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CNN Live Today

Marlon Brando Dead at 80

Aired July 02, 2004 - 11:34   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


BETTY NGUYEN, ANCHOR: All right, obviously, we're having some technical difficulties with the president. I think we do have them back.
In fact, I'm being told right now that we have other news to tell you about. Marlon Brando, we understand, has passed away. Of course, he's the star of "The Godfather" and "Waterfront."

We're told by wire reports that he died yesterday in Los Angeles. We'll have more on that in just a moment. We want to take you back now to the East Room in the White House, where the president is still speaking on the economy.

(INTERRUPTING BY LIVE EVENT)

NGUYEN: OK. We are having some more technical difficulties in getting the president's speech to you from the East Room of the White House.

Today, he is speaking about the economy, in light of the Labor Department releasing its jobs report today; 112,000 jobs were created last month. But on top of that, it's still far fewer than what analysts had hoped. They had been hoping for about 250,000 jobs.

The president was talking about a number of issues. He said that the economy is steady, and it is growing, consistent growth, in his words. He also called the economy strong and that it is getting stronger.

He cited a number of statistics, as well, saying that the consumer confidence is at a two-year high. And he also said that home ownership rates are at an all-time high.

So a lot of talk about the economy today from the president. And of course, we'll continue to follow that.

But we want to give you some new news, as well. As we mentioned just briefly, actor Marlon Brando has died. We have more on the life of this actor with Lauren Hunter.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARLON BRANDO, ACTOR: Hey, Stella!

LAUREN HUNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Marlon Brando's life was remarkable both for his professional triumphs and for his personnel tragedies. BRANDO: I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke...

HUNTER: He was widely recognized as the greatest American actor of his generation with performances spanning from the 1950s, including "Julius Caesar" to the 1970s with the controversial but critically acclaimed "Last Tango in Paris" to the 1990s with "Don Juan DeMarco."

BRANDO: There isn't anything that pays you as much money as acting while you were deciding what the hell you're going to do with yourself.

You know that I've been on to you from the start, and not once did you pull the wool over this boy's eyes?

HUNTER: His 1951 screen performance his as the tortured young Stanley Kowalski in Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire" made an indelible impression on audiences and critic alike.

That role and others created the myth and the lure of Brando, the image of a rebel, a dangerous and attractive sex symbol.

BRANDO: You don't understand, I could have had class. I could have been a contender. I could have been somebody.

HUNTER: His inevitable stardom from "Streetcar," and his Oscar- winning performance in "On the Waterfront" three years later, put Brando squarely in the public eye, a position with which he never felt comfortable.

BRANDO: One thing that has been very problematic about being an actor and getting some measure of celebrity is the fact that you lose your identity and everybody calls you instantly "Mr. Brando," instead of "hey you." And then people make up notions; they want your autograph.

HUNTER: In his autobiography entitled "Brando: Songs My Mother Taught Me," the actor wrote, quote, "I don't think I ever liked being a movie star. No matter what I say or do, people mythologize me."

BRANDO: Ship company, I am taking command of this ship.

HUNTER: His uneasiness with stardom and publicity drove Brando away from Hollywood and away the United States, to live for a time in Tahiti, where he had filmed the remake of "Mutiny on the Bounty."

There he began a relationship and a family with one of his Tahitian costars.

BRANDO: I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse.

HUNTER: As Brando's professional stature continued to grow, he retreated into a personal shell, made evident to the world in his refusal to accept his second Oscar in 1972 for his performance in "The Godfather." Instead, he sent a representative to protest the treatment of Native Americans. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And what Marlon Brando has in his heart is that the image of Native Americans in this country of the United States should be changed.

HUNTER: Brando later said he felt like a prisoner to his celebrityhood.

BRANDO: The idea of being successful and having a lot of money and having all your dreams come true is completely crazy. I've had so much misery in my life being famous and wealthy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Total sentence imposed is 10 years in the state prison.

HUNTER: Christian Brando was the oldest of Marlon's nine children from several marriages. He was sentenced in 1991 after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the shooting death of 26-year-old Dag Drollett, the boyfriend of Christian's half sister, Cheyenne.

BRANDO: I saw him laying there, and I tried to get a hold of myself.

HUNTER: Cheyenne remained in Tahiti and refused to testify against Christian. She tried many times to commit suicide and ultimately hanged herself in 1995 at her mother's home in Tahiti.

At an earlier court hearing for his son, Marlon Brando said he felt responsible for the events leading up to the shooting.

