Marlon Brando

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Rankings

Covers

Records

Marlon Brando's career is filled with significant accolades that underscore his monumental impact on acting and cinema. His dual Academy Awards for Best Actor for On the Waterfront and The Godfather highlight his ability to deliver performances that resonate across decades. Beyond the major industry awards, his revolutionary approach to acting earned him the distinction of being ranked #4 on the American Film Institute's list of the greatest male screen legends. His characters also gave us some of cinema's most memorable lines, with "I coulda been a contender" and "I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse" both ranking in the top three of AFI's 100 Greatest Movie Quotes. These achievements collectively demonstrate his unique capacity to shape both the art of acting and popular culture.

AwardsMarlon Brando's acting career brought him significant recognition and numerous awards. He won two Academy Awards for Best Actor, first for his compelling performance in On the Waterfront in 1955, and then for his iconic portrayal of Vito Corleone in The Godfather in 1973, which he famously declined. He also secured five Golden Globe Awards, including two for World Film Favorites and two for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama. The British Academy Film Awards honored him with three Best Foreign Actor awards. Additionally, Brando received a Primetime Emmy Award for his supporting role in Roots: The Next Generations and a Best Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for Viva Zapata! His stage work was also celebrated with two Theater World Awards early in his career.

Honours & Distinctions

Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

Hollywood Chamber of Commerce·1960

Awarded a star for his contributions to motion pictures at 1765 Vine Street.

Time 100

Time Magazine·1999

Included in Time magazine's list of the most important people of the century.

New York Drama Critics' Circle Award

New York Drama Critics' Circle·1946

Voted "Broadway's most promising actor" early in his stage career.

Rankings & Lists

AFI's 100 Years...100 Stars

American Film Institute·1999

AFI's 100 Greatest Movie Quotes: 'I coulda been a contender'

American Film Institute·2005

AFI's 100 Greatest Movie Quotes: 'I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse'

American Film Institute·2005

Magazine Covers

TIME Magazine

March 11, 1957

The Actor as Rebel

Life Magazine

October 1954

Marlon Brando's Triumph

Rolling Stone

July 8, 2004

Marlon Brando: The Last Rebel

Vanity Fair

April 2005

Brando: The Wild One

Esquire

December 1960

The Private Life of Marlon Brando

Records & Feats

First actor to win two Best Actor Academy Awards for his performances in a leading role

Awards·1973

Brando achieved this distinction with his wins for 'On the Waterfront' (1955) and 'The Godfather' (1973).

Highest paid actor for a brief role

Career Milestone·1978

He earned $1 million for just 12 days of work playing Jor-El in 'Superman' (1978), a then-unprecedented sum for a supporting part.