family Tree Maker World Family Tree Volume 2 which is a compilation of submitted family trees made by individuals. The notes mention questioning Brando's sister Jocelyn so I'd guess the tree is quite reliable. I believe the info. can be purchased at [1] although I may be able to email the data as a GEDCOM file. Arnie587 00:26, 10 August 2005 (UTC)
  • Hi actually the furthest listed ancestor is Johann Wilhelm Brandau born c.1670 in Germany. Arnie587 01:11, 10 August 2005 (UTC)

Fair enough for now. On http://www.genealogy.com/famousfolks/marlonb/index.html it doesn't really go into his father's background, but it looks like most of his other ancestry is Anglo-Saxon.

  • Yes I found that also, it looks like it may have been researched by a Pennebaker descendant as this ancestry goes back further than the other tree, which has more info on the Brando family. One difference is Brando's paternal grandmother of which little seems to be known (she is said to have abandoned Brando's father at age 4). She is Marie Gleason on the tree I have, and Holloway on the tree you posted, maybe Holloway could be her name from a 2nd marriage (she divorced Eugene Brando). Gleason can be an Irish name so maybe that could account for Marlon Brando Sr. looking Irish (IMO). Arnie587 10:20, 10 August 2005 (UTC)

Hi, to whoever did the careful research, can you please contact me with regards to your research on Brando ancestry? bertbarndoor@hotmail.com I have a few questions. Thanks. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.46.216.195 (talk) 14:04, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

If the question is about Brando, can you ask it here? If it is about someone else, can you ask it on the users talk page, User talk:Nunh-huh? Thanks IP4240207xx 18:46, 24 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Wrong Date of Birth

Brando was born in 1924 not 1935 - User:67.70.68.185 - 23:56, 15 November 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Miko Brando

You are mistaken Miko is not Brando's son. - User:Annaa 07:24, 4 May 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Gay category

I removed this reference. If someone has some facts, not gossip, please reinsert them. Ted Wilkes 11:58, 5 Jun 2005 (UTC)

  • In 1976, in response to the contention of critics that his film "The Missouri Breaks" was pervaded with homosexuality, Brando was quoted as saying "Homosexuality is so much in fashion it no longer makes news. Like a large number of men, I, too, have had homosexual experiences and I am not ashamed." He added "I have never paid much attention to what people think about me. But if there is someone who is convinced that [co-star] Jack Nicholson and I are lovers, may they continue to do so. I find it amusing." Therefore I'd think it would be fair to say Brando was openly bisexual? Arnie587 01:54, 19 August 2005 (UTC)
Openly? What does openly mean? That everyone who deserved to know, knew? Or that everyone who was intelligent enough to know, guessed? He was certainly bisexual, and it seems the long love affair of his life was with his friend (and sometime near-enemy) Wally Cox. If that pairing seems unlikely, consider Marlene Dietrich and Jean Gabin, or Laurence Olivier and Danny Kaye.
Nuttyskin 05:32, 24 July 2006 (UTC)

This is not a joke: Have any of you ever seen the photo of Marlon, in closeup, fellating a man (who is said to be Wally Cox) which was introduced into evidence by Anna Kashfi during their divorce proceedings as evidence of his infidelity? I have. It is unmistakably Marlon. Marlon also stole Wally's ashes from his wife's house and kept them until his death. Marlon's will instructed that his and Wally's ashes be scattered together. They were. Mind you, I am not advocating that any of this be written in the main article. Just an FYI. I have known Marlon's personal assistant, friend & confidant, who was also named one of the executors of his will with Mike Medavoy, and her mother (also a longtime friend of Marlon) for 20 years. I won't say their names here. His family life, as I learned of it, seemed to epitomize Hollywood dysfunction. Murder in his own house, suicide of Cheyenne, etc. I have never been an admirer of Marlon's and was the reluctant participant in too many conversations about him.

  1. See this link for info about the scattering of Wally's & Marlon's ashes: [[2]]

MrEguy 08:51, 18 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Widely Reguarded as the best actor of the 20th Century

A bit POV to me I think... Redwolf24 29 June 2005 22:08 (UTC)

Furthermore, as opposed to film actors of the 18th and 19th centuries?

well you have to name me an actor that A. revolutionized acting, and B. was as versatile as Brando? who can it be? nobody not Olivier, Hopkins, Hoffman, Pacino, everyone took from Brando, Dean, Elvis, etc...

