---
name: "Marlon Brando"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/marlon-brando"
fi1m_id: "marlon-brando"
imdb_id: "nm0000008"
tmdb_id: 3084
wikidata_id: "Q34012"
roles: ["Actor","Director"]
born: "3 April 1924"
died: "1 July 2004"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 12
average_fi1m_score: 79
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 8
updated: "2026-10-02T22:53:00.725627+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Marlon Brando

## Identity

Marlon Brando

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/marlon-brando
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** marlon-brando
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000008
- **TMDB ID:** 3084
- **Wikidata ID:** Q34012
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlon_Brando, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q34012, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000008/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3084

Actor and director. Born 3 April 1924 in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. Died 1 July 2004.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor, Director
- **Born:** 3 April 1924, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
- **Died:** 1 July 2004
- **Active:** 1951–2006
- **Also known as:** Marlon Brando Jr., Marlon Brando Junior
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 12: 8 acting, 1 directing, 3 other
- **Frequently works with:** [Karl Malden](https://film.one/person/karl-malden.md), [Elia Kazan](https://film.one/person/elia-kazan.md), [Francis Ford Coppola](https://film.one/person/francis-ford-coppola.md), [Joseph L. Mankiewicz](https://film.one/person/joseph-l-mankiewicz.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 2 Oscars (2 won · 6 nominated)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 79, as actor, over 8 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1950s 83 (4), 1960s 67 (2), 1970s 92 (2), 1990s 84 (2), 2000s 60 (1), 2010s 76 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 83 to 80 across 7 titles
- **Score spread:** 5 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 7 of 8 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 6, Crime 3, Adventure 2, History 2, Romance 2, Action 1
- **Screen time:** 19 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $828m across 8 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlon_Brando, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q34012, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000008/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3084

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Apocalypse Now*](https://film.one/film/apocalypse-now.md) (92), [*On the Waterfront*](https://film.one/film/on-the-waterfront.md) (89), [*Guys and Dolls*](https://film.one/film/guys-and-dolls.md) (80), [*One-Eyed Jacks*](https://film.one/film/one-eyed-jacks.md) (78)
- **Apple TV:** [*The Godfather*](https://film.one/film/the-godfather.md) (93), [*Listen to Me Marlon*](https://film.one/film/listen-to-me-marlon.md) (76)
- **HBO Max:** [*A Streetcar Named Desire*](https://film.one/film/a-streetcar-named-desire.md) (88), [*Superman Returns*](https://film.one/film/superman-returns.md) (60)
- **Tubi:** [*Julius Caesar*](https://film.one/film/julius-caesar.md) (76), [*Mutiny on the Bounty*](https://film.one/film/mutiny-on-the-bounty-1962.md) (56)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Marlon Brando

> Marlon Brando makes speech sound difficult, as though admitting a feeling costs him something. We rate him most highly when that struggle makes a character painfully human, though his later work does not always repay such close attention.

In *On the Waterfront* (1954), Brando makes Terry Malloy struggle to say what he feels. The docker and former boxer seems so accustomed to protecting himself that he can barely acknowledge his own hurt. Brando delays the words without making the difficulty look rehearsed. We were moved by that hesitation, because he makes speaking honestly seem like an effort Terry might not manage. We want to hear him finish before we have decided what to make of his choices.

He entered films with *The Men* (1950), then played Stanley Kowalski in *A Streetcar Named Desire* (1951). The latter helped establish him as a major screen actor, bringing a raw physical expressiveness that challenged the demand for neatly spoken lines. His early work brought method acting to prominence, and his mumbled delivery was widely imitated. But copying the sound is not enough: in *On the Waterfront*, we can hear a man trying to work out what he feels.

Elia Kazan's film gives him actors who make that uncertainty harder to hide. Eva Marie Saint's Edie Doyle pays attention rather than simply waiting for her turn, and Brando has to respond to it. Rod Steiger's Charley Malloy is a demanding partner too, keeping their exchanges from becoming a solo display. Budd Schulberg's screenplay settles questions of right and wrong more readily than Terry can, and we find its moral lecturing less persuasive than the performances. The acting gives us enough to think about without the extra instruction.

