Why was Marlon Brando such a force in American theatre and film? Brando created a visceral style of acting that overwhelmed colleagues, audiences, and actor training. Born in 1924 in Omaha, Nebraska, Brando rebelled at any early age. His father offered to finance any career choice he wanted, as long as he actually chose a career. Brando chose acting. He went to New York to study, first with Stella Adler, and then with Lee Strasberg. These acting teachers were in the process of redefining actor training in this country, to put the lived-through emotions of a moment as the actor’s central point of focus, and Brando became their star student. Brando’s first Broadway play was