BRANDO: I think that perhaps I failed as a father. Your tendency always is to blame the other parent. But I'm certain that -- that there were things that I could have done differently, had I known better at the time. But I didn't. I did the best I could.

HUNTER: Christian Brando was released from prison in early 1996.

Marlon Brando had already seemed to make peace with himself over the tragedies and disappointments in his life.

BRANDO: The regret is useless in life. It belongs to the past. The only moment we have is right now.

HUNTER: Despite his private sadness, Brando's legacy may continue to be measured by his public triumphs, preserved on film.

BRANDO: Had a good trade, made a good living, police protected you, and there were courts of law. You didn't need a friend like me.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Marlon Brando, who many consider one of the greatest actors of all time, again, has died at the age of 80. We understand that he died yesterday in Los Angeles. His attorney says he died at a hospital there in Los Angeles.

As you know, Marlon Brando starred in a number of roles. "On the Waterfront" and "The Godfather" were among his most notable. He earned best actor Oscars for his performance as the ex-fighter in "On the Waterfront." It happened in 1954.

And of course, who could forget the Mafia boss Don Corleone in "The Godfather" in 1972? But Brando refused that second Oscar in protest of the government's treatment of American Indians.

Marlon Brando, dead at the age of 80, was born in 1924 in Nebraska. And he made his Broadway debut in "I Remember Mama."

But Brando's big break came when his role in Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire" came his way. That happened back in 1947.

As we said, Brando, one of the greatest actors to many has died at the age of 80. We, of course, will have much more of this right here on CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Welcome back to CNN LIVE TODAY.

For those of you just joining us, actor Marlon Brando has died at the age of 80. We understand from his attorney that he died yesterday in a Los Angeles hospital. It's not known exactly what the cause of death is. But, again, actor Marlon Brando, dead at the age of 80.

You, of course, will remember Marlon Brando from a number of roles. He got his acting career started in "A Streetcar Named Desire" on Broadway. Then he moved on to some other celebrated roles as "On the Waterfront" back in 1954. And, of course, who could forget "The Godfather" in 1972?

But Marlon Brando has lived a very secluded life. In fact, the 80-year-old was a recluse much of his life. And he owes $28 million, we understand, to the government in debt.

And he's also experienced a number of family tragedies. In 1990, his son, Christian Brando, shot and killed his sister Cheyenne's boyfriend. He was later convicted and sentenced to ten years in police.

Then in 1995, Cheyenne committed suicide. And in 1996, Christian Brando was let out on parole, after serving almost five years. So a lot of tragedy in Marlon Brando's life. And today, his own. Dead at the age of 80.

He was born in Nebraska and made a wonderful career for himself in acting. A number, a number of movies and plays to his name. And many do remember him, or will remember him, as one of the greatest actors of his generation.

In fact, he's a two-time Academy Award winner and many say influenced some of the best actors of his generation and the generation that followed, including Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Jack Nicholson. Again, for those of you just joining us, Marlon Brando, dead at the age of 80. He died yesterday in Los Angeles, according to his attorney. It's still not known exactly what was the cause of death. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: I'm Betty Nguyen. Welcome back to CNN LIVE TODAY.

We do want to tell you that Marlon Brando, as we've been reporting, has died in Los Angeles at the age of 80. His attorney says he died at a Los Angeles hospital. The cause of death is still unknown at this time.

We want to give you a picture from our affiliate KABC in Los Angeles. This is the home of Marlon Brando. Of course, as you can imagine, many friends and relatives will be coming there to say their condolences and their good-byes to this actor some consider one of the greatest actors of all time.

He was born in April of 1924 in Omaha, Nebraska. Marlon Brando Jr. was his birth name, and he made quite a career for himself in acting. Of course, we all know "The Godfather," his role there, and many other movies.

And of course he paid a visit to "LARRY KING LIVE." And we want to give you a little clip from that visit, back in 1995.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRANDO: Everybody had -- had their own point of view. And I think that -- that if they're going to be met with violence, if they're going to be met with problems of alcoholism, their own. To try to convince people who have a mind set that these animals are bestial -- I mean, that these people are...

LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": Why does it upset you so much?

BRANDO: Well, first of all -- it's not umbrage, but I would take exception to what you said. I didn't announce those things. And although I did -- I was struck by what I saw as most Americans and most people in the world were, when they saw this deliberate violence being rained down on these people.

