Marlon Brando Once Called This Actor His “First Hero”: “The Best Acting I Ever Saw in My Life”

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Marlon Brando, though famed for being one of Hollywood’s most distinguished actors, also admired certain heroes in the industry. Among these were James Cagney, John Barrymore, Fredric March, and Spencer Tracy. However, none elicited in him as much awe as Paul Muni did, particularly because he was the original actor to portray the character in “Scarface”.

Brando encountered Muni for the first time when they collaborated on the play “A Flag Is Born” back in 1946. Reflecting on that experience, Brando expressed that Muni’s performance was nothing short of extraordinary, claiming it to be “the finest acting I have ever witnessed in my entire life.

In a subsequent interview with actor and humorist Alan King, Brando named Paul Muni as his most admired actor. He explained that this was likely due to the fact that his parents had taken him to see Muni perform at the Yiddish theater when his stage name was still Muni Weisenfreund. Later in life, they developed a relationship during Muni’s run of “Inherit the Wind” on Broadway.

Born as Frederich Meshilem Meier Weisenfreund on the 22nd of September, 1895, in Chicago, Paul Muni (originally known as “Moony”) started his acting career in Yiddish theater. Later, he transitioned to films and signed with Fox Studios in 1929. His professional name was shortened to Paul Muni during this time.

In his initial venture into films, the movie titled “The Valiant” (1929), garnered him a nomination for Best Actor at the Academy Awards. However, despite positive reviews, the film struggled to draw audiences in at the box office. Similarly, his subsequent film, “Seven Faces“, also faced financial difficulties. Feeling disillusioned with the film roles available in Hollywood, Muni decided to return to Broadway, where he ultimately triumphed with the successful stage production of “Counsellor at Law“.

By the early 1930s, he had moved back to Hollywood and appeared in a number of bold movies. In 1932, he took on the main role in “Scarface,” a film directed by Howard Hawks and written by Ben Hecht. This movie was a significant part of the golden era of gangster films.

The individual came back to Hollywood during the early 1930s, where he participated in several daring productions. During 1932, he starred as the lead actor in “Scarface,” a film under the direction of Howard Hawks and authored by Ben Hecht. This motion picture was a key component of the golden era of gangster movies.

In later years, actor Al Pacino reflected on the influence of Paul Muni, stating, “That film literally halted me in my stride. All I craved was to emulate Paul Muni. His acting transcended the realm of naturalism and ventured into another form of expression. It was almost like an abstract work. It was almost inspiring.

In the same year, Muni shone in the movie “I Am a Convict from a Prison Chain,” a story about an innocent man fighting for justice and vindication. His acting garnered another Oscar nomination and much acclaim. Warner Bros. then sealed a multi-year deal with him, touting him as the top actor in cinema.

In 1936, Muni managed to persuade Warner Bros. to produce a historical drama focusing on Louis Pasteur’s life, titled “The Story of Louis Pasteur.” This film turned out to be a massive hit, and Muni was awarded the Academy Award for Best Actor due to his outstanding portrayal of the scientist who created the rabies vaccine.

He had a series of critically acclaimed historical portrayals. For instance, he starred as writer Émile Zola in “The Life of Emile Zola” (1937), which was awarded Best Picture, and portrayed Mexican president Benito Juárez in “Juarez” (1939).

In addition to his role, Muni appeared in the film adaptation of Pearl Buck’s novel, “The Good Earth” (1937), portraying a destitute Chinese farmer. Despite not being of Chinese descent, Muni is said to have jokingly told producer Irving Thalberg, “I’m as Chinese as President Herbert Hoover.

By the 1940s, Muni started distancing himself from Hollywood due to dissatisfaction with the studio system. He only starred in a handful of additional films, such as “A Song to Remember” (1945), where he portrayed Frédéric Chopin’s teacher, and “Angel on My Shoulder” (1946), one of his rare comedic roles.

In Muni’s later career, he performed in the Broadway production of “Inherit the Wind.” Toward the end of his lifetime, Marlon Brando paid him a visit. On August 25, 1967, he passed away, leaving behind an impressive collection of captivating performances and a profound impact that extended to numerous future actors.

Brando always remembered the profound influence that Muni had on him. Both actors possessed a unique talent for portraying silent power and authentic emotion, whether they were performing on stage or in films. As Brando himself stated, Muni was not merely exceptional; he was indelible.

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2025-08-13 16:28