marlon brando, jr. was an american screen and stage actor. considered to be one of the most important actors in american cinema, brando was one of only three professional actors, along with charlie chaplin and marilyn monroe, named by time magazine as one of its 100 persons of the century in 1999.
brando had a significant impact on film acting. while he became notorious for his 'mumbling' diction and exuding a raw animal magnetism, his mercurial performances were nonetheless highly regarded and he is widely considered as one of the greatest and most influential actors of the 20th century. director martin scorsese said of him, 'he is the marker. there's 'before brando' and 'after brando'.' actor jack nicholson once said, 'when marlon dies, everybody moves up one.' brando was ranked by the american film institute as the fourth greatest screen legend among male movie stars whose screen debuts occurred in or before 1950.
marlon brando is a cultural icon whose popularity has endured for over six decades. his rise to national attention in the 1950s had a profound effect on the motion picture industry and influenced the broader scope of american culture. sociologist dr. suzanne mcdonald-walker states: 'marlon brando, sporting leather jacket, jeans and moody glare, became a cultural icon summing up 'the road' in all its maverick glory.' his portrayal of the gang leader johnny strabler in the wild one has become an iconic image, used both as a symbol of rebelliousness and a fashion accessory that includes a perfecto style motorcycle jacket, a tilted cap, jeans and sunglasses. johnny's haircut inspired a craze for sideburns, followed by james dean and elvis presley, among others.
brando was also considered a sex symbol, one of the earliest in the film industry to achieve widespread attention due to his enigmatic and sexy persona and the reports of his dalliances and relationships with various major hollywood celebrities. film scholar linda williams writes: 'marlon brando (was) the quintessential american male sex symbol of the late fifties and early sixties'.
so influential was this icon that dolce & gabbana paid tribute to brando in their spring 2010 collection.
fash'on... BAM!
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