But violence is endemic. It's everywhere in the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: And in fact that was a clip of Marlon Brando on "LARRY KING LIVE" back in 1996. But in his appearance in 1995, he actually kissed Larry King on the lips. A lot of talk about that at the time. Marlon Brando quite a character.

We want to go now to Los Angeles and CNN's Miguel Marquez with the latest on death of Marlon Brando -- Miguel. MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Only he could get away with kissing Larry King on the lips, I think.

The Oscar winner did die yesterday at 80 years old. His lawyer, David Seeley, a Los Angeles lawyer, they would not release the hospital he died at or the cause of Mr. Brando's death, saying only that he was a very private man and seemingly this is the way that he would want it to happen.

Mr. Brando, as we've reported, won two Oscars. Of course, one for "On the Waterfront," the second for "The Godfather." He didn't show up for his -- to receive his second Oscar for "The Godfather." Sent somebody -- a Native American woman instead to receive it for him.

His desire for privacy that his lawyer talked about, Mr. Seeley, drove him to Tahiti at one point, where he lived for several years. And even in his autobiography, Mr. Brandon (sic) wrote, "I don't think I ever liked being a movie star. No matter what I say or do, people mythologize me."

And certainly Mr. Brando here in Los Angeles was always in the press. Even up to this week, settling a lawsuit this week. There was always discussion about his life and what he was doing.

Mr. Brando dead at 80. Back to you.

NGUYEN: Miguel, we talked about his celebrated career. But you said he didn't really like it all that much. And in fact, he -- he was a recluse much of his life.

MARQUEZ: He was very reclusive. I mean, the pictures that you see there from one of our affiliates of his -- of his home here in Los Angeles, it's -- it's a shaded area. It's a very big complex, set off from the road. It's a place that not a lot of people, have been to. You hear about Hollywood parties all the time, and people at other people's houses. Mr. Brando's house is one place that not a lot of people seem to ever have gone.

Back to you.

NGUYEN: Miguel, we don't exactly know his cause of death. But talk to us a little bit about what we had been facing health-wise, as of late.

MARQUEZ: It's -- He apparently was quite ill for some time. He -- it was rumored that he was homeless at one point. It was rumored that he was having all sorts of problems. It was never very clear, though, because even now in his death, it's hard to even know what hospital he was at.

So it's not clear exactly what health problems he had. He did have some heart problems in recent years. But it's not clear whether or not that was the exact cause of his death.

NGUYEN: Just a little curious, for a man who was so revered, why so secretive?

MARQUEZ: He didn't like being a star, apparently. I guess he liked acting, but he didn't like being a star. His breakout role as Stanley Kowalski, you know, that was -- that was who he was, the sort of method actor sort of role, where he would completely involve himself in the role.

I mean, certainly, "Apocalypse Now," you come to believe that this man was the heart of darkness himself. But he was a very, very private person who seemed to really get into these roles and didn't want all the stuff that went along with it, all the trappings of celebrity that went along with it.

NGUYEN: And speaking of those roles, we want you to stand by for a moment, Miguel. We want to show you a clip now of one of his best roles. And of course, that's his role in "The Godfather."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRANDO: ... I ever done to make you show such disrespect for me? You've come to me in friendship, and the scum that wounded (ph) your daughter would be suffering this very day. And if by chance an honest man like yourself should make enemies, then they would become my enemies. And then they would fear you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Be my friend, godfather?

BRANDO: Good. Some day, and that day may never come, I'll call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day, accept this gesture as a gift of my daughter's wedding day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Miguel, when people praise Marlon Brando, they praise him because they say he brings reality to the screen.

MARQUEZ: Well, he certainly brought reality to the screen for me several times. I mean, the man could certainly bring those characters into life and sort of make them iconic figures.

And that's what makes him such an enduring figure in film, television, and even stage. Because every time you see a -- a rendition of "A Streetcar Named Desire" now, it's like every actor seems to be reprising the Brando role of Stanley Kowalski. So it's -- he certainly left an indelible mark.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. Will be sorely missed by many.

All right, Miguel Marquez in Los Angeles, thank you very much.

Of course, for those of you just joining us, we do want to remind you that we've been following the death of Marlon Brando. He has died at the age of 80. We understand he died yesterday in Los Angeles at an undisclosed hospital there.

You want to stay tuned to CNN. We will have much more coverage on this, and all the days' events. That's going to wrap it up for me here with CNN LIVE TODAY. Stay tuned for Carol Lin with much more.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

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Aired July 2, 2004 - 11:34   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BETTY NGUYEN, ANCHOR: All right, obviously, we're having some technical difficulties with the president. I think we do have them back.
In fact, I'm being told right now that we have other news to tell you about. Marlon Brando, we understand, has passed away. Of course, he's the star of "The Godfather" and "Waterfront."

