Brando famously refused to accept the Best Actor Oscar for his role in The Godfather. Instead, he sent Sacheen Littlefeather, an Apache actress and activist, to decline the award on his behalf and give a speech addressing the mistreatment of Native Americans in the film industry. This act of defiance is in line with the Type 8 tendency to challenge the status quo and stand up for their beliefs.
In interviews, he is the one in control, not the interviewer. For example, in his 1994 Larry King Interview, Brando kept the TV host off-balance with his unpredictable nature. He even flirted with King, presenting a kiss midway through the chat. In a 1973 Dick Cavett Show episode, the entire interview was taken over by Brando. Rather than answering Cavett's questions, he often diverted the topic to what he wanted to discuss, bringing up poignant political issues like the government's treatment of Native Americans - a cause close to his heart. Brando even brought on a surprise guest - a Native American activist - and left Cavett scrambling to navigate through the unexpected turn of events.
Many of Brando's most iconic roles, such as Stanley Kowalski in "A Streetcar Named Desire" and Don Vito Corleone in "The Godfather," showcase characters who are powerful, dominant, and unafraid to assert themselves – qualities often associated with Type 8s. Brando was chosen for these roles because he naturally possessed these qualities.
In his personal life, Brando was known to fiercely protect his privacy and the well-being of his family and friends. He often avoided press interviews or other forms of public appearances, a practice not commonly associated with major Hollywood figures. He felt that extensive media interaction could lead to invasions of privacy and would rather keep his family and personal life away from the public and press scrutiny.
Brando's public persona often embodied this trait, with an air of impenetrability and emotional toughness.
Brando often clashed with directors and producers. During the making of "Apocalypse Now," he insisted on improvising much of his dialogue and contributed to the development of his character, Colonel Kurtz. During the filming of "The Score" (2001), Brando refused to take direction from director Frank Oz, who ultimately had to communicate with Brando through co-star Robert De Niro.
Brando was involved in a few violent incidents in his personal life, including a 1953 altercation with paparazzi photographer Sam Shaw that resulted in Shaw being hospitalized.
Brando was known for his temper and occasional emotional outbursts. On the set of "Last Tango in Paris" (1972), Brando reportedly had a violent argument with director Bernardo Bertolucci, who he later accused of exploiting him and his co-star Maria Schneider.
In Their Own Words
"The more sensitive you are, the more certain you are to be brutalized, develop scabs."
"If there's anything unsettling to the stomach, it's watching actors on television talk about their personal lives."
"You've got to be very careful who you give power to."
"I don't think it's the nature of any man to be monogamous. Men are propelled by genetically ordained impulses over which they have no control to distribute their seed."
Photo: Edward Cronenweth (1903-1990) [1], Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
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