*The Godfather* (1972) and *Last Tango in Paris* (1972) revived his profile, with Don Vito Corleone in the former giving him the authority of an ageing patriarch. That weight is a substantial reason to see *The Godfather*. His later appearances were sporadic and uneven, and some show too little effort to reward close attention. Start with *On the Waterfront*, where Saint and Steiger have as much right to our attention as Brando does, and accept the sermon that comes with it.

## Biography

Marlon Brando was an American actor. Born on 3 April 1924 in Omaha, Nebraska, he died on 1 July 2004 in Los Angeles, California.

He gained acclaim for his Broadway and film performances as Stanley Kowalski in *A Streetcar Named Desire* (1951). Brando won Academy Awards for his roles as Terry Malloy in *On the Waterfront* (1954) and Don Vito Corleone in *The Godfather* (1972), declining the latter. Other notable performances include Colonel Kurtz in *Apocalypse Now* (1979) and Jor-El in *Superman* (1978). He studied with Stella Adler and helped popularise method acting in mainstream cinema. Brando was also an activist for civil rights and Native American causes.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, britannica.com.*

## On Fi1m (12)

### Performed in (8) — the average rests on these

- *Superman Returns* (2006), Fi1m 60, as Jor-El — [page](https://film.one/film/superman-returns.md)
- *Apocalypse Now* (1979), Fi1m 92, as Colonel Walter Kurtz — [page](https://film.one/film/apocalypse-now.md)
- *The Godfather* (1972), Fi1m 93, as Don Vito Corleone — [page](https://film.one/film/the-godfather.md)
- *Mutiny on the Bounty* (1962), Fi1m 56, as First Lieutnant Fletcher Christian — [page](https://film.one/film/mutiny-on-the-bounty-1962.md)
- *Guys and Dolls* (1955), Fi1m 80, as Sky Masterson — [page](https://film.one/film/guys-and-dolls.md)
- *On the Waterfront* (1954), Fi1m 89, as Terry Malloy — [page](https://film.one/film/on-the-waterfront.md)
- *Julius Caesar* (1953), Fi1m 76, as Mark Antony — [page](https://film.one/film/julius-caesar.md)
- *A Streetcar Named Desire* (1951), Fi1m 88, as Stanley Kowalski — [page](https://film.one/film/a-streetcar-named-desire.md)

### Directed (1)

- *One-Eyed Jacks* (1961), Fi1m 78, as Rio — [page](https://film.one/film/one-eyed-jacks.md)

### Also credited (3) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Listen to Me Marlon* (2015), Fi1m 76, as Self (archive footage) — [page](https://film.one/film/listen-to-me-marlon.md)
- *In the Name of the Father* (1993), Fi1m 83, Thanks — [page](https://film.one/film/in-the-name-of-the-father.md)
- *Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse* (1991), Fi1m 84, as Self — [page](https://film.one/film/hearts-of-darkness-a-filmmakers-apocalypse.md)

