Chad Stroh

Marlon Brando Biography

Marlon Brando is a famous American actor who pioneered method acting. He made two films in the 1950s with director Elia Kazan including On The Waterfront and A Streetcar Named Desire. He won two oscars in his career.

His parents were Marlon Brando Sr. and his mother was Dorothy Pennebaker Brando, both separated when Brando was eleven. Brando was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska before moving to California after his parents divorced. He two sisters named Francis and Jocelyn Brando.

Brando's mother was prone to alcohol, which effected he relationship with Brando. She was absent many times during his childhood. She was a talented actress and sparked Marlon's interest in stage acting.

He was expelled from his High School and at sixteen went to a military academy in Minnesota. While their he practiced and excelled in theater. He was almost expelled for talking back to a officer. He ended up dropping out and never finishing school.

Back in his hometown, Brando's father set him up with a summer job digging ditches. Soon after this his two sisters decided to move to New York to pursue careers and Marlon followed them.

He studied acting at the Actors' Studio, American Theatre Wing Professional School and the New School Drama Workshop. It was at the new school where he met Stella Adler. Adler taught Brando the Stanislavski method. He would go on to land a Broadway role in the play Remember Mama (1944). Later he played in Tennis Williams' play A Streetcar Named Desire. His roles as the brute Stanley Kowalski got critical acclaim and the play's director Elia Kazan decided to take the play to the big screen. He was nominated for an academy award for his role in the film.

He would also be nominated again for roles in Julius Caesar (1953), Viva Zapata (1952) and On The Waterfront (1954).

Brando was a hero to a young Jame Dean, both of whom were rebellious icons. Brando starred in The Wild One which was about gangs, a major issue concerning youth during the time. He would go on to do many more critically acclaimed roles.

His most famous role is of Vito Corleone in the The Godfather. He would win the academy award for best actor for his part in The Godfather.

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