Brando didn't revolutionize acting at all, he just copied the original Method actors who were all famous before he even arrived in Hollywood - Spencer Tracy, John Garfield, Montgomery Clift, Robert Mitchum etc etc. Brando had no range and mumbled his way through every movie. Btw, citing Elvis No Acting Talent Presley as an example isn't exactly a good argument. (DaveyJones1968 12:19, 10 June 2007 (UTC))

Even if he is in fact the greatest actor of all time, to say he is widely regarded as such is to make a lot of assumptions about what a lot of people think. Perhaps, "often" is a better word. Or remove the line entirely. Focomoso 22:34, 9 April 2007 (UTC)
(seems someone removed the line while i was editing... Focomoso 22:36, 9 April 2007 (UTC))

YES EVERYONE IMITATED BRANDO

Brando just copied the original Method actors Montgomery Clift, Spencer Tracy, Robert Mitchum and John Garfield. (DaveyJones1968 10:51, 13 June 2007 (UTC))

A statement like that USUALLY smacks of POV, but in all honesty, just about EVERY authority - authors, critics, filmmakers, actors, etc. - namechecks Laurence Olivier and Marlon Brando as being the two leading candidates for the greatest actor of the last century. I think Brando gets the nod when it comes to film acting, even by critics who argue that his legacy rests on a surprisingly small number of great film performances. (That argument is definitely debatable, but a significant number of people have made that argument.) (L1759 04:10, 28 February 2006 (UTC))

It's definitely a matter of opinion. I never cared for Brando's mumbling accent, and who is to say he was better than Olivier, Tracy, Cagney etc.

Anybody recall a fellow named Richard Burton? Seriously, though, there are other actors who are up there with Brando, Olivier, Gielgud, etc. etc. 66.108.4.183 11:26, 14 September 2006 (UTC) Allen Roth

SORRY BUT NOONE DID WHAT BRANDO DID NOBODY EVER WILL, PERIOD AND HE FOUGHT FOR HUMANS WHICH ACTUALLY IS WHAT HE DID BEST, HE FOUGHT FOR THE LEFT BEHINDS FORGET THE ACTING, COURAGE BEYOND COURAGE

His shameless self-promoting political causes in the Sixties have absolutely no bearing whatever on his acting, and there are hundreds of better actors than Mr Mumbles. (DaveyJones1968 12:19, 10 June 2007 (UTC))

Brando will always be a poor man's Paul Newman.

Tim Curry is the best actor of the 20th century. 68.175.89.35 (talk) 04:34, 17 January 2008 (UTC)

[edit] true?

Marlon Brando declared on Larry King Live (4/5/96) that "Hollywood is owned by Jews,"

yes he did say that, see a usenet discussion from the time, it should be remembered he learnt his art from Stella Adler and Lee Strasberg: [3] Arniep 22:51, 13 October 2005 (UTC)
He was right; Hollywood is owned by Jews. (Not that it's a bad thing) It just seemed to be a shockingly blunt declaration, but that's the way Brando was most of the time. Unapologetically unreserved. --MrEguy 23:54, 18 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Can someone clarify his pay on Superman?

This is in the current article:

  • When making Superman, Brando was paid $3.7 million, plus 16.86% of the gross. The film made $300 million worldwide, making his earnings $14 million for 12 days work.

14 million is far less than 3.7 million + 16.86% of a $300 million gross. Is the percentage for a domestic gross? Or was the deal more complicated? (L1759 04:05, 28 February 2006 (UTC))

[edit] Child Abuse allegations

To the poster who added the information about Brando abusing his children could you please cite your source. This is a rather large claim that cannot go un-cited. Otherwise it will have to be removed. :: ehmjay 18:22, 3 July 2006 (UTC)

I read Tarita's book about her marriage to Brando. No wonder he was so close to Michael Jackson.

LISTEN GUYS I KNOW ALL ABOUT BRANDOS LIFE PLEASE GO TO EBAY AND PURCHAES HIS BIO, SONGS MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME OH BOY READ THAT BOOK YOU GUYS WILL QUIT TALKING GARBAGE AFTER YOU READ THAT BOOK HAHA WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT LIFE, AMERICA, RACISM, OH DEAR!! THIS GUY WAS BEYOND EVERYONE ELSE ON A HIGHER PLANE OF EXISTANCE

Yeah, shame the bisexual pedophile with a below average IQ of 90 didn't even write that fake "autobiography".

