History Creator / MarlonBrando

* BiTheWay: He revealed in his biography ”The Only Contender” from 1976 that he had homosexual tendencies, even though he was married to several women and had children with them.
** Apparently had an affair with comedian Creator/RichardPryor according to Pryor's widow.
* BrilliantButLazy: Creator/AlPacino said that he would work his ass off in acting only to come short of what Brando could do in his sleep. The man was also famous for refusing to memorize lines and often had [[http://i.huffpost.com/gen/1043832/images/o-MARLON-BRANDO-GODFATHER-CUE-CARDS-facebook.jpg cue cards on set]] or just improvised. Bear in mind that Brando started in theatre so he knew perfectly well how to memorize lines. He used cue-cards on set not out of laziness so much as to provide a more spontaneous performance (which considering that movies were shot out of order helped make every scene fresh).

* {{Yellowface}}: Portrayed an Okinawan in the theatrical adaptation of ''Film/TheTeahouseOfTheAugustMoon''. The Yellowface is somewhat softened by 1) Brando delivering a typically charismatic performance and 2) Brando's character being the smartest person in the movie.
** In fairness to him, Brando did such intense research on Okinawan customs and accent in order to get it right that actual Okinawan's were convinced that he was the genuine article.

* VocalDissonance: He's one of the {{Trope Codifier}}s for the {{Hunk}}, and yet his voice is... ''jarring,'' to say the least. Especially with his thick accent.

* OlderThanTheyLook: For much of his life. Much makeup had to be applied to him in ''The Godfather'' though he was only six years younger than Vito Corleone. In ''Superman'', he certainly doesn't look like he's nearly thirty years older than Creator/ChristopherReeve. ''Superman'' is justified, though: his character died when Christopher Reeve's character was (and played by) a baby. What we see with Christopher Reeve's version is a simulation.

* ''Film/MutinyOnTheBounty'' (1962)

* UsefulNotes/AcademyAward: Won for ''Film/OnTheWaterfront'' and ''Film/TheGodfather'', was nominated for ''Film/AStreetcarNamedDesire'', ''Viva Zapata!'', ''Theatre/JuliusCaesar'', ''Film/{{Sayonara}}'', ''Film/LastTangoInParis'' and ''A Dry White Season'' (as a supporting actor). Funnily enough he went up against Creator/HumphreyBogart for the Academy Award twice, losing the first time (Bogart won for ''Film/TheAfricanQueen'' vs. Brando's ''Film/AStreetcarNamedDesire'') and winning the second time (Brando won for ''Film/OnTheWaterfront'' vs. Bogart's ''Film/TheCaineMutiny''). He's the only actor to receive four consecutive Best Actor nominations. He rejected his second Oscar to raise awareness about the then-ongoing siege at the Wounded Knee Indian reservation.
* BadassBiker: Possible UrExample in ''Film/TheWildOne''.

Marlon Brando Jr. (April 3, 1924 – July 1, 2004) was a legendary American method actor who broke out in the early [[TheFifties 1950s]], appearing in two Elia Kazan films, ''Theatre/AStreetcarNamedDesire'' and ''Film/OnTheWaterfront'', as well as less arty projects such as ''Film/TheWildOne'' and the screen adaptation of ''Theatre/GuysAndDolls''. He later created and forever owned the role of Don Vito Corleone in ''Film/TheGodfather'', as well as performed notable cameo roles in several high-profile films, including Jor-El in ''Film/{{Superman}}'' and Kurtz in ''Film/ApocalypseNow''.

* BiTheWay

* TeethClenchedTeamwork: Stayed in touch with Eli Wallach (who was a NiceGuy by comparison) for about thirty years, even after they did an improvisational scene together where he hurled Wallach across the room, elevating a stage fight into a brawl.

* OneBookAuthor: His directorial debut ''Film/OneEyedJacks'' which resulted in ExecutiveMeddling and is regarded by some critics as evidence that [[HeReallyCanAct He Really Can Direct]]. His bad experience on it, put him off directing for good though he planned further films.

* {{Cloudcuckoolander}}: Later in life.

Marlon Brando (April 3, 1924 – July 1, 2004) was a legendary American method actor who broke out in the early [[TheFifties 1950s]], appearing in two Elia Kazan films, ''Theatre/AStreetcarNamedDesire'' and ''Film/OnTheWaterfront'', as well as less arty projects such as ''Film/TheWildOne'' and the screen adaptation of ''Theatre/GuysAndDolls''. He later created and forever owned the role of Don Vito Corleone in ''Film/TheGodfather'', as well as performed notable cameo roles in several high-profile films, including Jor-El in ''Film/{{Superman}}'' and Kurtz in ''Film/ApocalypseNow''.