## Complete filmography (57)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Mickey Rourke: Just Like a Man* (2022), Actor
- *Yellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywood* (2019), as (archive footage)
- *Hollywood: No Sex, Please!* (2018), Actor
- *The Godfather: The Complete Epic 1901–1959* (2016), as Don Vito Corleone
- *Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen* (2012), as (archive footage)
- *Vixen Highway 2006: It Came from Uranus!* (2010), Thanks
- *Hollywood sul Tevere* (2009), Actor
- *Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut* (2006), as Jor-El
- *Superman Returns* (2006), as Jor-El — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/superman-returns.md)
- *Lost in "The Thinking"* (2005), as Jor-El (archive footage)
- *The Score* (2001), as Max
- *Free Money* (1998), as Warden Sven 'The Swede' Sorenson
- *The Brave* (1997), as McCarthy
- *The Island of Dr. Moreau* (1996), as Dr. Moreau
- *E! True Hollywood Story* (1996), series, Actor
- *Tennessee Williams: Orpheus of the American Stage* (1994), as Stanley Kowalski / Valentine 'Snakeskin' Xavier (archive footage)
- *Don Juan DeMarco* (1994), as Dr. Jack Mickler
- *In the Name of the Father* (1993), Thanks — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/in-the-name-of-the-father.md)
- *The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980* (1992), as Don Vito Corleone
- *Christopher Columbus: The Discovery* (1992), as Tomas de Torquemada
- *The Freshman* (1990), as Carmine Sabatini, aka Jimmy The Toucan
- *A Dry White Season* (1989), as Ian McKenzie
- *Black Leather Jacket* (1989), as Johnny Strabler (segment "The Wild One") (archive footage)
- *The Formula* (1980), as Adam Steiffel
- *Apocalypse Now* (1979), as Colonel Walter Kurtz — Fi1m 92, [page](https://film.one/film/apocalypse-now.md)
- *Roots: The Next Generations* (1979), series, as George Lincoln Rockwell
- *Superman* (1978), as Jor-El
- *Mario Puzo's The Godfather: The Complete Novel for Television* (1977), series, as Don Vito Corleone
- *The Missouri Breaks* (1976), as Robert E. Lee Clayton
- *Last Tango in Paris* (1972), as Paul
- *The Godfather* (1972), as Don Vito Corleone — Fi1m 93, [page](https://film.one/film/the-godfather.md)
- *The Nightcomers* (1972), as Peter Quint
- *Burn!* (1969), as Sir William Walker
- *The Night of the Following Day* (1969), as Chauffeur
- *Candy* (1968), as Grindl
- *Reflections in a Golden Eye* (1967), as Maj. Weldon Penderton
- *A Countess from Hong Kong* (1967), as Ogden Mears
- *The Appaloosa* (1966), as Matt
- *The Chase* (1966), as Sheriff Calder
- *Morituri* (1965), as Robert Crain
- *Bedtime Story* (1964), as Freddy Benson
- *The Ugly American* (1963), as Ambassador Harrison Carter MacWhite
- *Mutiny on the Bounty* (1962), as First Lieutnant Fletcher Christian — Fi1m 56, [page](https://film.one/film/mutiny-on-the-bounty-1962.md)
- *One-Eyed Jacks* (1961), as Rio · Director — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/one-eyed-jacks.md)
- *The Fugitive Kind* (1960), as Valentine 'Snakeskin' Xavier
- *The Young Lions* (1958), as Lt. Christian Diestl
- *Sayonara* (1957), as Major Lloyd Gruver
- *The Teahouse of the August Moon* (1957), as Sakini
- *Guys and Dolls* (1955), as Sky Masterson — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/guys-and-dolls.md)
- *MGM Parade* (1955), series, Actor
- *Désirée* (1954), as Napoleon Bonaparte
- *On the Waterfront* (1954), as Terry Malloy — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/film/on-the-waterfront.md)
- *The Wild One* (1953), as Johnny Strabler
- *Julius Caesar* (1953), as Mark Antony — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/julius-caesar.md)
- *Viva Zapata!* (1952), as Emiliano Zapata
- *A Streetcar Named Desire* (1951), as Stanley Kowalski — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/a-streetcar-named-desire.md)
- *The Men* (1950), as Ken

