Marlon Brando achieved global recognition for his iconic roles in classics ranging from A Streetcar Named Desire to The Godfather. The Academy Award-winning performer was hailed as the “greatest screen star of all time” – yet his existence was marked by profound personal struggles.
Raised by an alcoholic mother who he recalled “spent most of her time on the floor” and a volatile father he dreaded, his childhood was turbulent – but he conquered these obstacles to emerge as a celebrated Oscar-winning performer, initially. He made his film debut at 26 in the 1950 picture The Men, though his depiction of an embittered paraplegic demanded enormous commitment: he allegedly remained bedridden at a veterans’ hospital for a full month to research the character.
Existence became more dazzling the subsequent year when he secured the major part of Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire, and by 1954 he’d claimed his first Academy Award for On The Waterfront as prizefighter turned conflicted dock laborer Terry Malloy.
By 1962, he was filming in picturesque destinations like Tahiti – and the landscape captivated him so deeply that he purchased his own isle, Tetiroa and relocated there.
He’d emulated his mother’s path into acting but, growing increasingly disenchanted with the craft and calling it a “bum’s life”, he abandoned Hollywood, declaring the celebrity worship and emphasis on stars’ private affairs was “unsettling”. Despite his eccentricities, he continued to land major acting roles, notably as Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather in 1972, reports the Express.
However, he boycotted the subsequent Academy Awards, sending “Sacheen Littlefeather”, a Native American activist, to refuse his award on his behalf, protesting against the industry’s treatment of native people.
This stunt sparked controversy and seemed to relegate him to supporting roles. His increasingly bizarre behavior, such as requesting to portray Superman’s father as a “voice coming from a piece of luggage”, raised eyebrows among producers.
Still, the pay was substantial. A ten-minute appearance in the Superman movie netted him millions of dollars and a share of the profits.
He once joked, “The only reason I’m in Hollywood is that I don’t have the moral courage to refuse the money!”.
His noticeable weight gain, first apparent in Apocalypse Now, raised concerns. He became somewhat of a hermit, and his LA home, adjacent to friend Jack Nicholson’s, began to deteriorate.
His son Christian, one of his 11 children, caused him great distress when he fatally shot his pregnant half-sister Cheyenne’s fiancé Dag Drollet, allegedly in response to mistreatment of her.
Christian served five years in prison after confessing to the crime. His devastated sister later committed suicide.
The ensuing legal fees left Marlon financially ruined.
His housekeeper, Maria Ruiz, who bore three of his children, also initiated a $70 million (£51 million) lawsuit against him for child support. By the time of his death in 2004, he was $15 million (£10.9 million) in debt and living off a pension.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.the-express.com ’
