Marlon Brando, the man who was considered by Time magazine as “the best actor of the century” died in 2004 and left an enormous legacy behind him.
The Godfather (1972), Apocalypsis Now (1979), Mutiny on the Board (1962) and Last Tango in Paris (1972) are some of the successful titles that had him on his marquee. No matter how much time passes or what actors emerge, the one who introduced a method and won two Oscars will not be forgotten. However, behind his history of fame, awards and stage designs hides a hard childhood, a complex family drama and a lonely ending that few imagined he would have.
Brando had a difficult childhood. His mother suffered from bipolar disorder and the actor's childhood is not summed up in good memories and joy. There are several books that witness his biography and many agree that the woman even suffered physical abuse from her partners in the presence of her son. When he was 17 years old, Marlon was expelled from the Shattuck Military Academy and decided to join Stella Adler's theater company, despite the discontent and even the fury of his father.
That's how, despite everything, he made his film debut in 1950 and just a year later his name appeared in a major film: A Streetcar Named Desire. To talk about his acting achievements is to repeat something that is evident in history. But what is most surprising in the film industry and in the fans that he garnered throughout his career is the harsh end to his life. After going through difficult years with his children and facing painful losses, he died with a single possession: a paradise island.
Marlon Brando's misfortune at the hands of his children
By 1990, Brando had already participated in 34 Hollywood productions, had two Oscars, two Golden Globes, three BAFTAs and recognition at the Cannes and Tokyo festivals. That is to say, his name spoke for itself and he had a reputation and a fairly public life. He was married three times and as a result of those marriages he had 11 children. In the midst of his consecration in the world of entertainment, his family experienced a tragic episode that marked him forever and which, they say, he was unable to overcome.
On May 16 of that year, his son-in-law Drag Dollet (partner of his daughter Cheyenne) was murdered. The one who ended the man's life was none other than Christian, Marlon's eldest son. According to what was said at the time, he did it to defend his sister from a beating.
The trial for the crime tormented the clan for a long time and it was even said that the actor was an accomplice in what happened. However, the author confessed and was sentenced to 10 years in prison.
With Christian in jail and an extremely complicated situation, Brando also had to face several suicide attempts by his daughter. Unfortunately in 1995, and just when the authorities were going to release her first-born son early for “good behavior,” Cheyenne ended her life by hanging herself in her home in Tahiti. She was 25 years old. Aware of this, the actor was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital where he remained hospitalized for several days.
A tragic end plunged into poverty and with a single possession never sold
The episode with his children marked Brando's life and left a wound that never healed. He was barely able to finish his acting career. From 1995 until his retirement in 2001, he participated in just six productions and lent his voice so that, in 2006, they released The Godfather: The Video Game. In his last years, despite all the money he obtained from his papers, he lived on social security, on the verge of destitution and in full austerity.
He barely had enough to pay for a room and consume basic necessities. His physical condition deteriorated, he began to distance himself from family, friends and acquaintances and ended his days in Los Angeles, the city that saw him become one of the greatest.
According to Patricia Ruiz's book, Brando in the Twilight, the actor even had debts that exceeded 20 million dollars, part of which were the product of the legal battle carried out in 1990.
“He lived alone in a one-room house called Frangipani, on Mulholland Drive. It was a claustrophobic place, with a couple of curtains and a few regrettable pieces of furniture,” the El Mundo portal described the details of the author's publication.
Despite the heavy debts and the life away from the luxury that he always chose, there was one possession that he never gave up. When Brando participated in the filming of Rebelling (1962) he fell in love with French Polynesia and decided to buy an island that, according to rumors, cost him US$200,000. The place was undoubtedly a tropical paradise for him that he enjoyed when he was away from Hollywood.
Until 2004, Tetiaroa Island - located 60 kilometers from Tahiti and made up of a dozen islets - functioned as an ecological reserve and also as his refuge. “I cannot explain in words the beauty of this place,” he insisted at all times. Nobody understands why he didn't sell it when he was drowning in debt. When he died, the place was left in the hands of his son Simon Teihotu who - together with the company - turned it into a luxurious resort open to tourism. As a tribute to his father, he named him The Brando.