I belive that it can be argued that Brando, Jackson even paul Mcartney with his divorce issues are targets, i can argue that can I?

Funny, I thought you might have been the person who added this. Unless you cite your source then this line will have to be removed in accordance to the wiki policies "This article should be edited in accordance with the policies and guidelines outlined in Wikipedia:Biographies of living persons. Unsourced or poorly sourced negative material about living persons should not be posted to articles or talk pages. If you find any, please remove it immediately. [1]" :: ehmjay 23:59, 3 July 2006 (UTC)
Unless you know otherwise, Marlon Brando is NOT a living person. -- Funky Monkey  (talk)  00:06, 4 July 2006 (UTC)
Hahaha, how silly of me. You're right. However, apart from this users comment I cannot find any evidence online to back this claim up. I've found evidence of his son Christian abusing another of the Brando children but none of Marlon abusing Cheyenne. :: ehmjay 01:57, 4 July 2006 (UTC)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Verifiability
He may be dead - but you still have to cite your sources: according to guidelines "1. Articles should contain only material that has been published by reputable sources. 2. Editors adding new material to an article should cite a reputable source, or it may be removed by any editor. 3. The obligation to provide a reputable source lies with the editors wishing to include the material, not on those seeking to remove it." Fix it or its gone! :: ehmjay 11:41, 4 July 2006 (UTC)

Then I'll just put it back! It is a fact that Tarita published a book "Marlon: My Love, My Suffering" in 2005 which mentioned how her ex-husband Brando raped his daughter, which led to her depression and suicide. Either read the book or get lost. And while we're at it, here's a reference: http://people.monstersandcritics.com/article_1078900.php

First off, this site you have source hardly seems reputable. Also the only excerpt they give is "According to Tarita, Cheyenne wrote in her diary that her father used to massage her 'as if he wanted me to pretend we were making love'." This hardly is enough damning evidence to warrant it's inclusion in the article. It will stay for now however it have to be worded in a way to ensure that people understand that these are ALLEGATIONS not facts. Until there is some serious hard evidence (books by angry ex-wives are not nescicarilly reputable - remember sources are supposed to be UNBIASED) it cannot be shown to be fact. :: ehmjay 02:52, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

I've made changes - I've included a source (although it hardly seems reputable and perhaps a more experience Wiki editor will help me out here). I have highlighted the fact that these were ALEGATIONS. I was also going to highlight the fact that after about a half hour of research I could not find any information on the book itself - and it gave me the impression that it may not actually exist. :: ehmjay 03:17, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

There is certainly a book, because I read it. Also there was a lot of talk about why it was not published until six months after Brando's death, the reason being that he was powerful enough to prevent its publication during his lifetime. Contrary to reports just days before his death he was not broke and living off state benefits and his pension from the Screen Actors Guild, but instead left an estate valued at $21.6 million.


Brando's longtime hatred of Presley apparently went back to 1957 when they met in a restaurant and the 5'8" actor realized he was in the company of someone who was younger, taller, more handsome, more popular and infinitely more talented than he ever could be.

What does that have to do with anything? And how can you prove this?:: ehmjay 22:53, 5 July 2006 (UTC)


That's a matter of opinion. Elvis was a musician...Brando was an actor. Elvis is considered by many to be the king of rock and roll. Brando is conisdered to be one of the finest actors of all time - however very excentric. He is hardly untalented. He could act, Evlis could not - not many people would dispute that. I'm not sure about the mentally unfit to serve in WWII, and just because Elvis did doesn't make him a hero...especially to non-americans like myself. :: ehmjay 18:00, 6 July 2006 (UTC)

Elvis was an actor AND a musician. OK, his movies weren't as great as Bing Crosby's, but they were still a lot better than Wacko Jacko's paltry offerings. And only one of Presley's 31 movies lost money. Brando was the most overrated actor in history as Frank Sinatra correctly observed. Elvis tried to have The Beatles deported from the US because they took drugs, that makes him even more of a hero. Also, FYI, Elvis was not a bad actor and even his critics ackowledged he could act. It wasn't his fault the scripts he was offered were so lame. The problem was that Colonel Parker had always envisioned his as a family entertainer like Dean Martin. A more independent artist would have fired the Colonel and taken full control of his own career, but taht was not in Presley's nature. Director Don Siegel (Dirty Harry, The Shootist) said, "He projects to the point where he jumps out at you from the screen. He has some of the same qualities as Rudolph Valentino. He has the same magnetism". Brando, on the other hand, was obese, untalented and thoroughly obnoxious.