We're told by wire reports that he died yesterday in Los Angeles. We'll have more on that in just a moment. We want to take you back now to the East Room in the White House, where the president is still speaking on the economy.

(INTERRUPTING BY LIVE EVENT)

NGUYEN: OK. We are having some more technical difficulties in getting the president's speech to you from the East Room of the White House.

Today, he is speaking about the economy, in light of the Labor Department releasing its jobs report today; 112,000 jobs were created last month. But on top of that, it's still far fewer than what analysts had hoped. They had been hoping for about 250,000 jobs.

The president was talking about a number of issues. He said that the economy is steady, and it is growing, consistent growth, in his words. He also called the economy strong and that it is getting stronger.

He cited a number of statistics, as well, saying that the consumer confidence is at a two-year high. And he also said that home ownership rates are at an all-time high.

So a lot of talk about the economy today from the president. And of course, we'll continue to follow that.

But we want to give you some new news, as well. As we mentioned just briefly, actor Marlon Brando has died. We have more on the life of this actor with Lauren Hunter.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARLON BRANDO, ACTOR: Hey, Stella!

LAUREN HUNTER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Marlon Brando's life was remarkable both for his professional triumphs and for his personnel tragedies. BRANDO: I speak not to disprove what Brutus spoke...

HUNTER: He was widely recognized as the greatest American actor of his generation with performances spanning from the 1950s, including "Julius Caesar" to the 1970s with the controversial but critically acclaimed "Last Tango in Paris" to the 1990s with "Don Juan DeMarco."

BRANDO: There isn't anything that pays you as much money as acting while you were deciding what the hell you're going to do with yourself.

You know that I've been on to you from the start, and not once did you pull the wool over this boy's eyes?

HUNTER: His 1951 screen performance his as the tortured young Stanley Kowalski in Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire" made an indelible impression on audiences and critic alike.

That role and others created the myth and the lure of Brando, the image of a rebel, a dangerous and attractive sex symbol.

BRANDO: You don't understand, I could have had class. I could have been a contender. I could have been somebody.

HUNTER: His inevitable stardom from "Streetcar," and his Oscar- winning performance in "On the Waterfront" three years later, put Brando squarely in the public eye, a position with which he never felt comfortable.

BRANDO: One thing that has been very problematic about being an actor and getting some measure of celebrity is the fact that you lose your identity and everybody calls you instantly "Mr. Brando," instead of "hey you." And then people make up notions; they want your autograph.

HUNTER: In his autobiography entitled "Brando: Songs My Mother Taught Me," the actor wrote, quote, "I don't think I ever liked being a movie star. No matter what I say or do, people mythologize me."

BRANDO: Ship company, I am taking command of this ship.

HUNTER: His uneasiness with stardom and publicity drove Brando away from Hollywood and away the United States, to live for a time in Tahiti, where he had filmed the remake of "Mutiny on the Bounty."

There he began a relationship and a family with one of his Tahitian costars.

BRANDO: I'm going to make him an offer he can't refuse.

HUNTER: As Brando's professional stature continued to grow, he retreated into a personal shell, made evident to the world in his refusal to accept his second Oscar in 1972 for his performance in "The Godfather." Instead, he sent a representative to protest the treatment of Native Americans. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And what Marlon Brando has in his heart is that the image of Native Americans in this country of the United States should be changed.

HUNTER: Brando later said he felt like a prisoner to his celebrityhood.

BRANDO: The idea of being successful and having a lot of money and having all your dreams come true is completely crazy. I've had so much misery in my life being famous and wealthy.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Total sentence imposed is 10 years in the state prison.

HUNTER: Christian Brando was the oldest of Marlon's nine children from several marriages. He was sentenced in 1991 after pleading guilty to manslaughter in the shooting death of 26-year-old Dag Drollett, the boyfriend of Christian's half sister, Cheyenne.

BRANDO: I saw him laying there, and I tried to get a hold of myself.

HUNTER: Cheyenne remained in Tahiti and refused to testify against Christian. She tried many times to commit suicide and ultimately hanged herself in 1995 at her mother's home in Tahiti.

At an earlier court hearing for his son, Marlon Brando said he felt responsible for the events leading up to the shooting.

