Marlon Brando's secret acting school: The Godfather star dressed as a woman on special course for stars like Sean Penn where students got naked and Michael Jackson even dropped in

  • Last Tango in Paris actor gave 10 classes to A-listers and drama students
  • Secretary said she came up with idea as he looked to ease financial woes
  • Brando turned up in drag then applied lipstick, attendees reveal 

By Kate Pickles For Mailonline

Published: 10:15 EST, 12 June 2015 | Updated: 12:42 EST, 12 June 2015

Hollywood legend Marlon Brando held a secret acting course for a number of A-listers to ease his financial woes, friends of the late star have revealed.

Two years before his death, the Last Tango in Paris actor embarked on a 10-day acting course attended by the likes of Sean Penn, Nick Nolte and Robin Williams.

He set up the course for stars and budding drama students in 2002 to help with the upkeep of his $10 million home on Mulholland Drive, former secretary Alice Marchak claims.

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The Godfather: Hollywood legend Marlon Brando gave secret acting lessons to the stars before he died, sources close to the star have revealed

The Godfather: Hollywood legend Marlon Brando gave secret acting lessons to the stars before he died, sources close to the star have revealed

Brando made an unforgettable entrance dressed as a woman, holding a red rose before plonking down in a chair to apply his red lipstick, writes the Hollywood Reporter.

'He was looking to generate money, but the products he came up with weren't viable. He had an idea for an earthquake-proof house. And a way to air-condition homes that involved drilling. Things that couldn't be sold on QVC,' said Ms Marchak.

I told him he could make money if his face or voice was part of a product — I suggested acting classes.' 

In one session, the A Streetcar Named Desire star plucked a homeless man from a dumpster and brought him in for acting lessons. 

Classes: Actor Marlon Brando, pictured here with actresses and chorus girls on the set of the film 'Guys and Dolls' in 1955, held an acting workshop for stars and budding actors

Classes: Actor Marlon Brando, pictured here with actresses and chorus girls on the set of the film 'Guys and Dolls' in 1955, held an acting workshop for stars and budding actors

Legend: Marlon Brando stars as Mark Anthony in Julius Caesar in 1953. The Hollywood actor passed on his skills in a number of classes

Legend: Marlon Brando stars as Mark Anthony in Julius Caesar in 1953. The Hollywood actor passed on his skills in a number of classes

Michael Jackson

Class: Actor Sean Penn went to all the classes while King of Pop Michael Jackson even popped into one

A jazz musician played his favorite tunes on a rented piano while the French tightrope walker who had crossed the Twin Towers, did stunts on a high-wire.

Students were told to strip naked in one lesson while King of Pop Michael Jackson even went to another of the sessions.

Miami Vice's Edward James Olmos, who attended the classes, said Brando's rule was that everyone had to take part.

'The whole class was improv, from beginning to end,' he said. 'Nothing was scripted.

'Brando had never taught an acting class before — this was the only time in his whole life. This was going to be his legacy to the acting community.' 

Brando used $50,000 for a QVC startup fund he had set aside and used it to produce a series of DVDs about acting, starring himself.

He rented a warehouse near Sunset Boulevard where he had a wooden stage built and then invited his famous friends to participate.

The movie star even hired a director and a nine-man camera crew to tape every bit of the seminar.

Brando left an estate worth $20 million when he died in 2004. 

Captivating: Brando, pictured here in 'A Streetcar Named Desire' with Vivien Leigh, brought a homeless man to acting classes and asked everyone participated 

Captivating: Brando, pictured here in 'A Streetcar Named Desire' with Vivien Leigh, brought a homeless man to acting classes and asked everyone participated 

 

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