Brando is widely regarded as one of the finest actors of the 20th century. Elvis...is not. Brando has been nominated and won numerous awards for his acting [4], Elvis has not [5]. Elvis is a fine musician, Brando is not. Brando was obese in his later years (much like Elvis), was hardly untalented and while excentric I doubt he was all that obnoxious. You may dislike him but thats your opinion. I think if you asked anyone who studies film or acting they could tell you what talent he had. :: ehmjay 18:30, 7 July 2006 (UTC)

This is all opinion, Elvis copied black music and Brandos style so did James Dean both are garbage, Michael Jackson together with many other Black artists such as Prince and James Brown are among some of the real musical geniuses and this is the simple truth my white freinds, you guys mad because Brando was a genius and he defended latins, blacks and native americans? the truth is the truth!!!


Brando was quite talentless. He mumbled his way through every film, and his small number of good films cannot hold a candle to the vast body of work of Sir Laurence Olivier, John Gielgud, Alec Guinness, Anthony Quinn etc. Brando made some films that were just as bad as Presley's, and in any case his career was completely overtaken by his controversial and abnormal personal life.

This is all opinion, Elvis copied black music and Brandos style so did James Dean booth are garbage, Michael Jackson together with many other Black artists such as Prince and James Brown are among some of the real musical geniuses and this is the simple truth my white freinds, you guys mad because Brando was a genius and he defended latins, blacks and native americans? the truth is the truth!!!

[edit] Moving the article.

I just moved the article's name Marlon Brando into Marlon Brando Jr. for specific name like his name and his father's name are same. Therefore, I moved his name into his name with Junior. Also, I have no idea whether it would be considered bad or not. *~Daniel~* 03:32, 6 July 2006 (UTC)

Nobody knows about Marlon Brando Sr and he isn't on wikipedia.

[edit] Dementia

Just updated the "final years" section to mention that Brando had vascular dementia, something that was revealed during the ongoing $4 million lawsuit against Michael Jackson.

I dont know the policie for biographies of dead actors but I assume its mostly the same. Could we please have a source - a verifiable source - so we can confirm this? :: ehmjay 18:33, 7 July 2006 (UTC)

His family had to make him change his will just 13 days before he died because he had left a house to his nurse (the one who pushed him around). There is at present a court case and they are saying they had to take charge of his affairs because he was going senile. It certainly explains why he turned up for filming "The Score" with no trousers on, and gave that rambling speech about children being hacked to death with saws at the Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Concert.

Apart from (possibly) the Michael Jackson lawsuit, it seems the only source for the dementia claim is the lawsuit launched by Brando's nurse, which was reported last summer, see e.g.: "Marlon Brando will contested over alleged forgery", which says: "Brando, 80, had dementia and did not have the motor skills to sign the documents, the suit said." --Anders Püschel 20:19, 24 November 2006 (UTC)
The Score was shot in 2000, four years before Brando died, and apparently there was another reason for his taking his trousers off on the set occasionally. Says Edward Norton in an interview: "It was just that we were working on soundstages that were very hot, so sometimes when they were moving in for the higher shots he was taking his trousers off and shooting in his underwear. It was more to keep cool than anything. Source: http://www.edward-norton.org/score.html (scroll down) --Anders Püschel 20:28, 24 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Comments

I have removed comments on here that violate WP:CIVIL. Any more comments along those lines will also be removed. Arniep 21:50, 8 July 2006 (UTC)


[edit] Dementia

Is it true that during filming of The Godfather, he briefly used the nickname Galactus?

[edit] Not a method actor

Late Career section "In his last film, The Score (2001), he starred with fellow method actor Robert De Niro."

Neither Brando nor De Niro are method actors. They both acted Stanislavski's system and were taught it by Stella Adler, not Lee Strasberg.

DeNiro was taught by both Adler and Strasberg, and Adler, like Strasberg, taught a derivation of the Stanislavski system, all of the likes of which became 'method' acting. They are method actors. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.177.120.179 (talk) 08:48, 27 March 2008 (UTC)


I don't understand, if you believe that Brando's being one of the best actor is a POV, then why not edit it out? Thanks.

