Eddie Murphy shared a surprising anecdote about his encounter with Marlon Brando, where the legendary actor expressed strong feelings toward Clint Eastwood. In an interview on the New York Times podcast “The Interview,” Murphy recounted Brando’s candid criticism of Eastwood, whom he referred to as “that kid with the gun.”
“This is how long ago it was: He was going, ‘I can’t stand that kid with the gun,’ ” Murphy recalled.
“I was like, ‘What kid with the gun?’ He said, ‘He’s on the poster!’ I was like, ‘Clint Eastwood?’ ‘Yeah, that guy!’ He was calling Clint Eastwood ‘that kid.’ ”
Despite Brando being only six years older than Eastwood, who recently celebrated his 94th birthday and continues to act, Murphy noted that this critique occurred early in Eastwood’s career, shortly after Murphy’s breakthrough role in 48 Hrs.
“I was having these famous people that I grew up watching on television wanting to have a meal with me. 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!’ Reflecting on his interactions with Brando, Murphy fondly recalled their meetings, including one at a rooftop restaurant in Los Angeles.
Murphy also said that during their second meeting Brando was “just going on and on” about his appearance in 1972’s The Godfather while deriding the art form of acting.
“[Marlon] was like, ‘Eh, The Godfather. Not just The Godfather — acting. He was like, ‘Acting is bulls—, and everybody can act,’ ” Murphy said.
Brando was known for his complex relationship with his profession, famously criticizing acting as a whole in his memoir, Songs My Mother Taught Me.
