Marlon Brando and Wally Cox were two of the most famous actors of their time, but they could not have been more different in appearance and personality.
Brando was a handsome, rebellious movie icon who starred in films like "On the Waterfront" and "The Godfather". Cox was a droll, owlish comedian who played the mild-mannered teacher in the TV series "Mr. Peepers" and voiced the superhero Underdog. Yet the bond that existed between these physical opposites would survive decades, from childhood to death, and even beyond.
Brando and Cox met when they were both 9-year-old boys growing up in Evanston, Illinois. They became close friends, even though Brando once tied Cox to a tree and then left. They shared a sense of humor, a love of nature, and a disdain for authority. They also supported each other's dreams of becoming actors. When Cox's family moved to New York City, Brando's followed. In New York, they were roommates for a time, and Brando encouraged Cox to take acting lessons with Stella Adler.
They both achieved fame and success in their respective fields, but they never lost touch with each other. They often visited each other's homes, went on trips together, and exchanged letters and phone calls. They also defended each other from critics and enemies. Brando once punched a photographer who insulted Cox, and Cox once stood up to Frank Sinatra who tried to bully Brando.
Their friendship was based on mutual respect, admiration, and affection. They also had a lot in common, such as their intellectual pursuits, their spiritual interests, and their desire to avoid the spotlight. They were both avid readers, chess players, and animal lovers. They both explored various religions and philosophies, such as Buddhism, Hinduism, and Native American spirituality. They both preferred a simple and private life over fame and fortune.
Their friendship lasted until Cox died of a surprise heart attack in 1973 at the age of 48. Brando was devastated by his loss and kept his ashes in his home so he could talk to him all the time. He said: "He was [like] my brother... I can't tell you how much I miss and love that man." When Brando died in 2004, his family scattered the two friends' ashes together in Death Valley.
There were some rumors that Brando and Cox were lovers, but those who knew them closely thought they had a more familial bond. Cox's second wife Milagros Tirado "Millie" Beck said: "I never had a sense of that... I had a sense of true brotherly love." Cox's sister Eleanor Robinson said their friendship was based on a shared sense of humor, a mutual desire to avoid the spotlight, and common intellectual pursuits. She said: "They were birds of a feather."
Brando and Cox's friendship was one of the most remarkable and enduring in Hollywood history. It showed that opposites can attract and that true friendship can transcend differences.