[edit] school years

I've elaborated on his school years in the article. Anyone in future who looks at that period should be very careful to seperate out reality vs. Brando's later attempts to spin his personal history. There are bunches of stories where he is the only source (for example the one about him being expelled for riding a motorcycle around a school or many elaborate prank stories with no other source but him) that should not be taken seriously. Way too often he seemed to try to rewrite his early life with the character from the wild one. I would also tend to not believe many of the stories of him riding the rails around the country as a hobo during high school. 12.96.162.45 20:50, 11 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Beef with Slipknot? Mabye

In the Slipknot song "Eyeless" there are lyrics stating "you can't see Cali. without Marlon Brando's eyes" can someone shed some light on this subject. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Teffill (talk • contribs) 04:02, 12 December 2006 (UTC).

I used to listen Slipknot "music" 3 years ago. If I remember correctly the Slipknot guys saw a bump in New York who shouted: "You can't see California without Marlon Brando's eyes". Probably it should mean that California is a merciless cold place. Marlon Brando's eyes are also very cold.

[edit] INNAPROPRIATE GUYS!

WHAT THE HECK!? COULD IT BE!? THE BANDIT OF FOUL LINGUISTICALS HATH STRUCK 'gain? somone fix dis. im angered. this is not a nice thing to say about marlon. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by 67.101.152.51 (talk) 03:06, 3 January 2007 (UTC).

[edit] First time user

I am a new Wikipedia user--is someone responsible to fix this article? It looks like some pre-pubescent boys got a hold of it. Can anyone do this kind of stuff to an article? Very immature.

76.208.19.24 22:52, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Wrong birthdate

According to all other sources I've seen, Brando was born on April 3, not April 4...

It is April 3rd. At one time someone kept forcibly changing it back about seven times. I had to keep changing it to the 3rd over and over. I think there's someone out there either so convinced his birthday is the 4th or just shamefully vandalising the article. ISAYsorry 23:04, 20 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Dodie Brando

This article actually has more info about his mom than her own article does. Perhaps the relevant details should be transwikied to that article instead. Caerwine Caer’s whines 20:04, 7 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Marriages

I am currently extending the German version of this article and I have studied:

  • Marlon Brando, Robert Lindsey: Songs My Mother Taught Me, Modern Library, 1994. ISBN 0679410139
  • Peter Manso: Brando. The Biography, New York: Hyperion, 1994. ISBN 0-7868-6063-4
  • Bob Thomas: Marlon. Portrait of the Rebel as an Artist, New York: Random House, 1973. ISBN 0-394-48728-1

In these sources, I haven't found the faintest hint that Brando ever married Tarita. According to Manso, who did tremendous research work, Movita didn't file divorce until 1967, a couple of months after Rebecca was born, which makes pretty much sense to me. --Stilfehler 16:37, 22 February 2007 (UTC)


[edit] npov

"Marlon Brando was known to be a hero for James Dean, who was said to have idolized him and copied his acting and persona. However, this has been proved to be untrue by people who knew the two actors." "William Bast, a famous screen writer at that time, compared Marlon's acting style to be "heavy as lead" while James was more "mercurial and light"." "Director Nick Ray even took the gang image from the movie The Wild One and brought it to this movie and thus emphasized Brando's effect on the youth." "All the rebel culture that included motorcycle, leather jackets, jeans and the whole rebel image, that inspired generations of rebels, came thanks to the movie The Wild One and Brando's own unique image and character."

"While he won an Oscar nomination for his acting in Sayonara, his acting had lost much of its energy and direction by the end of the 1950s."

  • all of this sounds just aweful
  • most of it is questionably not npov

Any thoughts? (Mythos721 17:04, 23 March 2007 (UTC))

Well, he had done his best work by the end of the Fifties, lost his way in the Sixties, made a very brief comeback in the aerly Seventies and did nothing of any note thereafter. (DaveyJones1968 12:23, 10 June 2007 (UTC))

Just a note for whoever put the (wtf?) in the personal life section: Anyone who has ever actually punched someone in the face knows that you can rip the skin over your knuckles, damage joints, or even break bones in your own hand. This is especially true if you swing blindly out of anger. And you can develop an infection very easily if you are heavy, as your body's blood sugar levels can interfere with the operation of your immune system. Ergo, Brando's hand becoming infected after the incident is barely noteworthy, let alone extraordinary enough for such an interjection. LadyEternal 20:32, 11 August 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Alleged homosexuality

