Marlon Brando was born in Omaha, Nebraska on April 3, 1924. His mother had a short career as an actress. He went to Shattuck Military Academy where he excelled in the theater. He graduated in 1943 and was declared 4F by the army. He began his career on the Broadway stage in 1944, attaining stardom for his role as Stanley Kowalski in Tennessee Williams' play A Streetcar Named Desire. He later repeated the part for the screen version of the classic play.
Brando won his first Academy Award for best actor for his role in On the Waterfront and captured a second Oscar for his role as "the Godfather" in the eponymous film.