## Gallery

- ![Marlon Brando](https://film.one/media/person/23/gallery-551c14f22977.png) Marlon Brando — None visible/Paramount Pictures, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/53/Marlon_Brando_publicity_for_One-Eyed_Jacks.png?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Francis Ford Coppola's handwritten casting notes for The Godfather, at Francis Ford Coppola Winery, near Geyserville, 2011](https://film.one/media/person/23/gallery-3a82789e52a1.jpg) Francis Ford Coppola's handwritten casting notes for The Godfather, at Francis Ford Coppola Winery, near Geyserville, 2011 — DimiTalen, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0c/Francis_Ford_Coppola%27s_handwritten_casting_notes_for_The_Godfather%2C_at_Francis_Ford_Coppola_Winery%2C_near_Geyserville%2C_2011.jpg/1280px-Francis_Ford_Coppola%27s_handwritten_casting_notes_for_The_Godfather%2C_at_Francis_Ford_Coppola_Winery%2C_near_Geyserville%2C_2011.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![[Harry Belafonte and other Hollywood actors arrive by chartered plane for the March on Washington, 1963]](https://film.one/media/person/23/gallery-aea66b5fcdf3.jpg) [Harry Belafonte and other Hollywood actors arrive by chartered plane for the March on Washington, 1963] — Trikosko, Marion S., photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/Harry_Belafonte_and_other_Hollywood_actors_arrive_by_chartered_plane.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![[Harry Belafonte and other Hollywood actors arrive by chartered plane for the March on Washington, 1963]](https://film.one/media/person/23/gallery-b7e6195ca2da.jpg) [Harry Belafonte and other Hollywood actors arrive by chartered plane for the March on Washington, 1963] — Trikosko, Marion S., photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/Harry_Belafonte_and_other_Hollywood_actors_arrive_by_chartered_plane_%28cropped1%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Marlon Brando](https://film.one/media/person/23/gallery-2e404e6ea102.jpg) Marlon Brando — Image via TMDB
- ![Marlon Brando](https://film.one/media/person/23/gallery-9bc2e63e2181.jpg) Marlon Brando — Image via TMDB
- ![Marlon Brando](https://film.one/media/person/23/gallery-7618f128c9d3.jpg) Marlon Brando — Image via TMDB
- ![Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C. [Author James Baldwin with actors Marlon Brando and Charlton Heston.], 08/28/1963](https://film.one/media/person/23/gallery-1e110fdd81be.jpg) Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C. [Author James Baldwin with actors Marlon Brando and Charlton Heston.], 08/28/1963 — U.S. Information Agency. Press and Publications Service.  (ca. 1953 - ca. 1978), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/Heston_Baldwin_Brando_Civil_Rights_March_1963.jpg/1280px-Heston_Baldwin_Brando_Civil_Rights_March_1963.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C. [Author James Baldwin with actors Marlon Brando , Charlton Heston and Harry Belafonte.], 08/28/1963](https://film.one/media/person/23/gallery-a7a56e47ef46.jpg) Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C. [Author James Baldwin with actors Marlon Brando , Charlton Heston and Harry Belafonte.], 08/28/1963 — U.S. Information Agency. Press and Publications Service.  (ca. 1953 - ca. 1978), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bc/Heston_Baldwin_Brando_Civil_Rights_March_1963_%28cropped1%29.jpg/1280px-Heston_Baldwin_Brando_Civil_Rights_March_1963_%28cropped1%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Marlon Brando](https://film.one/media/person/23/gallery-6dda25d564bf.jpg) Marlon Brando — Image via TMDB
- ![Marlon Brando](https://film.one/media/person/23/gallery-0f7416d538f4.jpg) Marlon Brando — Image via TMDB
- ![Marlon Brando](https://film.one/media/person/23/gallery-56627401e29f.jpg) Marlon Brando — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 2 won, 6 nominated

- 1990: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *A Dry White Season*
- 1974: Best Actor (nominated), for *Last Tango in Paris*
- 1973: Best Actor (won), for *The Godfather*
- 1958: Best Actor (nominated), for *Sayonara*
- 1955: Best Actor (won), for *On the Waterfront*
- 1954: Best Actor (nominated), for *Julius Caesar*
- 1953: Best Actor (nominated), for *Viva Zapata!*
- 1952: Best Actor (nominated), for *A Streetcar Named Desire*

### Golden Globes — 2 won

- 1973: Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama (won), for *The Godfather*
- 1955: Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama (won), for *On the Waterfront*

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won

- 1979: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie (won), for *Roots: The Next Generations*

### Other awards — 2 won, 1 nominated

- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award 1996: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award (won), for *The Island of Dr. Moreau*
- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award 1981: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award (nominated), for *The Formula*
- Theatre World Award 1946: Theatre World Award (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/marlon-brando