BRANDO: I think that perhaps I failed as a father. Your tendency always is to blame the other parent. But I'm certain that -- that there were things that I could have done differently, had I known better at the time. But I didn't. I did the best I could.

HUNTER: Christian Brando was released from prison in early 1996.

Marlon Brando had already seemed to make peace with himself over the tragedies and disappointments in his life.

BRANDO: The regret is useless in life. It belongs to the past. The only moment we have is right now.

HUNTER: Despite his private sadness, Brando's legacy may continue to be measured by his public triumphs, preserved on film.

BRANDO: Had a good trade, made a good living, police protected you, and there were courts of law. You didn't need a friend like me.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NGUYEN: Marlon Brando, who many consider one of the greatest actors of all time, again, has died at the age of 80. We understand that he died yesterday in Los Angeles. His attorney says he died at a hospital there in Los Angeles.

As you know, Marlon Brando starred in a number of roles. "On the Waterfront" and "The Godfather" were among his most notable. He earned best actor Oscars for his performance as the ex-fighter in "On the Waterfront." It happened in 1954.

And of course, who could forget the Mafia boss Don Corleone in "The Godfather" in 1972? But Brando refused that second Oscar in protest of the government's treatment of American Indians.

Marlon Brando, dead at the age of 80, was born in 1924 in Nebraska. And he made his Broadway debut in "I Remember Mama."

But Brando's big break came when his role in Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire" came his way. That happened back in 1947.

As we said, Brando, one of the greatest actors to many has died at the age of 80. We, of course, will have much more of this right here on CNN LIVE TODAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: Welcome back to CNN LIVE TODAY.

For those of you just joining us, actor Marlon Brando has died at the age of 80. We understand from his attorney that he died yesterday in a Los Angeles hospital. It's not known exactly what the cause of death is. But, again, actor Marlon Brando, dead at the age of 80.

You, of course, will remember Marlon Brando from a number of roles. He got his acting career started in "A Streetcar Named Desire" on Broadway. Then he moved on to some other celebrated roles as "On the Waterfront" back in 1954. And, of course, who could forget "The Godfather" in 1972?

But Marlon Brando has lived a very secluded life. In fact, the 80-year-old was a recluse much of his life. And he owes $28 million, we understand, to the government in debt.

And he's also experienced a number of family tragedies. In 1990, his son, Christian Brando, shot and killed his sister Cheyenne's boyfriend. He was later convicted and sentenced to ten years in police.

Then in 1995, Cheyenne committed suicide. And in 1996, Christian Brando was let out on parole, after serving almost five years. So a lot of tragedy in Marlon Brando's life. And today, his own. Dead at the age of 80.

He was born in Nebraska and made a wonderful career for himself in acting. A number, a number of movies and plays to his name. And many do remember him, or will remember him, as one of the greatest actors of his generation.

In fact, he's a two-time Academy Award winner and many say influenced some of the best actors of his generation and the generation that followed, including Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, Jack Nicholson. Again, for those of you just joining us, Marlon Brando, dead at the age of 80. He died yesterday in Los Angeles, according to his attorney. It's still not known exactly what was the cause of death. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NGUYEN: I'm Betty Nguyen. Welcome back to CNN LIVE TODAY.

We do want to tell you that Marlon Brando, as we've been reporting, has died in Los Angeles at the age of 80. His attorney says he died at a Los Angeles hospital. The cause of death is still unknown at this time.

We want to give you a picture from our affiliate KABC in Los Angeles. This is the home of Marlon Brando. Of course, as you can imagine, many friends and relatives will be coming there to say their condolences and their good-byes to this actor some consider one of the greatest actors of all time.

He was born in April of 1924 in Omaha, Nebraska. Marlon Brando Jr. was his birth name, and he made quite a career for himself in acting. Of course, we all know "The Godfather," his role there, and many other movies.

And of course he paid a visit to "LARRY KING LIVE." And we want to give you a little clip from that visit, back in 1995.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRANDO: Everybody had -- had their own point of view. And I think that -- that if they're going to be met with violence, if they're going to be met with problems of alcoholism, their own. To try to convince people who have a mind set that these animals are bestial -- I mean, that these people are...

LARRY KING, HOST, "LARRY KING LIVE": Why does it upset you so much?

BRANDO: Well, first of all -- it's not umbrage, but I would take exception to what you said. I didn't announce those things. And although I did -- I was struck by what I saw as most Americans and most people in the world were, when they saw this deliberate violence being rained down on these people.

