Johnny Carson is well-remembered for his memorable moments on NBC’s “The Tonight Show.”
In a recent book titled *Love Johnny Carson*, superfan Mark Markoff shares highlights from the show, including a notable altercation between Hollywood figures Zsa Zsa Gabor and Marlon Brando.
Markoff recounts that Brando and Gabor appeared together on the program in May 1963, at a time when Carson was broadcasting live from Burbank, California.
“Brando showed up drunk and sat next to Gabor, who was there to promote her face cream,” Markoff noted.
Initially, they seemed friendly, with Brando complimenting Gabor, but things took a turn as Gabor began interrupting him.
The situation worsened after Brando cracked a weak knock-knock joke that only received polite applause, prompting Gabor to quip that it was only for him that they would applaud.
When Gabor circled back to discussing her face cream and its benefits, Brando asked, “Do I have to sit here all night and listen to your annoying plug?”
According to Markoff, their exchange devolved into insults, leading Gabor to storm off the set, while a tipsy Brando wore a mischievous grin.
Brando is regarded as one of the greatest actors in cinema history. Over his extensive career, he received eight Academy Award nominations and won twice, for *On the Waterfront* in 1955 and *The Godfather* in 1973.
With a Hollywood career spanning over 50 years, Brando amassed more than 40 film and television credits.
Though he continued acting, his career slowed significantly from the 1980s to the early 2000s, with his last appearance being in the 2001 film *The Score*.
He passed away in July 2004 at the age of 80 due to respiratory failure linked to pulmonary fibrosis and congestive heart failure.
Jack Nicholson reflected on Brando’s legacy in August 2004, stating, “Marlon Brando is one of the great figures of the 20th and 21st centuries. His influence on film is unparalleled.” He added that Brando has left an everlasting mark on cinema.
Further, Nicholson remarked, “For me, Marlon Brando was the greatest person of all time.” He paraphrased Bum Phillips, emphasizing how special Brando’s status was in the realm of acting.