* UsefulNotes/AcademyAward: Won for ''Film/OnTheWaterfront'' and ''Film/TheGodfather'', was nominated for ''Film/AStreetcarNamedDesire'', ''Viva Zapata!'', ''Theatre/JuliusCaesar'', ''Film/{{Sayonara}}'', ''Film/LastTangoInParis'' and ''A Dry White Season'' (as a supporting actor). Funnily enough he went up against Creator/HumphreyBogart for the Academy Award twice, losing the first time (Bogart won for ''Film/TheAfricanQueen'' vs. Brando's ''Film/AStreetcarNamedDesire'') and winning the second time (Brando won for ''Film/OnTheWaterfront'' vs. Bogart's ''Film/TheCaineMutiny''). He's the only actor to receive four consecutive Best Actor nominations. He rejected his second Oscar to protest Hollywood's depiction of the Native Americans.

Marlon Brando (1924–2004) was a legendary American method actor who broke out in the early [[TheFifties 1950s]], appearing in two Elia Kazan films, ''Theatre/AStreetcarNamedDesire'' and ''Film/OnTheWaterfront'', as well as less arty projects such as ''Film/TheWildOne'' and the screen adaptation of ''Theatre/GuysAndDolls''. He later created and forever owned the role of Don Vito Corleone in ''Film/TheGodfather'', as well as performed notable cameo roles in several high-profile films, including Jor-El in ''Film/{{Superman}}'' and Kurtz in ''Film/ApocalypseNow''.

* Frequently parodied on ''WesternAnimation/TheCritic'', targeting his late career obesity and paycheck roles. Among other appearances, Brando stars in a musical version of ''Film/ApocalypseNow'' (called ''Apocalypse Wow!''), portrays Mr. French in a ''Series/FamilyAffair'' remake as [[Film/TheGodfather Vito Corleone]] and complains about having to lose weight to play BarneyTheDinosaur.

* BrilliantButLazy: Creator/AlPacino said that he would work his ass off in acting only to come short of what Brando could do in his sleep. The man was also famous for refusing to memorize lines and often had cue cards on set or just improvised. Bear in mind that Brando started in theatre so he knew perfectly well how to memorize lines. He used cue-cards on set not out of laziness so much as to provide a more spontaneous performance (which considering that movies were shot out of order helped make every scene fresh).

** Case in point: ''Superman''. He was only there for the money, read his lines off cue cards (refusing to learn them) and had a fairly small role. And it is one of the best performances in the film. Moreover, he was the one who suggested that Superman's logo be the family sigil, which eventually became part of the Superman mythos.

* Appeared as a guest referee in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/CelebrityDeathmatch'', for the Creator/AlPacino vs Creator/RobertDeNiro fight. Music/TheBeastieBoys eventually use him to plug the exhaust of Music/TheBackstreetBoys giant robot in the main event fight.

* OneBookAuthor: ''One Eyed Jacks'' was his only film as director.

* BrilliantButLazy: Al Pacino said that he would work his ass off in acting only to come short of what Brando could do in his sleep. The man was also famous for refusing to memorize lines and often had cue cards on set or just improvised. Bear in mind that Brando started in theatre so he knew perfectly well how to memorize lines. He used cue-cards on set not out of laziness so much as to provide a more spontaneous performance (which considering that movies were shot out of order helped make every scene fresh).
** Elia Kazan admitted that this was Brando's style. Give him a part and attract his curiosity and tell him what you want from the scene. He would then go in a corner and come up with [[TakeAThirdOption something unique and brilliant]], and better than the original idea. Some directors accepted this, others who preferred total obedience to their directions had problems accepting this and this created conflict on some of his later films.

* OlderThanTheyLook: For much of his life. Much makeup had to be applied to him in ''The Godfather'' though he was only six years younger than Vito Corleone, ann ''Superman'', he certainly doesn't look like he's nearly thirty years older than Christopher Reeve. ''Superman'' is justified, though: his character died when Christopher Reeve's character was (and played by) a baby. What we see with Christopher Reeve's version is a simulation.

* Appeared as a guest referee in an episode of ''WesternAnimation/CelebrityDeathmatch'', for the Al Pacino vs Robert De Niro fight. The Beastie Boys eventually use him to plug the exhaust of the Backstreet Boys giant robot in the main event fight.

* OlderThanTheyLook: For much of his life. Much makeup had to be applied to him in ''The Godfather'' though he was only six years younger than Vito Corleone. In ''Superman'', he certainly doesn't look like he's nearly thirty years older than Christopher Reeve.
** ''Superman'' is justified: his character died when Christopher Reeve's character was (and played by) a baby. What we see with Christopher Reeve's version is a simulation.