But violence is endemic. It's everywhere in the world.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: And in fact that was a clip of Marlon Brando on "LARRY KING LIVE" back in 1996. But in his appearance in 1995, he actually kissed Larry King on the lips. A lot of talk about that at the time. Marlon Brando quite a character.

We want to go now to Los Angeles and CNN's Miguel Marquez with the latest on death of Marlon Brando -- Miguel. MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Only he could get away with kissing Larry King on the lips, I think.

The Oscar winner did die yesterday at 80 years old. His lawyer, David Seeley, a Los Angeles lawyer, they would not release the hospital he died at or the cause of Mr. Brando's death, saying only that he was a very private man and seemingly this is the way that he would want it to happen.

Mr. Brando, as we've reported, won two Oscars. Of course, one for "On the Waterfront," the second for "The Godfather." He didn't show up for his -- to receive his second Oscar for "The Godfather." Sent somebody -- a Native American woman instead to receive it for him.

His desire for privacy that his lawyer talked about, Mr. Seeley, drove him to Tahiti at one point, where he lived for several years. And even in his autobiography, Mr. Brandon (sic) wrote, "I don't think I ever liked being a movie star. No matter what I say or do, people mythologize me."

And certainly Mr. Brando here in Los Angeles was always in the press. Even up to this week, settling a lawsuit this week. There was always discussion about his life and what he was doing.

Mr. Brando dead at 80. Back to you.

NGUYEN: Miguel, we talked about his celebrated career. But you said he didn't really like it all that much. And in fact, he -- he was a recluse much of his life.

MARQUEZ: He was very reclusive. I mean, the pictures that you see there from one of our affiliates of his -- of his home here in Los Angeles, it's -- it's a shaded area. It's a very big complex, set off from the road. It's a place that not a lot of people, have been to. You hear about Hollywood parties all the time, and people at other people's houses. Mr. Brando's house is one place that not a lot of people seem to ever have gone.

Back to you.

NGUYEN: Miguel, we don't exactly know his cause of death. But talk to us a little bit about what we had been facing health-wise, as of late.

MARQUEZ: It's -- He apparently was quite ill for some time. He -- it was rumored that he was homeless at one point. It was rumored that he was having all sorts of problems. It was never very clear, though, because even now in his death, it's hard to even know what hospital he was at.

So it's not clear exactly what health problems he had. He did have some heart problems in recent years. But it's not clear whether or not that was the exact cause of his death.

NGUYEN: Just a little curious, for a man who was so revered, why so secretive?

MARQUEZ: He didn't like being a star, apparently. I guess he liked acting, but he didn't like being a star. His breakout role as Stanley Kowalski, you know, that was -- that was who he was, the sort of method actor sort of role, where he would completely involve himself in the role.

I mean, certainly, "Apocalypse Now," you come to believe that this man was the heart of darkness himself. But he was a very, very private person who seemed to really get into these roles and didn't want all the stuff that went along with it, all the trappings of celebrity that went along with it.

NGUYEN: And speaking of those roles, we want you to stand by for a moment, Miguel. We want to show you a clip now of one of his best roles. And of course, that's his role in "The Godfather."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BRANDO: ... I ever done to make you show such disrespect for me? You've come to me in friendship, and the scum that wounded (ph) your daughter would be suffering this very day. And if by chance an honest man like yourself should make enemies, then they would become my enemies. And then they would fear you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Be my friend, godfather?

BRANDO: Good. Some day, and that day may never come, I'll call upon you to do a service for me. But until that day, accept this gesture as a gift of my daughter's wedding day.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

NGUYEN: Miguel, when people praise Marlon Brando, they praise him because they say he brings reality to the screen.

MARQUEZ: Well, he certainly brought reality to the screen for me several times. I mean, the man could certainly bring those characters into life and sort of make them iconic figures.

And that's what makes him such an enduring figure in film, television, and even stage. Because every time you see a -- a rendition of "A Streetcar Named Desire" now, it's like every actor seems to be reprising the Brando role of Stanley Kowalski. So it's -- he certainly left an indelible mark.

NGUYEN: Absolutely. Will be sorely missed by many.

All right, Miguel Marquez in Los Angeles, thank you very much.

Of course, for those of you just joining us, we do want to remind you that we've been following the death of Marlon Brando. He has died at the age of 80. We understand he died yesterday in Los Angeles at an undisclosed hospital there.

You want to stay tuned to CNN. We will have much more coverage on this, and all the days' events. That's going to wrap it up for me here with CNN LIVE TODAY. Stay tuned for Carol Lin with much more.

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