A single source ("Brando Unzipped" - title says all) is used to state, as fact, that he was gay. Unless someone can come up with better source, I'm removing these allegations, which is exactly what they are, and the current source definitely does not conform to WP:RS. Malakaville 14:44, 25 March 2007 (UTC)

Peter Manso gives a pretty good (and in my opinion reliable) account of Brando's private life. Manso states that Brando for sure wasn't gay, but he wasn't devoted exclusively to women either. --Stilfehler 19:13, 26 March 2007 (UTC)

Brando admitted he was bisexual in 1976. (DaveyJones1968 10:52, 13 June 2007 (UTC))

[edit] Deletion of "The Godfather films in popular culture" under consideration

Fans of The Godfather may wish to participate in the AfD debate concerning whether the article The Godfather films in popular culture, which was spun off from this article to keep it from being too unwieldy, should be deleted. That debate can be found here. The article in question provides a place for people to note instances which illustrate the continuing influence of The Godfather and its sequels on films, TV shows and other popular culture media. Ed Fitzgerald 00:44, 3 April 2007 (UTC)


[edit] "The Marlboro Man"

What is the basis for the statement in the lead that Brando was known as "the Marlboro Man"? Never heard of such a thing. If it can't be substantiated I am going to remove. Can anyone point to a source on that? thanks.--Silverscreen 15:25, 11 May 2007 (UTC)

He smoked cigarettes in the early days, after he stopped he became morbidly obese. (DaveyJones1968 12:23, 10 June 2007 (UTC))

[edit] "Apocalypse Now"

The references to Brando's performance in "Apocalypse Now" are completely at odds with the version Brando gives in his auto-bio. There, Brando describes the film as a mess until he arrived and re-wrote the screenplay. He devised his look and lighting and presented them to Coppola. In Brando's description, he saved the film.

Not to say his version is definitive, but the reference in the article makes no mention of it, and comes across as definitive in its own right, without sourcing its material.

[edit] category islomaniacs

Can we provide a source that shows Brando "suffered" from this "condition"? Thanks--Tom 15:36, 6 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Good god this is far too long.

Outrageously lengthy with an amazing amount of superfluous material (eg references to Elvis's rocknroll image &c), as well as ill-structured (after relating the circumstances of his death, it moves on to politics). Who's maintaining this?—Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.64.101.173 (talk) 03:21, 17 July 2007

If you see something that needs fixing, go ahead and fix it. That is the nature of the wiki. Cheers! —Elipongo (Talk contribs) 23:12, 20 July 2007 (UTC)

[edit] poorly written

This article is so poorly written. The first two paragraphs are terrible. The first sentence should succinctly define Brando's importance; i.e. he is widely regarded as the greatest film actor of all-time. Instead we get "whose body of work spanned over half a century" followed by "one of the most influential actors of the 20th century." Nice to see the word "century" used twice - but more importanty, the fact that he acted for 50 years isn't that significant. Many actors have done that. That isn't why he's important. And in the next paragraph we get the terribly awkward phrase, "lending his presence to many issues." Horrible. The first two paragraphs read like they were written by a fifth grader. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.90.1.153 (talk) 17:16, 15 September 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Filmography

Why was a sub-article created? This does not seem necessary at this time as it eliminates an important section from the main article. Comments? FWIW Bzuk 12:30, 25 September 2007 (UTC).

[edit] Clarifiying alleged "French" ancestry

There is a village on Corsica (which belongs to France) called "Brando", I think maybe this is why some claim that he has French ancestry. - Soprani 06:13, 7 October 2007 (UTC)

I think it was probably because a researcher found a reference to a Eugene Brandeau from Alsace on immigration papers (I know such a person existed). His grandfather Eugene was in fact born in New York State and the Brandos came from a German/Dutch background. He does have French Huguenot ancestry but that's going a lot further back and is not anything particular unusual for people of west European descent. Gustav von Humpelschmumpel 14:15, 7 October 2007 (UTC)
Note the Italian surname Brando probably comes from "the Germanic (Lombardic) personal name Brando, a short form of the various compound personal names formed with brand ‘sword’, particularly Aldobrando and Ildebrando.". The German name Brandau from which M Brando's name comes, comes from "habitational name from any of several places called Brandau, in Hesse, Bavaria, and former East Prussia. "Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press. Gustav von Humpelschmumpel 15:44, 7 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Infobox/lead IMAGE 3RR War - October 2007

