Numbers (July 1993), Part One

Famous for his roles in A Streetcar Named Desire and The Godfather, actor Marlon Brando was known for his obstreperous behavior, from refusing to memorize his lines to delaying shoots with his tardiness. This bold disregard for authority extended into Brando’s personal life, where he maintained an unabashed frankness about his sexuality during an era when homosexuality still held major social stigma. In a 1976 interview with French journalist Gary Carey, for example, he discussed his bisexuality, stating “Like a large number of men, I, too, have had homosexual experiences and I am not ashamed.” This comment birthed several rumors – such as a presumed sadomasochistic relationship with fellow actor James Dean – both during his life and after his death, including claims by music producer Quincy Jones in 2018 that Brando and comedian Richard Pryor had a torrid love affair. Although conflicting evidence make it difficult to accurately discern the truth of Jones’ allegations, they add to Brando’s allure and reinforce the commodification of stardom the actor discussed in a 1973 interview with The Dick Cavett Show: “News is business. And, uh, people sell news, and unfortunately people in my position are in the public eye, are sellable commodities, but they’re not any different than Kleenex or Dial Soap or anything else.” In this July 1993 issue of Numbers (which had been broken into three parts), the publication perpetuates these rumors, discussing Gerald Clarke’s biography on Truman Capote and how it argues the famed author was one of Brando’s many male paramours. Also included in this first third are photos of model John and a photospread titled “Matador.”