In Memoriam: Marlon Brando (1924–2004)

So, I just saw this on CNN.

Another acting legend has passed away. A true giant—both in stature and in impact.

It’s wild because just a few days after a new biography about his life was released, Marlon Brando, which claims he was actually drowning in millions of dollars of debt following that legal battle involving his son.

There’s a certain irony to it all, considering that just last year, he told his family and close friends that he was "ready to go."

🙂

God, I hate everything about this... life, death, all of it.

It’s enough to make you snap. The absolute biggest one is gone... he took an offer he just couldn't turn down...😢

😢

R.I.P.
The absolute greatest.

Listen: i could have been somebody 80Kb.

From the film "On the Waterfront".

Henry Barrett11 said:It’s enough to make you lose it. The absolute biggest icon is gone.

No pun intended, right? 😁

It is a sad moment. Though, I am not entirely certain why we should actually be mourning him. When you step back and look at it, the man had a relatively successful life: he became a major star, served as a sex symbol in his youth, women adored him, and he had money... People certainly gossiped about how much weight he gained toward the end of his life, but honestly, that is just called *aging*, which is perfectly natural.

I suppose I feel bad for Marlon Brando because, in truth, I feel bad for myself. Over time, you begin to view these famous figures as permanent fixtures of the world around you. When you suddenly realize that a piece of that reality is simply gone—poof!—it forces one to contemplate all the other things that will inevitably change and vanish over time.

Anyway, there I go rambling again.

Rest in peace to the legend of The Wild One...

It’s not quite worth weeping over, though I can't deny there's a certain heaviness in your heart when someone whose work you truly cherished passes away.

Sure, he was definitely a bit eccentric—he wasn't exactly the type to memorize lines, so they’d actually hold his script right behind the actor he was facing, and he’d just use his seasoned skills to subtly glance from the text to his co-star, which always resulted in a top-tier performance. He was a rebel through and through, and Hollywood never really took him in, but I find myself constantly revisiting those incredible performances in my mind.

To be honest, if the very last physical copy of his films vanished from the face of the earth, that might actually warrant more tears than his passing, but I suppose the grief sits somewhere in that same neighborhood.

I wouldn't go so far as to echo what people said about James Dean—that the idea of his movies disappearing is almost more terrifying than the man himself dying—but still... expressing this kind of public sorrow is really just a way of paying respect to someone we consider a true legend. And am I doing this for my own sake? Well, I don't think so. If I were to put it simply, I don't think when I hear the funeral bells ringing, my first thought is to wonder if they're ringing for me.

The ultimate legend... pure death... 😢 😢 😢 😢 😢

I just happened to stumble upon this on my iPhone...😢 😢

That’s him, right there!😢

Marlon Brando was certainly a star, but he had this incredible ability to completely transform himself—going far beyond what any typical "Star" could manage...

He played everything from the aggressive, queer persona in A Streetcar Named Desire, to the suburban rebel in The Wild One, a German officer in Young Lions, a jealous and sexually frustrated husband in Reflections in a Golden Eye, and even a dangerous tough guy in Apocalypse... he wasn't just limited to those intense, eccentric types like Orson Welles (who, let's be honest, was primarily a director anyway...🙄..).
🙏

What I loved about him was how much he just didn't give a damn about anything.
It was hilarious when he didn't even bother showing up for his Oscar (can't recall which one it was) and just sent some Indian Girl in his place. She ended up giving some big, dramatic speech to the Academy and everyone fell for it hook, line, and sinker. 🙏 🙏

Yes, that was back in 1973... during the production of The Godfather... I remember seeing this photo in a newspaper once—it was Marlon Brando with an arrow through his head... Apparently, he was actually auditioning for the part at the time (!!?)... And they say he used to chew on orange peels just to get those signature Corleone cheeks... or maybe it was cotton wool... 😕 Just those little little quirks from the greats...

🙏 😱 A real shame. Such a damn shame.

A legend that’ll stay with you forever🙏 🙏 🙏

I remember seeing him go absolutely wild on a subway train once. He started screaming at this woman and her sister until he ended up smashing a plate right there in the car.

Same here...
He was absolute perfection to me, even in those scenes down at the New York City docks. I remember when I was just a kid, I tracked down this massive poster of his legendary motorcycle scene from Wilderness. I was obsessed; that thing hung on my wall for years...
What makes him a genius to me is how much of an outsider he was. He stayed true to himself, avoided the usual Hollywood jet set, turned down awards, and yet, nobody could ever argue he wasn't the greatest...

Timothy Murphy7 said:Back when I was just a kid, I picked up this massive poster featuring that legendary scene of him on the motorcycle from Wilderness. I absolutely loved it—it hung on my wall for years...

I used to stay with this guy named Mark who had this huge poster from The Godfather showing Al Pacino sitting while Marlon Brando stands over him.
The whole story captured in one shot. We used to sit around and debate that picture all the time.

Since everyone seems to be praising him, I’m going to be the one to disagree.😁

That recent movie with Norton and Robert De Niro was honestly terrible. It shouldn't have even been made.

tatiana said:What I actually loved about him was how much he just didn't give a damn about anything.
I thought it was absolutely brilliant when he didn't even bother showing up to collect his Oscar (I can't quite recall which one it was for) and instead sent some Indian Girl to pick it up for him; she ended up giving this whole fiery speech to the Academy and everyone just fell for it hook, line, and sinker. 🙏 🙏

That wasn't some authentic Native American either, just some actress looking for work. It was just one of those classic, legendary pranks from Marlon Brando.

Are you kidding me? Where the hell have I been living the last few days? First time I'm hearing about this! 😲

🙂 🙂