Two decades after Marlon Brando’s death, the legendary actor remains a talked-about figure in Hollywood. The Godfather star was honest about his feelings for other actors, and according to Eddie Murphy, Brando seemingly had a disdain for fellow acting legend Clint Eastwood.
Murphy recently sat down with The New York Times’ The Interview podcast and recounted an experience with Brando at the start of his acting career. At one point, he went over to Brando’s house where he revealed his apparent disdain for Eastwood.
“This is how long ago it was: He was going, ‘I can’t stand that kid with the gun.’ I was like, ‘What kid with the gun?’ He said, ‘He’s on the poster!'” Murphy remembered. “I was like, ‘Clint Eastwood?’ ‘Yeah, that guy!’ That’s how long ago it was. He was calling Clint Eastwood ‘that kid.'”
It was only the second time Murphy and Brando ever spent time together. The first time was at a luxury hotel restaurant in Los Angeles, which Brando himself initiated after seeing Murphy in his 1982 debut film 48 Hrs.
“I was having these famous people that I grew up watching on television wanting to have a meal with me,” Murphy said. “After 48 Hrs., Marlon Brando calls my agent and wants to meet me.”
“Now I look back and go, ‘Wow, that’s crazy. The greatest actor of all time wants to have dinner with you!'” he continued. “But back then I just thought, ‘Well, that’s the way it is. You make a movie, and Marlon Brando calls.'”
Murphy also revealed that Brando was seemingly blasé about his most famous role—and acting in general—after he gushed about the film to his face.
“He was like, ‘Eh, The Godfather.’ Not just The Godfather—acting,” Murphy said. “He was like, ‘Acting is bulls–t, and everybody can act.'”