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[edit] Side-x-Side


VOTE: Maybe we need a third one? IP4240207xx 08:53, 16 October 2007 (UTC)





Left The one on the right is already featured in the article. It's the picture of him and James Baldwin. The zooming in on Brando has rendered the cropped version grainy. The one on the left is of better quality. MrBlondNYC 21:14, 16 October 2007 (UTC)
Doesn't the one on the left make him look retarded, like he is about to drool on himself? Can't we find a better one? WikiDon 21:52, 16 October 2007 (UTC)
No, the left photo is very atmospheric and was perhaps taken on higher quality film. See chiaroscuro. Gustav von Humpelschmumpel 22:25, 16 October 2007 (UTC)
I am not talking about the contrast of lighting, etc. I am talking about the LOOK on his face. WikiDon 07:53, 18 October 2007 (UTC)
He's just looking downwards looking pensive, there's no problem with it. Gustav von Humpelschmumpel 11:21, 18 October 2007 (UTC)
Right, for shure!The left one is absolutely retarded! Is a shame to us as a leading image to Brando's article on Wiki in english language. Grain doesn't matter here. Are you kidding, palls? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 201.17.42.222 (talk) 07:13, 18 October 2007 (UTC)
Right, you are the one that made this grainy photo. Gustav von Humpelschmumpel 11:21, 18 October 2007 (UTC)

No I didn't make it I just like it more than the left one, for shure.(What shape is that??) Let's watch what the community says. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 201.17.42.222 (talk) 04:59, 20 October 2007 (UTC)

LEFT - Well, you're the one who first made the change, 201.17.42.222. It's kind of hard to ignore the IP address throughout the history. The other one is cropped out of a photo further down the page and enlarged. It's grainy and has an odd quality. I'd rather vote on an entirely different photo than these two, but since there isn't one, I'm going with the left. Wildhartlivie 05:31, 20 October 2007 (UTC)

Wildhartlivie, I didn't say I wasn't the one who made the change. I've said I wasn't the one who made or cropped the image, right? Left photo's cut is ridiculous and the man is retarded. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 201.17.42.222 (talk) 05:53, 20 October 2007 (UTC)

It seems like you are trolling, please find something more constructive to do. Gustav von Humpelschmumpel 16:12, 20 October 2007 (UTC)
Is there another good quality photo of Brando from the March? I assume photos from the March are public domain. MrBlondNYC 22:30, 20 October 2007 (UTC)
I think that one is the most high quality one we have. We are using most of the availiable free images, but there are a few more at commons:Category:Marlon_Brando. Gustav von Humpelschmumpel 23:32, 20 October 2007 (UTC)
Then I would prefer one of those images be used. I don't think it's imperative that we use that picture from the March. Since he was an actor foremost, I would prefer a screenshot or publicity photo. MrBlondNYC 01:57, 23 October 2007 (UTC)
OK, I replaced it with a screenshot from Streetcar Named Desire, hope this is OK with you? Gustav von Humpelschmumpel 12:56, 23 October 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Citations & References

See Wikipedia:Footnotes for an explanation of how to generate footnotes using the <ref(erences/)> tags Nhl4hamilton (talk) 04:54, 1 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] british bias

why is someone deleting that marlon brando is widely considered to be single most greatest influential actor of all time perhaps its a brit who does that u would be shocked to check out the main page of lawrence oilivers profile check this out He is generally regarded to be the greatest actor of the 20th Century, in the same category as David Garrick, Richard Burbage, Edmund Kean and Henry Irving in their own centuries, He is one of the most famous and revered actors of the 20th century, along with his contemporaries John Gielgud, Peggy Ashcroft and Ralph Richardson this is pure brtish propoganda and i think olivier is overrated —Preceding unsigned comment added by Pc166 (talk • contribs) 14:28, 16 February 2008 (UTC)

See WP:NPOV. -- Roleplayer (talk) 14:31, 16 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] vandalism

70.153.56.152. This acount is consistently vandalising this article and others. I don't know how to get someone banned, but it would be appreciated if someone could help out. Yojimbo501 (talk) 17:22, 17 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Contributed to Terrorism?

