I had blogged last week that Christian Brando, the eldest child of well-known actor Marlon Brando, was ill and in the hospital. Christian died last Saturday at the age of 49 due to complications from the pneumonia. A heavy smoker and drinker, Christian had reportedly been ill recently with liver and lung problems.
I didn’t know it at the time I blogged, but Christian’s ex-wife Deborah told the National Enquirer that Christian was admitted to the Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital because he was “indigent” and had gone through what little money Marlon left him when he died. She was also angry, saying, “The executors of the estate were supposed to make sure Christian was taken care of. But he had no health insurance. Marlon left millions of dollars worth of property behind in Tahiti, which is being developed for a resort. And yet his eldest son is left virtually broke and dying – a ward of the state in a California hospital.”
Deborah is now suing the executors of Marlon Brando’s estate for professional negligence, fraud, and deceit. She says that she became assignee of her ex-husband’s rights and claims to the estate as part of their February 2007 domestic violence settlement (Christian pleaded guilty to spousal abuse in 2005). Deborah claims producer Mike Medavoy and executors Larry J. Dressler and Avra Douglas executed a forged codicil just before Marlon died on July 1, 2004 that was designed to alienate her from his friends and family and keep her from challenging his will or trust.
Deborah went on to say Christian had a troubled life, but Marlon always took care of him and must be spinning in his grave to know Christian met his end like this. The family has asked that an autopsy be performed, “based on his past drug history.”
All I can say is it is the sad end to someone who seemed to lived 49 troubled years and hopefully he can find peace now.