* ''Literature/MutinyOnTheBounty'' (1962)

* Appeared as a guest referee in an episode of ''CelebrityDeathmatch'', for the Al Pacino vs Robert De Niro fight. The Beastie Boys eventually use him to plug the exhaust of the Backstreet Boys giant robot in the main event fight.
* Frequently parodied on ''WesternAnimation/TheCritic'', targeting his late career obesity and paycheck roles. Among other appearances, Brando stars in a musical version of ''Film/ApocalypseNow'' (called ''Apocalypse Wow!''), portrays Mr. French in a ''Series/FamilyAffair'' remake as [[TheGodfather Vito Corleone]] and complains about having to lose weight to play BarneyTheDinosaur.

* DracoInLeatherPants: [[invoked]] Regretted that a couple of his bad boy roles got this treatment.
** Stanley in AStreetCarNamedDesire especially -- Brando loathed the character as an abusive rapist, and was horrified that some audiences romanticized him.

* BillingDisplacement: Brando was given top billing in both ''Film/ApocalypseNow'' and ''Film/{{Superman}}'' despite having comparatively small roles in both (less than 10 minutes in the former, in fact).

* CrossDressingVoices: Voiced Mrs. Sour in the unreleased animated film ''Big Bug Man''.
* DoingItForTheArt: Claimed he only made films to fund a sadly never made project about Native Americans. His own approach to acting was driven by this, tending to believe it wasn't serious enough or didn't make a difference, which apparently drove his bad behaviour, especially on the MoneyDearBoy films. On a film like ''Last Tango in Paris'' or ''The Godfather'', he was a committed professional and beloved of his cast and crew. Apparently it was driven by his NobleDemon instinct more than anything.
** Also, he refused to do sequels. This was the reason why he turned down reprising Vito Corleone in the sequel to ''Film/TheGodfather'', even a cameo that Coppola tried to interest him which he backed down on [[AuthorExistenceFailure the last moment]].

* FollowTheLeader: Brando, along with Creator/JamesDean and director Elia Kazan, redefined what it meant to be an actor and started to create the template of what made film acting so much different than theater acting. Instead of presenting your role to the back seats and speaking with perfect diction at least half of your performance was in your physical stance and a quarter of it is the tone you give the lines. Kazan created the Actors Studio and Brando was sort of the figurehead, even though he is sometimes teased for his unique quirks most actors today without realizing it emulate the techniques Brando pioneered, a fact noted and perhaps lamented by Creator/ClintEastwood amongst many others.
** However it's important to point out that Brando admired traditional actors like Creator/LaurenceOlivier and worked with the likes of John Gielgud on the film adaptation of ''Julius Caesar'', working hard to pull off the Shakespearean diction. He had a strong grounding in stagecraft and was a student of acting teacher [[TheMentor Stella Adler]] (who later taught Creator/RobertDeNiro), which is what allowed him to explore the Method so well.

* MoneyDearBoy: Most of his movies from the mid-70s on. He demanded, and got, $3.7 million up front and 12% of the box office for ''Film/{{Superman}}''. He also demanded to work no more than a week and a half and had cue cards on set so he wouldn't have to memorize his lines. And he was ''worth every penny.''

* OneBookAuthor: His directorial debut ''One-Eyed Jacks'' which resulted in ExecutiveMeddling and is regarded by some critics as evidence that [[HeReallyCanAct He Really Can Direct]]. His bad experience on it, put him off directing for good though he planned further films.
* OneOfUs: A big fan of ''WesternAnimation/BeavisAndButthead''. Creator/JohnnyDepp once told Creator/MikeJudge that while filming ''Film/DonJuanDeMarco'', Brando would talk to him incessantly about the show and quote his favorite lines.

* WagTheDirector: After his dual roles in ''Film/TheGodfather'' and ''Film/LastTangoInParis'' in 1972, Brando became a real challenge for any director, constantly improvising and arguing on set. On of the more infamous cases was ''One Eyed Jacks'', where his gerrymandering of the script lead to Creator/StanleyKubrick being fired as director and Brando taking his place.
** Apparently Brando did this so much on the set of ''Film/MutinyOnTheBounty'' that director Lewis Milestone gave up and left Brando to his own devices during filming.
** In ''Film/TheIslandOfDoctorMoreau'' - in which [[CreatorBreakdown his mood was made worse after hearing about the suicide of his daughter]] - he clashed with both directors and fellow troublemaker Creator/ValKilmer. In a scene he wears an ice bucket on his head because people were too afraid to ask him to remove it.
** In his final theatrical film ''Film/TheScore'', he could not get along at all with Frank Oz and constantly referred to him as "[[Franchise/TheMuppets Miss Piggy]]".