Person Biography:
Jocelyn Brando was born on November 18, 1919, in San Francisco, California, to Marlon Brando Sr. and his wife, Dorothy Pennebaker. She was the older sister of Marlon Brando and grew up mostly on a farm near Evanston, Illinois, although the family moved around during their childhood. The family's struggles with alcoholism, particularly their mother's, had a profound impact on Jocelyn's life and career.
Jocelyn began her acting career in the early 1940s, appearing in various theatrical productions, including a Broadway debut in "The First Crocus" in 1942. However, the play was a flop and closed after just five performances. She continued to work in theater, appearing in several Broadway productions, including "Mister Roberts" in 1948, which was a major success and ran for over two years.
Jocelyn made her film debut in 1953 with "China Venture," a war drama directed by Don Siegel. Her breakthrough role came in 1953 with "The Big Heat," a classic gangster film directed by Fritz Lang. Her character's dramatic death scene remains one of the most famous moments in cinema.
Jocelyn continued to work in film and television throughout her career, appearing in a wide range of productions, including "The Ugly American," "The Chase," and "Dallas." She also had a recurring role on the daytime soap opera "Love of Life" and appeared in numerous guest roles on TV shows such as "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and "Little House on the Prairie."
Despite her promising start, Jocelyn's career never quite reached the same level of success as her brother Marlon's. Her struggles with her own personal demons, including her struggles with her parents' alcoholism, likely contributed to her inability to achieve the same level of success.
Jocelyn was married twice and had two sons. She remained close to her brother Marlon throughout her life, and the two were known to be very supportive of each other. Jocelyn passed away on November 20, 2005, at the age of 86, leaving behind a legacy as a talented but troubled actress.
