Christian Brando Has Died

Christian Brando, the eldest son of the late legendary actor Marlon Brando, died this morning at 1:47 a.m. at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center in Los Angeles, Calif. On Monday, Christian’s attorney Benjamin Brin announced that the actor was hospitalized with pneumonia. "The prognosis is for a complete recovery," Brin said, "He’s going to be OK." Christian was 49 years old. Brando had been in the ICU since January 11 for pneumonia.

Christian Brando was born May 11, 1958 as the result of an affair between his father and actress Anna Kashfi. Christian pled guilty to manslaughter in 1990 for killing his sister’s boyfriend Dag Drollet.

in 2001, actor Robert Blake claimed that Christian was involved in the murder of his wife Bonnie Lee Bakley. Bonnie had been dating Robert Blake and Christian when she became pregnant and initially claimed Christian to be the father until a DNA test later proved the father to be Robert. Robert was charged with her murder and acquitted, then was later found liable in a civil case.

Christian dabbled in acting, and had small roles in Yentl and I Love You, Alice B. Toklas! but never acheived the level of fame as his Academy Award winning actor father.

Heath Ledger was reported to have been ill with walking pneumonia when he passed away. Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets, died in 1990 while in the hospital of viral pneumonia (not bacterial).

This has been a very sad week. Maybe tomorrow will bring something more positive.