He was in a play that funded weapons being smuggled into Israel/Palestine. He was aware that it was funding terrorism. Thoughts.Londo06 16:20, 20 February 2008 (UTC)

Which play? Gustav von Humpelschmumpel (talk) 21:51, 20 February 2008 (UTC)
Stella Adler, mid to late 40's period, will look into it as I can't recall the name off the top of my headLondo06 11:42, 21 February 2008 (UTC)
In 1946 he was in Ben Hecht’s Zionist play "A Flag is Born"? Gustav von Humpelschmumpel (talk) 11:47, 21 February 2008 (UTC)
It may well have been that one.Londo06 11:57, 21 February 2008 (UTC)
Perhaps we should hold off on the extreme accusations like "contributed to terrorism" until we all know a little more what we're talking about? Hmm? Monkeyzpop (talk) 15:26, 21 February 2008 (UTC)
I put the question mark after it as I use today's language, ie. it would be considered as such today. I shall endeavor to confirm the play and a little more about his involvement and the period.Londo06 15:41, 21 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] WP:WikiProject Actors and Filmmakers priority assessment

Per debate and discussion re: assessment of the approximate 100 top priority articles of the project, this article has been included as a top priority article. Wildhartlivie (talk) 10:26, 29 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] y isnt his refusal of the 73 oscar mentioned?

Shouldnt his refusal of the 73 oscar be mentioned? He sent a Native American and she gave a speeech. I think that is noteworthy. Rd this http://www.nativevillage.org/Messages%20from%20the%20People/Marlon%20Brando's%20unfinished%20Oscar%20Speech.htm 70.108.100.102 (talk) 00:20, 2 March 2008 (UTC)

Never mind. It is mentioned but it is hidden in the Godfather section. I'm adding it to the awards section.

[edit] Playboy quote

Just thought I'd point out for anyone interested that Brando's quote from the Playboy interview was inaccurately rendered in this article, in a way that made Brando look worse. We had it as "You've seen every single race besmirched, but you never saw an unfavorable image of the Kike because the Jews were ever so watchful for that. They never allowed it to be shown on screen.". The actual quote was "You're seen every single race besmirched, but you never saw an image of the kike. Because the Jews were ever watchful for that—and rightly so. They never allowed it to be shown onscreen. The Jews have done so much for the world that, I suppose, you get extra disappointed because they didn't pay attention to that"[emphasis mine]. I can see why it would still offend people, but it's interesting that whoever put this in initially omitted the more equivocal parts.—Chowbok ☠ 03:32, 3 April 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Edits from Banned User HC and IPs

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[edit] Image copyright problem with Image:Brando apoc.jpg

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[edit] Vandalism > Sexuality > 2008-06-03

It is NOT true that Brando is homosexual! It has never been confirmed! I find that very rude to accuse him of that after his death! Unless someone can provide me with proof I am removing that section! General Mannino (talk) 23:06, 2 June 2008 (UTC)

It is something that has been mentioned on documentaries about the man, and as such does not warrant its complete removal.Londo06 09:08, 3 June 2008 (UTC)
I don't see any proof, so unless you provide me with the information I will remove it. (A video of the documentary, NOT a website because it could be false) General Mannino (talk) 22:07, 3 June 2008 (UTC)
Well, at some point just the debate of his sexuality becomes part of his biography. whether he was or not, you can have an equal section citing people that say he was and people that say he wasn't. Would we ever believed Rock Hudson was gay in 1960? Or if AIDS and Marc Christian had been made public? A lot of these authors are just trading on dead people's souls, making money about people that are gone and can't speak up. Best thing: Don't buy their shitty books and periodicals. That said, since things have been published, as long as we try to present both sides, fair and equal amounts of each position, that is fair. Unfortunately Brando sexuality has become a topic of discussion and a part of his life.
FYI: Here is a link for one of the references that you removed: Thornton, Micheal "Larry gay? Of course he was". - Daily Mail. - 01 September 2006. (that was originally added here by 218.217.207.35 (talk · contribs)
I don't know much about about this Micheal Thornton, probably another hack, but it is out there. Unfortunately pleasing you, General Mannino, is not the goal of Wikipedia. So, don't be surprised if the commentary comes back. But, maybe you can make it a 50/50 section, with verifiable sources. IP4240207xx (talk) 23:14, 3 June 2008 (UTC)

That's a website which could be a fake, I asked for documentaries, not websites because it could be false. The topic on his sexuality has no reason to be included in the article, it's not verifiable information. General Mannino (talk) 19:57, 6 June 2008 (UTC)

I have reverted the wholesale deletion of a section that has attribution. Please seek consensus first. FWiW Bzuk (talk) 20:10, 6 June 2008 (UTC).