Few Hollywood legacies are as complex and shadowed by tragedy as that of Marlon Brando, the legendary actor whose personal life often eclipsed his iconic film career. As of late 2025, the story of his sprawling family—a total of 11 acknowledged children from multiple relationships and marriages—continues to fascinate, mixing the glamour of Tinseltown with the quiet, often troubled reality of growing up in the shadow of a genius.
The Brando children navigated a difficult path, marked by immense wealth, Polynesian paradise on the island of Tetiaroa, and profound personal turmoil, including murder, suicide, and strained relationships with their famous father. While the stories of Christian and Cheyenne Brando are well-known, the lives of the surviving siblings—Miko, Rebecca, Simon, and the younger generation—have quietly forged their own destinies away from the intense public scrutiny.
The Complete Marlon Brando Family Tree: A Biography List
Marlon Brando was married three times and had relationships with several other women, resulting in a large, multi-cultural family. He was known to have 11 acknowledged children, including three adopted children. Below is a list of his children, their mothers, and their birth years.
- Christian Devi Brando (1958–2008)
- Mother: Anna Kashfi (First Wife)
- Note: Actor, convicted of manslaughter in 1990. Died of pneumonia.
- Miko Castaneda Brando (Born 1961)
- Mother: Movita Castaneda (Second Wife)
- Note: Musician, bodyguard, and close friend of Michael Jackson.
- Rebecca Brando Kotlizky (Born 1966)
- Mother: Movita Castaneda (Second Wife)
- Note: Involved in preserving her father’s legacy and environmental work.
- Simon Teihotu Brando (Born 1963)
- Mother: Tarita Teriipaia (Third Wife)
- Note: Lives a private life in French Polynesia.
- Tarita Cheyenne Brando (1970–1995)
- Mother: Tarita Teriipaia (Third Wife)
- Note: Model, suffered from mental illness, died by suicide.
- Petra Brando-Corval (Adopted, Born 1972)
- Mother: Caroline Barrett (Brando's Assistant)
- Note: Adopted at age 14, excluded from Brando’s will.
- Maimiti Brando (Adopted, Born 1977)
- Mother: Tarita Teriipaia’s daughter from a previous relationship.
- Note: Lives privately in Tahiti.
- Raiatua Brando (Adopted, Born 1982)
- Mother: Tarita Teriipaia’s niece.
- Note: Lives privately in French Polynesia.
- Ninna Priscilla Brando (Born 1989)
- Mother: Maria Cristina Ruiz
- Note: One of the three youngest children, keeps a low profile.
- Myles Jonathan Brando (Born 1992)
- Mother: Maria Cristina Ruiz
- Note: A musician, also maintains a private life.
- Timothy Gahan Brando (Born 1994)
- Mother: Maria Cristina Ruiz
- Note: The youngest of Brando’s acknowledged children.
The Shadow of Tragedy: Christian and Cheyenne Brando’s Fates
The most public and painful chapters of the Brando family saga revolve around the two children who struggled most visibly with their father’s legacy and their own demons: Christian and Cheyenne Brando.
Christian Brando: The Manslaughter and the Fallout
Christian Brando, the eldest son, was born to Marlon Brando's first wife, actress Anna Kashfi. His life was marked by turmoil from an early age, including a bitter custody battle between his parents.
In 1990, the tragedy that would define his life occurred: Christian shot and killed Dag Drollet, the boyfriend of his half-sister, Cheyenne Brando, at the Brando family home in Beverly Hills.
Christian pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, claiming the shooting was accidental and occurred during a struggle. He served five years in prison for the crime. Marlon Brando famously testified during the trial, a public spectacle that revealed the deep dysfunctions within the family.
Christian Brando died in 2008 at the age of 49 from pneumonia, leaving behind a troubled legacy often overshadowed by the events of 1990.
Cheyenne Brando: Mental Illness and a Tragic End
Cheyenne Brando was the daughter of Brando and his third wife, Tahitian actress Tarita Teriipaia, whom he met while filming Mutiny on the Bounty.
Cheyenne, a former model, struggled with severe mental health issues, including schizophrenia and depression, which were exacerbated by the trauma of Dag Drollet's death.
She was found guilty of complicity in the murder in Tahiti, though the court later ruled she was mentally unfit to stand trial. In 1995, just five years after the shooting, Cheyenne died by suicide at her mother’s home in Tahiti at the age of 25.
Cheyenne left behind a son, Tuki Brando, who was just five years old at the time of her death. Tuki was raised by his grandmother, Tarita Teriipaia, and has since gone on to become a successful international fashion model, walking for brands like Versace.
The Survivors: Quiet Lives and Preserving the Brando Legacy
While the lives of Christian and Cheyenne are widely documented, the majority of Marlon Brando’s surviving children have chosen paths far removed from the Hollywood spotlight, often dedicating themselves to the family's Polynesian roots and their father’s lesser-known passions.
Rebecca Brando and the Tetiaroa Society
Rebecca Brando Kotlizky has become a key figure in preserving her father’s environmental vision. Marlon Brando purchased the Tetiaroa atoll in French Polynesia after filming Mutiny on the Bounty, intending to create a haven for ecological research.
Rebecca is a board member of the Tetiaroa Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation and sustainable development of the atoll, which is now home to The Brando resort. She has also been involved in promoting the acclaimed documentary Listen to Me Marlon, offering rare insights into her father's private life.
Miko Brando: Friend to the Stars and Entertainment Insider
Miko Brando, the son of Marlon and Movita Castaneda, is the most visible of the surviving children in the entertainment industry, though he works primarily behind the scenes.
Miko is famously known for his decades-long, close friendship with Michael Jackson. He served as Michael Jackson's bodyguard and lived at the Neverland Ranch for a period, making him a unique bridge between two of the world's most iconic and complicated figures in pop culture.
The Tahitian Connection: Simon, Maimiti, and Raiatua
Simon Teihotu Brando, the oldest son from the relationship with Tarita Teriipaia, lives a notably private life. He resides primarily in French Polynesia, maintaining a distance from the intense media scrutiny that plagued his siblings.
Similarly, the adopted daughters, Maimiti and Raiatua Brando, both live quiet lives in Tahiti, deeply connected to their Polynesian heritage and culture, largely avoiding any involvement with the film industry or the Hollywood life their father embodied.
The Younger Brando Generation: Ninna, Myles, and Timothy
The three youngest children—Ninna Priscilla, Myles Jonathan, and Timothy Gahan Brando—are the children of Brando and his former housekeeper, Maria Cristina Ruiz. Born in the late 1980s and early 1990s, they are the youngest generation of the Brando family.
They have all successfully maintained an extremely low profile, choosing to live their lives away from the public eye. Myles Brando is known to be a musician, but details about the professional lives of Ninna and Timothy are scarce, reflecting a clear choice for privacy in the wake of their family's tumultuous past.
Petra Brando-Corval: The Will Controversy
Another point of public interest was the exclusion of Petra Brando-Corval from Marlon Brando's will. Petra, the daughter of his assistant Caroline Barrett, was adopted by Brando at age 14.
When Brando passed away in 2004, his will listed 10 of his surviving children as beneficiaries but notably excluded Petra, a decision that caused significant controversy and legal discussion at the time.
The story of Marlon Brando’s children is a powerful reminder that fame and fortune do not insulate a family from personal tragedy and complexity. As of 2025, the surviving members of the Brando family have largely found peace by embracing a life of quiet privacy, environmental dedication, and a commitment to their own chosen paths, finally stepping out from the long, complicated shadow of The Godfather star.
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